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Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Yahoo Message Number: 8515
As a new member of the group, I've spent a little time reviewing previous messages from the group. Especially the ones on peeling paint on the roof.

I've noticed the peeling paint on our Magna.
The fiberglass gel coat on the roof is a polyester based coatings.
Clear coating will not stop UV (ultraviolet radiation) from degrading the polyester over time.

If the paint and clear coat used on the sides of the motorhome does not continue over the roof then there is an exposed edge to the coatings. This is prefect place for water to penetrate under the coatings and accelerate the peeling along the roof edges.
I've noted peeling almost to the windshield on our Magna.

I would make the assumption that since the roof is not visible from the ground that it was not sealed/painted. The thickness of the polyester gel coat used on the fiberglass should last as long as the motorhome.

SORRY about the rambling. My point is, the roof should be protected from the elements.

I'm a senior chemist for a major paint company. Actually the same paint company which supplies the paint to Country Coach. Just a different division.

At some point this year I will be repairing the roof, removing peeling paint and sealing the roof.
If anyone is interested in this project, I can go into details on the preparation, type of coatings, etc.

Steve

Magna 5220

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8516
We are having the same problem with our Magna. Ous sounds like it is peeling in the same place yours is. We would like information about your project.
You can send the details off line if you like. Thanks Judith Magna 5325

Quote
>From: "burdicks" burdicks@...> >Reply-To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Fiberglass roofs and repainting >Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:32:13 -0000 >

As a new member of the group, I've spent a little time reviewing >previous messages from the group. Especially the ones on peeling >paint on the roof.

I've noticed the peeling paint on our Magna.
The fiberglass gel coat on the roof is a polyester based coatings.
Clear coating will not stop UV (ultraviolet radiation) from degrading >the polyester over time.

If the paint and clear coat used on the sides of the motorhome does >not continue over the roof then there is an exposed edge to the >coatings. This is prefect place for water to penetrate under the >coatings and accelerate the peeling along the roof edges.
I've noted peeling almost to the windshield on our Magna.

I would make the assumption that since the roof is not visible from >the ground that it was not sealed/painted. The thickness of the >polyester gel coat used on the fiberglass should last as long as the >motorhome.

SORRY about the rambling. My point is, the roof should be protected >from the elements.

I'm a senior chemist for a major paint company. Actually the same >paint company which supplies the paint to Country Coach. Just a >different division.

At some point this year I will be repairing the roof, removing >peeling paint and sealing the roof.
If anyone is interested in this project, I can go into details on the >preparation, type of coatings, etc.

Steve

Magna 5220
Stay informed on Election 2004 and the race to Super Tuesday.
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Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8518
Steve

You have my attention. I had the "brow" of my magna stripped of pealing clear coat, then the underlying gel coat painted, and clear coat applied over the paint. But only to the edge of non-skid on the fiberglass roof.

Your comments seem to indicate that I will have to do this again since I park in an uncovered area. What do you think?

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8519
We don't have any problems with paint on our Intrigue yet, but we are interested in having the roof sealed/painted/coated...whatever...

We'd like to "finish" the roof in whatever manner is correct...unless by finishing it, it would be way too slippery.

Who does this? Approximate cost?

Thanks...
Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8521
To those peelers in the group.

First thing. Who am I? I'm a chemist and the greater part of my time is spent researching paint failure issues. I'm one of 200 people worldwide that is a certified Protective Coatings Specialist. SSPC cerf. #1038-943-1418 Everytime I look at something, I look at the coating. I noted the peeling on our Magna last month when we purchased it. To me it's a simple problem compared to all the electrical issue I've seen posted on our group.
I found several postings in Oct 2003 that were talking about paint. This is what got me started. I particular enjoy the one about using acrylic latex on the roof. EXCELLENT.
High quality acrylic latexs should bond tightly to the fiberglass gel coat. Also will offer a reasonable amount of protection to UV and water/rain. Will prevent further degradation of the roof, as long as it last.
Here's the short end of using acrylic latex. Not high gloss, can't use it on the edges where its visible from the ground.
I also save some posts where they were quoted repainting prices in the thousands of dollars. It's kinda tough to take a motorcoach the size of a Country Coach to your local auto repaint facilities.

What's FIRST?

