RV Roof Types
Identify Yours
Care & Coatings

There are five main types. EPDM (rubber), TPO and PVC are thin membranes glued over wood decking. Fiberglass (FRP) roofs are rigid panels, found on many Class A motorhomes and some truck campers, and aluminum roofs are riveted metal skins, found on Airstreams. Membranes run about .027 to .035 inch thick.

Check the owner's manual, spec sheet or roof label first. Otherwise, use the rig and year: Alpha Systems says the industry moved away from rubber roofs in 2011, so most towables built since are TPO. Airstreams are aluminum, and many Class A coaches are fiberglass. Then confirm by feel: EPDM is chalky, TPO orange-peel textured.

Remove a vent trim ring and look at the membrane's edge. Keystone says white or dove on top with black backing is likely EPDM, while one color all the way through is likely TPO, which may have a smooth or fleece backing. By touch, EPDM is flat and very chalky; TPO feels like orange peel.

One third-party compilation lists Newmar Class A models (all but Bay Star Sport), all Tiffin models, Jayco Alante and Precept, and Forest River motorhomes. Northern Lite truck campers advertise two-piece fiberglass construction. Lists like this can be wrong for a given model year, so confirm on the spec sheet.

Yes. Airstreams have aluminum roofs, and etrailer calls aluminum the only metallic RV roof material. If you have to go up, the Airstream Club advises walking on the roof bows, where you can see rivets running side to side. Aluminum dents easily, and Airstream recommends checking roof sealants twice a year, in spring and fall.

It's a TPO membrane with a fabric fleece layer underneath instead of a smooth back. Keystone notes that TPO may have a smooth or a fleece backing, and Dicor's 2025 line-up includes a fleece-backed TPO. Fabric under a one-color sheet at a vent trim ring means the roof is TPO, so TPO care and sealant rules apply.

Dicor lists its Brite-Ply EPDM at .035 inch, BriteTEK TPO at .030 inch, and DiFlex II TPO and Tufflex PVC at .027 inch; it added .035 inch Tufflex and DiFlex in 2023. Alpha's SuperFlex TPO is a nominal .030 inch. For comparison, Filon's fiberglass Flexroof panel is .045 inch thick.

No. Dicor's 2025 catalog labels its RP-CRP-Q Cleaner/Activator for EPDM and PVC use only. TPO gets Dicor's RP-TPR-Q primer instead, labeled for TPO use only and required under Dicor's Signature silicone coating on TPO. Dicor's acrylic roof coatings are also listed for EPDM and PVC only.

Usually not. Alpha Systems says no coatings are necessary because TPO is a plastic, not a rubber, and Keystone says the membrane needs none, though seams need maintenance every 90 days. If you coat anyway, use a TPO-rated product with its primer and check your RV maker's warranty; Keystone says to avoid silicone products on its roofs.

Wash it every three to six months, wax it once or twice a year, and avoid abrasive pads, steel wool and harsh solvents. UV oxidation can make fiberglass yellow, fade or turn chalky, and flexing causes hairline cracks. Check the edges and around vents, skylights and AC units, where stress cracks tend to start.

It depends on the rig. Fiberglass and aluminum typically last 20 years or more, but fiberglass costs more to replace and aluminum is the heaviest option. Membranes are lighter, with typical lives of 12 to 20 years for EPDM, 10 to 20 for TPO and 15 to 20 for PVC. Any roof lasts longest when it's cleaned, sealed and inspected regularly.

Yes. A re-roof removes the old membrane, and Dicor says the decking must be replaced too, so you choose what goes back on; Dicor sells EPDM, TPO and PVC sheet for the aftermarket. Fiberglass is a bigger, costlier job. Our replacement cost guide compares prices by type.