How Do I Repair A Leak In My RV's Skylight?

by Ann
(Halifax Canada)

We have a 2004 Terry Quantum by Fleetwood. We have just noticed water coming in around the skylight over the tub. We have checked on the roof and there are no cracks in the caulking or sealing and no cracks in the skylight itself.

It appears only when there is a drying rain with wind. This Trailer is parked as a seasonal on a lot, so no travelling. Any ideas where this water could be travelling from? We have the full rubber roof.

ANSWER: Greetings Ann thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

Since you do not tell me how much water is actually coming in, I just want to make sure that you are not mistaking some normal condensation that may form on the inside of a skylight due to humidity that normally occurs in the bathroom area. If you are sure that this is not condensation; then please follow the steps below to see if we can track down where the water is actually coming from.

1. Since you say that you do not see any cracks in the skylight itself, we will assume that it is not the culprit here. You need to go on the roof of your trailer and inspect it again. Do not just check the caulking around the Skylight; you need to check any vents or accessories that are attached to roof within in 6 or 7 feet of the Skylight itself.

There could be a vent or attachment that has cracked caulking, etc. around it that is causing water to leak into the trailer and it is traveling to the Skylight and leaking in there. Since you say that it happens when it is windy this is a good possibility.

2. Do a thorough inspection of your rubber roof for any breaks or cracks in the rubber membrane. If the membrane even has a small hole or crack it needs to be repaired.

3. If you have not found any obvious problems on your roof, then you need to perform a water test by spraying water on the roof with a garden hose while having someone in the Trailer looking for any leakage.

Hopefully, by taking these steps we have found the problem. Now it is time to repair the leak. If it turns out to be a bad seal around the skylight or another vent close by or even a rip or tear in the rubber roof, there are two ways of repairing the problem. The Easy Way or the Hard Way.

The Hard Way: Completely removing the Vent or Skylight reinstalling, resealing and recaulking it.

The Easy Way: By using a product called EternaBond OneStep Miracle RV Roof Tape. EternaBond is specifically designed for the RVer. OneStep utilizes Eternabond's advanced MicroSealant Technology with built-in primers and a specialized white UV stable backing. Perfect for all RV roof repairs and maintenance. Truly a one step process. Very little pre-cleaning necessary.

Did you know RV roof seams require yearly maintenance? Use OneStep over factory roof seams one time and never do roof seam maintenance again! 25 year warranty! More than 25 high-end RV manufacturers now use EternaBond products in the manufacturing of their dream machines to ensure their customers will truly have a weather tight, leak-proof RV. By the way the only tools you need to use EternaBond is a pair of scissors.

You should use this around all of your trailer's vents and any accessories that are attached to the roof. You should use it even if the caulking, sealant looks good as it will prevent any future leaks from occurring. It is very easy to install all you do is clean the area you plan to use it on with some Rubber Roof Cleaner. Then measure and cut the tape to the lengths you want and slowly peel off the tape backing as you firmly press and apply the tape, it instantly forms a water proof seal. It can also be used to patch any holes or cracks you may have in your rubber roof.

Hopefully this information has been helpful to you.

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Happy RVing

RVing Al