I haven't spent any time on top of the Magna to know the full extent of the peeling or degradation. So, I'll be checking the adhesion of the coating around the top edge of the roof to see how tightly adhering it is. Two tools: tape and a pocket knife. There are special tapes, but for everyone, a good quality duct tape is going to give us a very good indication of the adhesion of the clear coat. Starting were the clear coat leaves off apply a strip of duct tape to the clear coat. About 4 inches down the clear coat press down with your thumb. Have about 4 inches which you can pull off with. This is pulled off (quickly) at a 90 degree (right angle) to the surface. With any luck you might get just a few clear coat chips at the edge where it is peeling. If it goes all the way down the 4 inchs that the duct tape was applied then you have some weak adhesion.
If I'm lucky, HA, I'll only get a few clear coat chips on the edge of the clear coat. THEN, when I'm ready to start this project, I'll just go all the way around the roof with duct tape and remove just a few loose clear coat chips. This edge will then have to be feathered in with some fine grit sandpaper so it won't be seen in the finish product. I'd started with 240 grit sandpaper then finish with 400/600 grit paper to smooth it out.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP!

For any one that's a do it yourselfer. This is a big project, but do able.
I've also got profession application documentation on repainting fiberglass if anyone is considering do it, I can email you a copy.
Getting long winded. If anyone wants more info let me.
Steve

1995 Magna 5220

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8522
This is a problem that interests me a great deal. It seems to affect Magna coaches more than others. Our 97 Magna is showing signs of clearcoat peeling and I think the earlier it can be corrected the better. I will continue to monitor your postings and hope to meet you sometime.

Harvey Grooms
97 Magna 5377

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8524
We are having the same problem with our 96 Intrique! The Clear Coat has started to peel mostly on one side. With each rain it gets worse. The paint looks great still! My roof doesn't seem to have a problem, however!

Mickey

1996 36' Intrique

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8525
Mickey;

The polyester gel coat is a coating in it own right. It fills in the fiberglass webbing and coats the whole thing. On a roof you get the most Ultraviolet radiation which breaks down the polymer over time. Usually seen as chalking and fading. Sidewalls get a fraction of the UV and last a very long time. Here the problem, if they only used a clear coat around the edge, this doesn't protect the gel coat. The UV penetrates the clear coat as if it were a window. The polyester gel coat continues to breakdown under the clear. Sooner or later you get disbonding of the clear coat from the polyester gel coat. THUS peeling. The rain you talked about acts to swell the chalked gel coat, accelerates things. The thing about only one side could be an issue of which side is exposed to most sun, rain run off or just how the coating was put. Several other factors can promote this also.
Slowing it down or preventing is with a wax containing uv absorbes just might be the cheapest/easiest way to go. But who wants to wax that many square feet of roof a couple of times a year??? steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8530
Steve,

You have not read your manual. It takes about how the roof need to be washed and also coated with a UV product to keep the fiberglass from chalking. We did not read this either but fortunately Tim Reid at Lazy Days called the chalking to our attention and we corrected the situation before the clear coat started coming off. Now I coat my roof about every 4 months with a product from Camping World called 303. It is a uv product that does not have a petroleum base so you can use it on your tires as well as the roof. Have not had any chalking in 18 months. I put it on with one of those mops you get at the FMCA rallies and it only takes about 30 minutes. I also had a professional waxer put on a uv wax and that worked. He charged $90 to wash the roof, compound the chalking off with a buffer and then coat with a uv wax. The buffing was recommended by Tim to remove the bad chalking we had because we did not do the roof for 2 years.

I believe most of the major rv manufactures do not paint the fiberglass roof because the paint would not hold up in hot climates, but I don't know why for sure. That would be a good question to ask in Tuscon.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8532
Steve,

Waxing the roof only takes about 30 minutes with the right product and one of those mops from FMCA vendors. We use the mop with the pads that hold on with velco, and we use 303 from Camping world. Spray it on, spread it with a mop and then spend very little time wiping over it. No need to try to make it shine, its on the roof where no one sees the shine. Works for me and it has stopped the chalking.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8545
Bill G.

