After repair to RV’s slide roof, something is sticking up under new roof membrane. How to fix?

Dear Dave,
Last year a tree limb fell and punched a hole in my RV’s slide and awning. Insurance paid for most of the new roof and awning. When I went to winterize the camper I discovered a nail or screw sticking up under the new roof membrane. It has not poked through yet. I had issues with the repair shop about the awning after picking it up. I do not want to go back to this repair shop. My question is, can I cut a small hole and remove or push the screw in and repair the incision I make? —Joe, 2017 Z-1

Dear Joe,
I would suggest trying to remove the screw from the inside, if possible. You can slice a line from the outside and go at it from there. However, I don’t think you would be able to push it back in. If you broke it off, it might still have a sharp edge or protrusion that you would fight.

Without seeing the location of the protrusion, it is not possible to identify what piece was attached from the inside to make the protrusion. However, I would assume it was not there before the repair, so it has to be something that was attached.

How to locate object on inside of RV’s slide

Locate the penetration and measure from the side or a fixture on the roof such as the roof air conditioner or vent, and then locate that spot inside. You indicated the limb fell on the slide and awning, so I assume the protrusion you have is in the roof of the slide room. My guess would be that they used screws that were too long to attach cabinets inside, or trim, or even used screws to hold the roof layers together. Most likely you will find the culprit inside a cabinet.

If you cannot identify it from the inside, then you will have to attack this from the outside. I assume the new roof membrane is a rubber material such as EPDM or TPO, which is easy to cut. Cut a short slit in the membrane about 1 inch on each side of the protrusion so it is not too long but long enough to be able to peel a little of the material away from the protrusion. If it is a nail, you should be able to pound it back down through the roof and find it inside. If it is a screw, try using a vise grip and turning it back down through, if possible. Otherwise, use an oblique head cutter like this one from Amazon.

It will get the closest to the roof material and reduce the amount of metal still sticking out. If it breaks off, you might want to hammer what is left down into the wood and at least smooth out any sharp points.

Next, apply a little rubber membrane adhesive underneath the sliced area and place a 2×6 with a little weight over the cut to let it cure. I would then apply a little EternaBond over the cut and cover it with self-leveling lap sealant to protect the EternaBond from UV degradation.

You could just use the sealant; however, I do like the extra protection you would get from using the tape and the sealant to hold the slice from moving.

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My RV’s rubber roof has a few bubbles. Should I be concerned?

Dear Dave,
Our RV’s roof is by Alpha TPO. We clean it as recommended 4 times a year with Dawn mixed in a bucket of water and a medium brush. Before I get to the issue, I will say the roof is discolored from leaves. We have a bubble bigger than a nickel but slightly smaller than a quarter on the driver’s side (kitchen) and three barely noticeable ones on the passenger side (dining table and theater seats). I brush off any dirt or debris on the inside (part still inside) where the bubble is at. I pull the sides in partially to clean the part under the chain and motor. Should we be worried about these? We live full time in the RV, moving every 2-4 months doing volunteer work. —Liz, 2022 Dutchmen Astoria 3173RLP

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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

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