KJones Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I ask because, unfortunately, my roof is made of cardboard. I knew something wasn't right with the roof but wasn't prepared for this. It's basically a layer of epdm adhered to a thick layer of cardboard. Wow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Smith Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 What is the make and manufacturer of your RV Steve and Joy Amateur Radio Operator WZ1T . . . Flex 6600 M, Flex PGXL, Flex TGXL, 2014 Itasca Suncruiser 38Q . . . Lincoln MKX Toad The Kids . . . Yogi the Yorkie passed 10/20/2018. . . Cookie the Chihuahua passed 11/30/2017 . . . Cooper the Aussie Doodle passed 3/10/2020 Abbie and Abel the Doodles . . . Brother and Sister Born 02/02/2020 . . . Lucy the Yorkie . . . and Axel . . .The Bernie Doodle Where We Are Now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 1994 Serro Scotty HiLander 2500 GT. It's a rare class c built on a 1993 Dodge D350 truck chassis (Cummins engine). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 After looking into it a bit more, I think it's something called "bud board" or "budboard." It's really basically just cardboard. Never heard of it before but it was apparently used by one manufacturer of small travel trailers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I am thinking that yours is actually a product called hardboard panels. If I am right it has been used as has quarter inch plywood for underlay of RVs with either EDPM or even some fiberglass roofs. I believe that plywood is more common but both have been used. It is a good product as long as it is kept dry but does not survive moisture at all well. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I am thinking that yours is actually a product called hardboard panels. If I am right it has been used as has quarter inch plywood for underlay of RVs with either EDPM or even some fiberglass roofs. I believe that plywood is more common but both have been used. It is a good product as long as it is kept dry but does not survive moisture at all well. Sadly, I think it really is cardboard. The texture/ fiber is consistent with that anyway. It's bizarre. I'm going to try to post some pics later today if possible. I'm thinking it was some sort of strange prototype that Serro attempted. I'm now starting the process of replacing the whole roof with some proper plywood and EPDM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Here are a couple of pics: I looked at hardboard in Home Depot today and it's definitely not that. Seems like cardboard to me. It's the last thing I expected to find when I cut off that section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacher's pet Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Here's one on youtube built in 95 Teacher's Pet '06 40' Phaeton QSH 350 Cat. '04 R-Vision B+ Model 213, 6.0 Chevrolet. http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com http://map.datastormusers.com/user3.cfm?user=3912 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Here's one on youtube built in 95 It's similar but mine is built on a gen 1 cummins and the one in the video is a gen 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rif Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 In 2002 Teton used something like cardboard to form the radius between the roof and sidewall. Over time the cardboard deteriorated and collapsed leaving sunken and wavy areas where the roofing material drooped down. The only thing that kept it from looking really bad was that they used TPO as a roofing material instead of EPDM. The TPO is stiffer and did not sag as badly as EPDM would have. I think they only used this cardboard material for a short time before they realized their mistake. Replacing the radius with fiberglass was one of the things I did when we had the rig painted in 2012. If a top of the line manufacturer like Teton can do something so stupid, it's hard to tell what manufacturers of other RV's might do. 2000 Volvo 770, 500HP/1650FP Cummins N14 and 10 Speed Autoshift 3.58 Rear 202" WB, 2002 Teton Aspen Royal 43 Foot, Burgman 650 Scooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 In 2002 Teton used something like cardboard to form the radius between the roof and sidewall. Over time the cardboard deteriorated and collapsed leaving sunken and wavy areas where the roofing material drooped down. The only thing that kept it from looking really bad was that they used TPO as a roofing material instead of EPDM. The TPO is stiffer and did not sag as badly as EPDM would have. I think they only used this cardboard material for a short time before they realized their mistake. Replacing the radius with fiberglass was one of the things I did when we had the rig painted in 2012. If a top of the line manufacturer like Teton can do something so stupid, it's hard to tell what manufacturers of other RV's might do. I just had a conversation earlier today with an RV roof repair guy and he told me the same thing about Teton. It's hard to believe that any manufacturer would think cardboard on any part of a roof is a good idea. I think my unit was the 6th class c that Scotty made so perhaps it came down to lack of experience. I'm hoping it's not too bad to replace. It seems like it's just the topmost layers of cardboard that got damp. Thank goodness I'm under a roof and have been for the past 3 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I think the new generation of "hardboard" is way different. I recall some of years back that would breakdown the same as your picture. I think it never should have had the word " board" in the description. It would breakdown exactly like your picture but could get worse. I recall some house that had it. Unvbelievable, huh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I wasn't able to see the pictures, but if it has gotten soft there is no doubt that you need to replace it. It seems like it's just the topmost layers of cardboard that got damp. I would remove it all down to the framework of the support structure. If you don't do so and there is any dry rot left behind it can be the start of failure of the new underlay that you install. Once you have removed the damaged materials, treat new and existing wood with a borate wood preservative to prevent growth of the dry rot fungus and kill any fungus already in the wood. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I wasn't able to see the pictures, but if it has gotten soft there is no doubt that you need to replace it. I would remove it all down to the framework of the support structure. If you don't do so and there is any dry rot left behind it can be the start of failure of the new underlay that you install. Once you have removed the damaged materials, treat new and existing wood with a borate wood preservative to prevent growth of the dry rot fungus and kill any fungus already in the wood. Yeah, it's definitely getting replaced. Hopefully the framework is okay but I won't know that until I remove the roof. Thanks for the tip about the borate. Sounds like a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I think the new generation of "hardboard" is way different. I recall some of years back that would breakdown the same as your picture. I think it never should have had the word " board" in the description. It would breakdown exactly like your picture but could get worse. I recall some house that had it. Unvbelievable, huh. Can't imagine it on a house. That's awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa_desert_rat Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I have used an epoxy product called Gluvit to treat soft wood once it has been dried out. The epoxy is viscous enough to penetrate into the voids and when it cures the combination of the fibers in the wood and the epoxy can make a fairly strong unit. If nothing else, it will cure dry rot. Like any epoxy, however, it must be protected from ultra-violet (UV) or it will deteriorate. Painting works. WDR 1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks 1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires Raspberry Pi Coach Computer Ham Radio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Coming from a woodworking family, that stuff is called "pressboard". A predecessor to "hardboard". That is exactly what it looks like when it gets wet, swells, and begins to separate. You are right though... it is basically highly pressurized "cardboard" mixed with water based glues. It was very commonly used as drawer bottoms and case furniture (dressers, cabinets, etc) backs in lower end products. Rigid enough to hold a small nail and keep a piece square, but only in non-conspicuousness applications. I can see where it might have been attractive in an RV application. Cheap, easy to cut, lighter and more flexible than plywood. Since it was widely used as "wood" and sold in lumber yards.. it's easy to understand how some manufacturer with little lumber knowledge might have seen it in the yard and thought.. "hmm... this 'wood' is lighter, more flexible, and cheaper.. Let's give'r a try!" It was never intended for outdoor applications, and barely suitable for it's intended use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCW Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I also remember pressboard and agree that it looked like what you show in the pictures. There were some versions that were supposed to be for underlayment applications. General Fiber Co even made duck decoys molded out of a similar fiber material. The one that dies with the most toys is still dead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJones Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Yeah, I suppose it might resemble the stuff used on the backs of CRT TVs. So, basically compressed cardboard AKA "pressboard." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa_desert_rat Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Even wood can be a problem when exposed to water. Many boat builders used balsa as a "core" to stiffen decks and cabin tops. It worked very well as a stiffener but when water inevitably invaded the space (through poorly prepared installations of portlights, teak decks, etc.) the failure was spectacular (and expensive to fix). WDR 1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks 1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires Raspberry Pi Coach Computer Ham Radio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeomelia Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Sunline Trailers used Budboad they were a highly rated vacation trailer by RV Consumer Reports , in 2004 the family sold out to a group of investors and within 2 years they closed. Google "A HISTORY OF RECENT RV COACH CLOSINGS" 1999 Dodge QuadCab Diesel 2005 DesertFox 28KS The toy is the wife's sewing machines 1992 Dodge Roadtrek 190 Versitile "...traveled the same road as many..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveh Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 You can find out just about anything reading these boards. Dave and Lana Hasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarvan Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 You can find out just about anything reading these boards. The good, the bad, the ugly, the truth and the absolute bovine excrement. Gotta sort through it though. Previously a 2017 Forest River, Berkshire 38A, "The Dragonship". https://dragonship.blog/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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