roofing tar on trailer roof

[Patricia D.]

I have a "new" 1975 Ventura trailer and want to fix the roof that has been entirely covered (thickly) with roofing tar and the roof has collapsed in several areas near the back. Any suggestions about what I can do with this?

[Steve Outlaw]

Are you looking to remove the tar and then repair?

[Patricia D.]

I am just exploring options. I would like to remove but depends what that entails. I just realized it could be a rubber water seal product rather than tar. It is very unevenly applied, almost clumpy in some places.
I am going to tackle the concave areas from the inside. The end goal would be a slightly rounded, even not black roof.
Thanks.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Patricia D.

I am just exploring options. I would like to remove but depends what that entails. I just realized it could be a rubber water seal product rather than tar. It is very unevenly applied, almost clumpy in some places.
I am going to tackle the concave areas from the inside. The end goal would be a slightly rounded, even not black roof.
Thanks.

Have you tried removing any of it yet? Does it peel off, can you scrape it up?

[Jack L]

If it is a rubber or acrylic product, a hot water pressure washer might work. If it is a oil base tar, kerosene might work, but you might wind up with a huge mess and a badly stained roof.

[Patricia D.]

I have not tried removing it yet. It is dull, very dry and hard. Not anywhere that I can see where I could try peeling. Seems quite impenetrable so heat may be the only answer.

[Gina D.]

My trailer came slathered with roofing tar, thanks to the PO who was a house builder..UGH!

I used:

Copious amounts of cola (Doesn't have to be Coke) from the $1 store and about a gallon of Goof Off.

The cola "Melts the tar. It bubbles and gets real soft. Scrape most of it off with a putty knife, then get the residual off with the Good Off.

Somewhere around here is a pic of me on the roof doing this job. It took two days to do.

Here it is! http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post289128

Good luck!

[Borrego Dave]

Could this be a coating like they spray in as truck bed liners?

[Patricia D.]

I will post a picture soon and maybe someone can tell for sure what it is.

[Patricia D.]

Thanks Gina D.
I May just try a corner with the cola and see if there is a reactin.

[RogerDat]

Note to self any "clever" solution implementation that starts with "here, hold my beer, I have an idea" should be put on the back burner for a at least a couple of days to consider how bloody awful it will be to deal with that clever solution down the road!


There are pictures of a project someone did to fix a roof that had been caved in by a tree. So you can fix the fiberglass without a doubt. Might be a fair amount of work or a real "learning experience" but hey the roof is already messed up, the worst that can happen is you make it worse instead of better? It is already broken!

[Patricia D.]

I used coke on a small patch and it is a very sunny day so I was able to scrape away about a 3" square to see what happens. Underneath appears to be wood. I was expecting a layer of fiberglass? Is this how the Ventura is supposed to be?

[Patricia D.]

Oops, further scraping revealed fiberglass under the tar residue. It is in pretty rough shape though, hence the tar obviously. This is going to be a huge job.