The Magna is 1995 and the peeling goes down to the trim above the windshield. My first step with be to repair the peeling areas and then repaint all the roof line, so I'm going a little further and clean/prep the whole roof and then seal it with a two component acrylic urethane. The urethane should hold up 20+ years with a annual waxing.
Steve

gablerwh@... wrote:

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8548
Steve,

All would probably agree that unless one has spray painting capabilities the visible peeling area should be refinished by a professional. Per your advice however, the top only needs to be cleaned and sealed. Can the acrylic urethane be brushed on? If not, is there a product that would do a good job of sealing that can be applied by the coach owner?

Thanks, Brian Esler
95 Intrigue (10069)

Quote from: stephen burdick\[br\
] > Bill G.

The Magna is 1995 and the peeling goes down to the trim above the
windshield. My first step with be to repair the peeling areas and then repaint all the roof line, so I'm going a little further and clean/prep the whole roof and then seal it with a two component acrylic urethane. The urethane should hold up 20+ years with a annual waxing.

Quote
Steve

gablerwh@a... wrote:
Steve,

You have not read your manual. It takes about how the roof need to

be washed

Quote
and also coated with a UV product to keep the fiberglass from
chalking. We did

Quote
not read this either but fortunately Tim Reid at Lazy Days called

the

Quote
chalking to our attention and we corrected the situation before the

clear coat

Quote
started coming off. Now I coat my roof about every 4 months with a

product from

Quote
Camping World called 303. It is a uv product that does not have a
petroleum base

Quote
so you can use it on your tires as well as the roof. Have not had

any chalking

Quote
in 18 months. I put it on with one of those mops you get at the

FMCA rallies

Quote
and it only takes about 30 minutes. I also had a professional waxer

put on a uv

Quote
wax and that worked. He charged $90 to wash the roof, compound the

chalking

Quote
off with a buffer and then coat with a uv wax. The buffing was
recommended by

Quote
Tim to remove the bad chalking we had because we did not do the

roof for 2

Quote
years.

I believe most of the major rv manufactures do not paint the
fiberglass roof

Quote
because the paint would not hold up in hot climates, but I don't

know why for

Quote
sure. That would be a good question to ask in Tuscon.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

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To visit your group on the web, go to: >
">Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8555
Hi Steve,

I would be interested in your approach for recoating your coach roof - preparation, coating used and application detail.
Thanks,
Fred kovol

Quote from: harvey_grooms
> This is a problem that interests me a great deal. It seems to

affect

Quote
Magna coaches more than others. Our 97 Magna is showing signs of > clearcoat peeling and I think the earlier it can be corrected the > better. I will continue to monitor your postings and hope to meet

you

Quote
sometime.

Harvey Grooms
97 Magna 5377

>

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8556
Brian;

The urethane can be brushed. Won't get the super smooth automotive look of spraying but a lot of boat deck paints are two component urethanes that are brushed on.
Also, sometime in Oct on the group, someone had used a acrylic latex house paint and had good results. Remember the ole fiberglass garage doors, people where always using acrylic latex to paint them, and it would last for many years..
That's it in a nut shell. I'd use the urethane, but at $150 per gallon, is it really worth it? Steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8557
Fred;

I've attached a standard repaint procedure which includes intense direction for repainting gel coat. Let me know what you think? Steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8559
We have lots of experience with using exterior latex paint on both metal and fiberglass panels. We get five years plus life, but be sure to use semi-gloss and get as close to 100% acrylic latex as possible.
Doug 36' '03 Allure 30929

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8565
If I were to use one it would be the Sherwin Williams SuperPaint Semi-Gloss. This is a straight acrylic coatings. 25 years on warranty, sidewalls. Best color: white, white or white. Keeps the roof cool, less thermal expansion.
Steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8568
Steve,

I am also interested in reading you recommendations and processes to restore and protect clear coating and roof areas. My roof chaulks and has to be cleaned often to control it since it is stored outside in the Florida sun. There seems to be others interested as well. If you would please post to the files section so everyone can find it for reference.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: burdicks
As a new member of the group, I've spent a little time reviewing
previous messages from the group. Especially the ones on peeling
paint on the roof.

I've noticed the peeling paint on our Magna.
The fiberglass gel coat on the roof is a polyester based coatings.
Clear coating will not stop UV (ultraviolet radiation) from

degrading

Quote
the polyester over time.
If the paint and clear coat used on the sides of the motorhome does > not continue over the roof then there is an exposed edge to the > coatings. This is prefect place for water to penetrate under the > coatings and accelerate the peeling along the roof edges.
I've noted peeling almost to the windshield on our Magna.
> I would make the assumption that since the roof is not visible from > the ground that it was not sealed/painted. The thickness of the > polyester gel coat used on the fiberglass should last as long as

the

Quote
motorhome.
> SORRY about the rambling. My point is, the roof should be protected > from the elements.

