Which RV roof covering is better, FlexArmor or fiberglass?

Dear Dave,
On my future RV, I’m trying to compare a FlexArmor lifetime roof or a fiberglass roof that some RV fifth wheels have. Would a FlexArmor or a fiberglass roof be better? —Martin, 2010 Open Range Journeyer

Dear Martin,
I have not applied the FlexArmor product to any RV roofs, but I have talked with several owners that have it and they all really like it. I have also talked with several applicators at various shows around the country and it is impressive. However, it is very expensive and does not come as a standard feature. Rather, it is an aftermarket product that will add more expense to the overall price.

I worked at Winnebago Industries for 15 years and was in the Marketing Department when they made the switch from aluminum roof material to fiberglass back in the late 1980s. We tested all other products that were applicable, including EPDM, which was a rubber membrane.

Fiberglass was the best product

We decided that fiberglass was not only the toughest and longest-lasting material, but it also added structural integrity to the roof design without adding much more weight. It also required very little maintenance other than the front and rear cap seams, and any opening in the top such as roof vents, skylights, and other items that had sealant around the edges. It was not the fiberglass that was the issue, but rather the lap sealant that can dry and get cracks. That would be the same issue with FlexArmor.

So, I called my contact at RV Roof Magic, which is a liquid butyl rubber roof coating, as I was confident he would be honest in an assessment of the FlexArmor product. RV Roof Magic has a 10-year warranty and a track record of 15– to 18-year longevity, and we have applied that product. RVtravel.com’s Cheri Sicard did an application on her RV. Although it has been less than a year, she has told me how easy it was and how much she likes it.

My contact at RV Roof Magic stated that he felt the FlexArmor product was an excellent product and had performed extremely well on the rigs that he researched. However, most of these have not had much of a track record since the applications were only a few years old.

Dustin Simpson of California RV Specialists has a video on his site of a 5th wheel that has a FlexArmor roof. Although it looks like a great product, after one year there is quite a mold growth on the material and some application issues.

My “pros” of FlexArmor

• With proper preparation, masking, and application, it becomes a single-piece coating that has the ability to expand and contract and “flex” with temperature changes and vehicle movement.
• Lifetime warranty against roof leaks is an incredible peace of mind, and it is also transferable.
• 3500 PSI tensile strength for a tougher roof material in hail and scratches from branches.
• Plus, it is about three times thicker than fiberglass, and it flexes.

My “cons” of FlexArmor

• The cost! From the forums I have found, it looks to be about $10,000 for a 5th wheel at 40’, of which most is labor now that service centers are charging $200+ per hour.
• Finding an authorized applicator, as they only have about two dozen in the country, and mostly in the Eastern states.
• Their website claims to have 3X insulating factor. I do not believe this is accurate, as it only adds a thickness of 3/16th of an inch, which would not add any measurable insulation value to the roof.
• They also claim no maintenance. However, mold and mildew can and will form on the roof and should be cleaned periodically as it will deteriorate any membrane over time.

To Flex or not to Flex – That is the question!

As I stated before, I believe the fiberglass roof material is the best in the industry. However, I would not use that as the only criteria for my buying decision. I would prioritize these factors: floor plan, budget, and quality, before the roof material. If you limit your choices to just units with a fiberglass roof, you might compromise the floorplan and amenities you want and pay a higher price as there are very few that have a fiberglass roof material. The FlexArmor product does not come standard and can be applied to almost any roof material.

Even though I believe fiberglass is a superior material, I would not hesitate to purchase a unit that had a rubber membrane, as long as it was a higher-grade material such as TPO, Alpha, or others. I do know that these need to be cleaned and conditioned, but it’s a give-and-take of price points.

My recommendation would be to find the model and floorplan you like at the budget you can afford. Then you can apply the FlexArmor coating if you feel it is worth the money. I don’t think I would apply it to a new roof, but rather wait until the roof needs to be reconditioned.

 You might also enjoy this from Dave 

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Read the rest of Jeff’s question and Dave’s answer.

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

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