Roof, Slide and Awning
EPDM, TPO and Fiberglass RV Roof Membrane Replacement
Typical range
$3,500 to $18,000+
Shop hours
20 to 80+
Labor rate
$210/hr
The short answer
Membrane replacement strips the old rubber or thermoplastic roof, inspects and repairs the deck, and bonds a new EPDM, TPO, or fiberglass surface with the correct adhesive system. Work runs $3,500 to $18,000 and up, or 20 to 80 plus hours at $210 per hour plus materials.
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What this work actually involves
The three membranes behave nothing alike and cannot be treated the same way. EPDM is a 45 mil rubber sheet that chalks as it ages, which is normal, and it bonds with a water-based or solvent-based contact adhesive rolled onto both the deck and the sheet. TPO is a thermoplastic with a reinforcing scrim, it does not chalk the same way, and it is far less tolerant of adhesive that is applied too wet. Fiberglass and Filon roofs are bonded panels that behave like a sidewall skin and delaminate rather than tear. Ordering the wrong material or the wrong adhesive for the deck is how a two-day job becomes a redo.
Low desert exposure is what puts most of these roofs on our schedule. Coaches stored uncovered around Palm Springs, Indio, and Twentynine Palms see membranes reach end of life in roughly half the projected service span. The failure signature is specific: the sheet chalks, then shrinks, then pulls at the front and rear cap terminations and around the AC opening, and the shrinkage stress eventually tears the sheet at the corner of a penetration. Once a membrane has shrunk, no coating and no tape brings the material back, because the dimensional loss is permanent.
A membrane replacement is also the only realistic chance to see the deck. With the sheet off we meter and probe every rafter bay, replace soft decking in matching thickness, correct rot at the rafter ends where water collects, and reset blocking under any appliance that has been working loose. Every AC unit, vent, fan, and antenna comes off, gets new gaskets and butyl, and goes back on the new surface. Reusing a compressed AC gasket on a new membrane is the fastest way to a leak over a brand new roof.
Systems and brands we work on: EPDM, TPO, Alpha Systems, Dicor, Eternabond.
Location: All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside, or fleet route service.
02
What the job includes
- Membrane identification and material selection matched to the original deck and construction
- Complete removal of the old EPDM, TPO, or fiberglass surface and all adhesive residue
- Deck probing and moisture metering across every rafter bay with the sheet off
- Decking replacement in matching thickness, bonded and screwed to the rafters
- Rafter end and blocking repair where rot or fastener pull-out is found
- New EPDM or TPO sheet bonded with the correct contact adhesive system
- Fiberglass and Filon panel replacement on bonded-roof construction
- Termination and edge trim replacement at the front cap, rear cap, and drip rails
- Reinstallation of every roof appliance on new gaskets and fresh butyl
- Full-roof water test and interior moisture verification before delivery
03
When you need this service
- Membrane that has visibly shrunk and pulled away from a cap termination
- A tear or split radiating from the corner of a vent or AC opening
- Deep chalking that returns within weeks of every wash
- Bubbles or loose areas where the sheet has released from the deck
- Repeated leaks at multiple penetrations rather than a single point
- A previous coating that is peeling and taking membrane material with it
- Visible seams opening on a roof that was seamed from the factory
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How we do it, step by step
- 01
Material and construction assessment
We identify the existing membrane, confirm the deck construction, and check terminations for shrinkage so the replacement material and adhesive system are specified correctly.
- 02
Full strip and appliance removal
Every roof-mounted component comes off, the old sheet is stripped, and residual adhesive is removed. Adhesive left on the deck creates high spots that telegraph through the new sheet.
- 03
Deck evaluation and repair
The bare deck is probed and metered bay by bay. Soft decking is cut back to sound material and replaced in matching thickness, and rafter ends are repaired where water collected.
- 04
Deck preparation
Fasteners set flush, seams sanded level, and the surface cleaned. A new membrane telegraphs every ridge and screw head underneath it, so the deck has to finish flat.
- 05
Membrane bonding
Adhesive applied to both deck and sheet at the specified coverage, flashed to the correct tack, then the sheet is rolled out and worked from the centerline outward to expel air.
