Best For Quick Repairs: Dicor 501LSW-1 Self-Leveling Lap Sealant

Let’s talk RV roof sealant.

If you have a new A/C or fan installed in your RV, you may need to reseal the new or existing hole in the roof. Or if you spring a leak during a hail storm, lap sealant can also do the job.

After interviewing two veterans in the RV business with a combined 33 years of experience between them, we learned some basic tips to making sealant more effective:

• Always clean the area you are working on. Sealants won’t seal if there is dirt or other debris there. Acetone is a good way to clean the area.

• Warm up the sealant to the ambient air temperature. That is, leave the sealant outside so it adjusts to the temperature when it will be applied.

• Be patient. Some sealants take up to 30 days to completely cure, although most will be waterproof upon drying.

• Be sure the sealant is appropriate for your roof type. All RV roofs aren’t the same—you may need a special sealant if your roof has a felt underlining, for example.

After looking at a dozen different brands and getting advice from our parent readers who own RVs, we pick this sealant by Dicor as a good bet for quick repairs. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Handles intense sun at higher elevations.

• Effective at sealing air vents and vent pipes.

What Needs Work

• Dries quickly—sometimes too quickly for folks who wanted to smooth it out after application.

Best Easy to Use: Ziolo RV Flex Repair Caulking Lap Sealant

Yes, this tube of sealant is pricey but it gets the job done—we liked how easy it is to use (it flows nicely).

What We Liked

• Takes paint.

• Adheres well and flows easily.

• Waterproof in minutes.

• Levels well.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Best RV Roof Coating: Liquid Rubber RV Roof Coating

If you need to coat an entire roof (versus seal a joint or leak), this reader favorite would be our pick—Liquid Rubber. It goes on quickly and has a very nice finish, based on our interviews with RV experts.

What We Liked

• Easy to apply.

• Easy clean up.

• Must cure for 72 hours.

• Looks impressive when finished.

• No solvents or VOC’s.

What Needs Work

• May need a primer for EPDM rubber roofs.

Best Reflective Coating: STA-Kool SK-7705 Traditional Acrylic Elastomeric Roof Coating

This brand came up time and time again when we asked our readers who have RVs for their favorite roof coating: STA-Kool. What folks like here is the highly reflective finish, great if you plan to RV in hot climates.

What We Liked

• Easy to apply and clean up.

• Rolls out nicely.

• Water-base.

• Made in USA.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!