notbadbutgood Posted May 28, 2018 Posted May 28, 2018 Hey Everyone, So I'm replacing my roof, and looking for some advice on a material... (I have a '78 Dolphin Micro Mini, so weight is even more important than normal.) I feel like ¼" luan is the ubiquitous workhorse, so it's what most people recommend. However, while at Home Depot, I found some ⅛" hardboard that feels like it would be lighter (and cheaper). Since it'll be covered in EPDM, and my roof doesn't need to be incredibly load-bearing, is there any reason why I shouldn't go with that, instead? It's half the price of the luan, and has to be lighter than ¼" luan, I would think. One obvious downside is that because it's thinner than the luan, it would also be just a little more difficult to walk on my roof, having to be very careful not to cause distress, as it would most certainly be more prone to breakage than the ¼" luan. Anyone have an opinion to share? Should I just stick with what everyone uses? Or has anyone used ⅛" hardboard before? Quote
linda s Posted May 28, 2018 Posted May 28, 2018 Knowing how flexible the luan is I would think it would be impossible to walk on your roof with the 1/8 inch hardboard. Your roof also provides structure to your camper. Keeps the walls stable in a very bouncy situation. I can imagine the 1/8 inch stuff fluttering from the wind when your going down the road. Not good. I have worked with luan and hey if this old lady can fling those sheets around luan is not that heavy. I think your camper can handle it. Linda S Quote
fred heath Posted May 28, 2018 Posted May 28, 2018 1/8” MDF has a tendency to swell and bulge when in contact with moisture. It’s designed for interior applications. Putting on your roof is inviting disaster. Quote
notbadbutgood Posted May 28, 2018 Author Posted May 28, 2018 25 minutes ago, fred heath said: 1/8” MDF has a tendency to swell and bulge when in contact with moisture. It’s designed for interior applications. Putting on your roof is inviting disaster. Hmm...yeah, I mean, I think I was being over-confident in the EPDM to keep the moisture out, but I think everyone knows that's a pipe dream... I also appreciate the assessment, Linda, about the weight of the luan. Okay, I think I'll stick with luan for this. Thank you! Quote
DanAatTheCape Posted May 29, 2018 Posted May 29, 2018 23 hours ago, notbadbutgood said: Hmm...yeah, I mean, I think I was being over-confident in the EPDM to keep the moisture out, but I think everyone knows that's a pipe dream... Even if the moisture does not come down, it can still go up. Quote
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