- 06
Terminations and penetrations
Edges trimmed and secured under new trim at the caps and drip rails, openings cut from underneath, and every appliance reset on new gaskets and butyl.
- 07
Seal, cure, and test
All flanges dressed with self-leveling lap sealant, full cure observed, then the roof is water tested and the interior metered before delivery.
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Pricing and posted rates
| Item | Rate or range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical job range | $3,500 to $18,000+ | Varies with extent of damage and parts availability |
| Shop hours | 20 to 80+ | Quoted after teardown, not before |
| Body and paint labor | $210 per hour | 2026 posted rate |
| Paint supplies | $55 per paint hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Body supplies | $5 per body hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Parts | 100% markup under $100, 35% over | Special order parts require a non refundable deposit at order |
| Deposit | 50% at authorization over $2,000 | Additional 25% when parts arrive on jobs over $10,000 |
| Sales tax | 7.75% on parts and materials | Labor is not taxed |
Insurance billed jobs may be billed at carrier negotiated labor rates that differ from the posted retail rates above. See all posted rates.
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Vehicles we do this work on
Vehicle
Class A Gas Motorhomes
A Class A gas motorhome is a flat-front coach built on a Ford F53 or Workhorse front-engine chassis, typically 28 to 38 feet. Rear
Vehicle
Class A Diesel Pusher Motorhomes
A diesel pusher carries a rear-mounted diesel on a raised-rail air ride chassis, usually 34 to 45 feet with full-body paint and pa
Vehicle
Class C Motorhomes
A Class C is a coach body built onto a cutaway van chassis with a sleeping or storage cabover extending above the factory cab. Tha
Vehicle
Super C Motorhomes
A Super C is a full coach body mounted on a medium duty truck chassis such as a Freightliner M2, International, or Kenworth, with
Vehicle
Standard Fifth Wheels
A fifth wheel couples to a hitch in the truck bed through a kingpin and pin box, with a raised forward bedroom over the truck. The
Vehicle
Travel Trailers
A travel trailer tows from a ball hitch behind the tow vehicle rear axle on an A-frame tongue, which makes it the most sway-prone
Vehicle
Toy Hauler Fifth Wheels
A toy hauler fifth wheel carries a cargo garage behind the axles with a full-height rear ramp door. Load behind the axle centerlin
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Questions about roof membrane replacement, epdm tpo and fiberglass
Frequently asked questions
What does an EPDM or TPO roof replacement cost?
Between $3,500 and $18,000 and up, or 20 to 80 plus hours at $210 per hour plus materials. A 24 foot travel trailer with sound decking sits at the low end. A 43 foot diesel pusher with three air conditioners, multiple vents, a satellite dome, and several bays of rotted decking sits at the high end, because the deck work and the appliance handling exceed the membrane work.
Should I replace EPDM with TPO?
Sometimes. TPO resists chalking and holds a cleaner surface, which matters for owners who dislike the black streaking EPDM produces. EPDM is more forgiving of deck irregularity and is often the better match on older construction. What we will not do is put either one on a deck that has not been checked, because the substrate determines the outcome more than the sheet does.
How long will a new membrane last in the desert?
A properly bonded membrane that is kept coated and resealed will run well past a decade in a coastal or inland climate. Stored uncovered in Palm Desert, Indio, or Twentynine Palms, expect roughly half of that. Covered storage and a reflective recoat applied before the first summer are the two changes that move the number most.
Can the membrane be replaced without pulling the air conditioners?
No. The membrane runs under the AC flange, so the units have to come off for the sheet to be continuous. That is also the only moment you get to inspect the AC gasket, the blocking under it, and the deck around the opening. Reusing a compressed gasket on a fresh membrane guarantees a leak over new work.
Do you handle fiberglass roofs the same way?
No. A fiberglass or Filon roof is a bonded panel, so it fails by delaminating from the substrate rather than tearing. Repair means re-bonding or replacing panel sections and refinishing the surface, which is closer to sidewall work than to membrane work. We price it separately because the labor profile is different.
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Ready to move on roof membrane replacement, epdm tpo and fiberglass? Bring it to Yorba Linda.