Up On The Roof
When most people think about an RV, they picture the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or maybe the campsite waiting at the end of the trip. Few spend much time thinking about the roof. That's understandable. The roof isn't glamorous. It's a large expanse of membrane, sealants, vents, air conditioners, antennas, solar panels, and other components that quietly do their jobs day after day.
For an RV inspector, however, the roof is one of the most important areas of the coach. During a recent inspection, I began implementing 360° image collection. Inside, underneath, and perhaps most interestingly, up on the roof, these images capture perspectives most owners never get to see (you can click and drag this image below too):
The result was a unique view of the entire roof layout and the systems installed there. They will be included with our reports when conditions and time allow, providing an additional deliverable to help clients better understand the RV they are considering. Not to replace any of the standard images we collect for these locations, but to allow a more "next best thing to being there" feel for the conditions onsite.
The image itself is interesting, but it also raises a good question:
What is an inspector actually looking for while crawling around on the roof?
The answer depends on the RV, but several items are always high on the list:
- Roof membrane/cap condition
- Sealants around roof penetrations
- Vents, skylights, and plumbing fixtures
- Air conditioner mounting and condition
- Solar panel installations and wiring
- Antennas and communication equipment
- Slide topper attachments and condition
- Evidence of previous repairs or damage
Many of the most expensive RV repairs begin with water intrusion. A small crack in sealant or a damaged roof component may not seem significant today, but over time water can find its way into areas where it doesn't belong.
That doesn't mean every roof issue is a major problem. In fact, many findings are routine maintenance items. This particular RV was only about a year old and was about to get its second owner, the roof was in great shape (there were other things inside that would've gone unnoticed without the testing an inspection provides). The buyer simply wanted to be sure everything had been thoroughly evaluated.
The goal of an inspection is not to create alarm, but to understand the condition of the RV and identify items that deserve attention. The 360° image also highlights something many buyers don't realize: RV roofs are busy places. Air conditioners, vents, antennas, solar panels, plumbing vents, and other components all share the same space. Every penetration through the roof represents an area that should be inspected and maintained throughout the life of the RV.
Most owners never have the opportunity to view their RV from this perspective. As inspectors, we spend a lot of time up there because the roof often tells an important part of the RV's story. When conditions and time allows on inspection day, I will be collecting these images for customers and providing them as part of the deliverables at the end of the inspection.
To be sure, while climbing the ladder, crawling around checking sealants, membrane condition, and slide toppers, James Taylor's "Up on the Roof "is almost certainly playing in my head.
