RV Roof Wrinkles and Bubbles
Wrinkles. Bubbles. Creases. Bad installation or product failure? Loss of integrity? We’ve all seen it, EPDM and even TPO roofs with some or all of these imperfections. RV owners scour the internet for information, worried their RV roof is failing. It is important to take a deep breath and not listen to the keyboard warriors. You do not need to take your RV back, demanding a new roof.
They Actually Are Cosmetic
It is hard to believe that these are all just cosmetic imperfections. It all boils down to installation. As mentioned in previous articles, the first step in any membrane roof is applying an even coat of adhesive. Alpha and Dicor installation guides acknowledge that bubbles can occur. The most common reasons cited in technical installation guides:
- Installers often fail to apply adhesive evenly.
- Installers sometimes lay the membrane before the adhesive becomes tacky.
- Trapped air or moisture under the membrane
- Temperature changes during installation
Installation Causes
When installers apply adhesive unevenly, air pockets form in the thinner areas as they lay down the membrane. In hotter weather, the air expands, and the membrane stretches. This situation causes the textured appearance you see on some EPDM roofs. Manufacturers and installers acknowledge this issue on various EPDM roof types. Superiorroof.net and dealers who install these roofs provide the same explanation to customers.
Quick factory assembly of RV roofs often prevents the adhesive from drying properly. Installers use an adhesive similar to contact cement, which should remain tacky. Weather conditions influence how quickly the adhesive becomes tacky—on high-humidity or cooler days, the adhesive takes longer. Since the assembly line maintains a steady pace, vapors can get trapped. When sunlight hits the roof, vapors begin to evaporate. While this may seem counterintuitive, fully dried adhesive will not bond the roof at all. Rubber4roofs, a British company, explains this situation well.
Wrinkles and Bubbles Occurs in all Brands and Commercial Application
The most important takeaway from these sources is that, even though installers sometimes make mistakes, the end result remains purely cosmetic. Not all bubbles or wrinkles relate to installation—weather, moisture, and flexing also cause them. Brinkley issued a statement last year to customers about the bubbles. Brinkley currently has a reputation for higher-quality RVs and attention to construction, and has the same bubbles as Grand Design. The roof’s integrity remains intact, and unless you puncture a bubble or a wrinkle, it will continue to protect your RV. Holes, not air pockets, pose the real threat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no reason to panic or spend hours trying to get a roof replaced simply because you see bubbles or wrinkles. The manufacturers of RV roof membranes—and the manufacturers of the same materials used in commercial roofing—are consistent in their guidance on this topic. Minor bubbles and wrinkles commonly occur in flexible membrane roofing systems and do not affect the roof’s waterproof performance. These materials are used on buildings all over the world, and they would not be the industry standard if these conditions caused failure. While discussions in RV forums often suggest replacement is necessary, those opinions typically come from well-meaning owners rather than trained installers or manufacturers. The reality is that the same cosmetic conditions seen on RV roofs are also commonly found on commercial membrane roofs and are considered normal within the industry.