I'm a senior chemist for a major paint company. Actually the same > paint company which supplies the paint to Country Coach. Just a > different division.

At some point this year I will be repairing the roof, removing > peeling paint and sealing the roof.
If anyone is interested in this project, I can go into details on

the

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8569
Bill,

I am confused (happens often).... You wax the roof using a buffer and then mop on the 303? What wax products are you using? Are you applying and buffing the wax before you apply the 303 each time? Or, did you wax and buff the roof the first time to get the chaulking under control and then applied the 303 to maintain it? You say you omly have to apply it every 4 months. Do you store your coach outside and where are you located? I am in Jacksonville, FL and the sun here can be intense. I have roof washed every 3-4 months with pressure washer. But it seems I am loosing the battle with chaulking.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8572
Jim

Have you tried the 303 product? I'd found a message from Oct 2003 on it. The website is www.303-products.com I haven't found what the chemistry is on it but will be going to the Anderson Store(Ace hardware) and read the label.
Sound interesting, could be a excellent preservation for the polyester gel coat on the roofs. My Magna has gone a bit further.
Peeling of the clear coat. Going to repair/repaint first.
Steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8587
Quote from: burdicks"

Jim

Have you tried the 303 product? I'd found a message from Oct 2003 on > it. The website is www.303-products.com > I haven't found what the chemistry is on it but will be going to the > Anderson Store(Ace hardware) and read the label.
I have been using the 303 product on the roof and sides (also tires) for about a year.
First learned about it and purchased it at a FMCA Rally last year. It seems to have stopped most of the roof edge clear coat deterioration (Coach is stored outside in Michigan).

The only other place I have seen it for sale in Michigan is Camping World.

I have a new qt bottle in my Garage and checked the label.
No ingredents are listed on the label. Just says Aerospace Protectant: Rubber, Vinyl, Fiberglass, tires, plastic and Leather. Non-toxic and non-flammable.

Dick

2000 Allure 30592

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8590
Well Dick;

That just means I'll have to buy a bottle and have it analyzed. I'm curious about the composition. Their website has a list of retailers, might have one close to you in Michigan.
Steve

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8592
Steve,

MSDS calls it "*ORGANOMODIFIED POLYMERIC EMULSION".

Dave

2000 Allure 36'
#30444

*stephen burdick wrote:

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8595
Jim,

When we first noticed we had a problem CCI recommended that we wash the roof and then use an auto type rubbing compound with a buffer to get rid of the caulking and then apply a good uv wax. We did that with a professional waxer for $90 in Florida. Then every 4 months I wash the roof when I wash the coach and apply 303 with a mop. the professional waxer said that was a good uv product and since you do not see the roof you do not need to go over the 303 with a cloth to make it shine.

When we first saw the problem, we were living on the coast of SC and we stored the coach outside, one mile from the ocean. That was 18 months ago. Since then on Jan 6, 2004 we moved into Lake Ashton in Lake Wales Florida. We now have a 2000 SF garage for the motorhome, 2 cars and a golf cart. The garage has a ventilation fan and full hookups and there will be 81 other custom RV homes around us on a lake. However even with the garage we still intend to do the 303 every 4 months. I did it yesterday inside the garage. Used a dry wash first then the 303 with a mop. Took about 35 to 40 minutes. We have no problems with our clear coat at this point.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998 built Oct of 2000

Re: Fiberglass roofs and repainting

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8599
Bill,

Thanks for they reply and info. Was there a particuliar rubbing compound and wax that was used? Where did you ever find a professional waxer to do the roof for $90? Everyone here in JAX wants additional $150-200 to do the roof. That is after you pay them $250 for pressure-washing roof and sides and waxing sides.

Sound like you found a great place there in Lake Wales. Great that you can store the coach on your property. We have to use a storage lot about 8 miles away. We once considered something like that as well so the coach can be inside. Of course, if we use the coach allot, it is always going to be outside exposed to the elements anyway. I will be retired as of next Wednesday and plan to put the coach to some use.

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511