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Trailer Roof Repair—Prevention of Leaks Through Inspection and Cleaning


Articles / November 11, 2015

At Ainsworth Trailer Repair of Denver, we perform trailer roof repair on all manner of trailers, from small cargo trailers on up through freight trailers. Depending upon their purpose and build style, trailers have wildly different roof construction, from one piece aluminum caps, to rubber membranes under fiberglass, to even fabrics like canvas. Fortunately, with 13 bays and 10 experienced mechanics on staff, Ainsworth Trailer Repair has the expertise to tackle any trailer roof repair job you may have. 

Blog2 AinsworthTrailer-KW trailer roof repair 11-11-15Prevention is the best strategy for delaying any eventual trailer roof repair. Any solidly constructed trailer roof can benefit from cleaning and preventative maintenance. By regularly getting a look at the roof of your trailer you can also catch problems early. If you allow dirt, mold, sap, and scratches to accumulate up there, the elements will speed corrosion, and eventually become a trailer roof repair problem.

By getting to the top of your trailer at least twice a year, you can not only keep foreign matter and growths from attacking your trailer’s roof integrity, you can also gauge how any roof seams, caulking, or the seals around roof mounted fixtures are holding up. Be sure that your trailer roof was designed to bear your weight before standing upon it, or ensure that you have a sturdy ladder tall enough to work up there from the side without having to balance near the top.

Once you are ready to clean the roof of your trailer, check that the cleaning product you chose is appropriate for the materials your trailer roof is constructed from. In particular, avoid cleaners wth a citric acid component as these have the potential to attack and embrittle synthetic rubber membranes and seals, compromising their waterproofing characteristics.

When choosing a brush, make certain that the bristles are soft enough to not rough up either the rubber seals or the finish of the trailer roof’s exterior. Exposed aluminum develops a protective sheen of aluminum oxide, and if you scratch that away with your brush, the aluminum oxide will settle into the next layer of freshly exposed metal. The same principle governs fiberglass too. Scratching the protective coat will shorten the service life of the panel, and eventually lead to the material breaking down.

If the damage is already done, contact us for a free quote on trailer roof repair today.