Spider webbing in dark paint

[Neil Loveless]

I have another question for the group, I've seen some comments on repainting but haven't seen anything specific about the cracking.  I'm curious to know what causes it, is it specific to all Monaco products, are there any preventive methods to prevent or slow down this, and will a repaint actually fix the problem or will it recur?  Is this a problem with other manufacturer's as well.  Thanks, Neil

 

[Dennis H]

Neil.... First, it's not product specific. It's found across many different mfgs.  Two, the cause is of some discussion. Many feel it's because of the 'change' required in the paint itself, others think it's the fiberglass. Remember when they changed to water based paint? Since it seems to only affect 04-06 coaches, my guess is it's in the quality of the paint available during those years. According to what I've read, repainting will not fix the problem unless you remove everything and start over. 

Google "RV Paint Checking". You'll have enough reading for days......Dennis

Edited March 7, 2020 by Executive45

[Neil Loveless]

9 minutes ago, Executive45 said:

Neil.... First, it's not product specific. It's found across many different mfgs.  Two, the cause is of some discussion. Many feel it's because of the 'change' required in the paint itself, others think it's the fiberglass. Remember when they changed to water based paint? Since it seems to only affect 04-06 coaches, my guess is it's in the quality of the paint available during those years. According to what I've read, repainting will not fix the problem unless you remove everything and start over. 

Google "RV Paint Checking". You'll have enough reading for days......Dennis

Dennis, thanks for this info!  We just looked at an '09 Dynasty 42 that had quite a bit of checking in the dark brown, no black on that coach.  Is it true that it's mainly in the dark colors?

[Dr4Film]

The correct term for this defect is Thermal Checking. It is not a paint defect but is cause by defective fiberglass. The only permanent cure is to strip the fiberglass walls off and apply new ones with new paint. Some paint shops claim to have permanent fixes with new paint but it is only a myth.

My 2002 Windsor has it and many brands of coaches were affected for many years.

[Mark H.]

Same here my 02 Windsor has the checking, it can mostly be seen in the black on my coach

[Gary M]

I have 2009 Knight and all dark colors are starting to check.

[Jim McGarvie]

We have what sounds like what you are describing, but in our case it isn't paint, it is in the graphics tape. We would probably have to try to remove the tape, which I understand is quite difficult.

[Neil Loveless]

32 minutes ago, Dr4Film said:

The correct term for this defect is Thermal Checking. It is not a paint defect but is cause by defective fiberglass. The only permanent cure is to strip the fiberglass walls off and apply new ones with new paint. Some paint shops claim to have permanent fixes with new paint but it is only a myth.

My 2002 Windsor has it and many brands of coaches were affected for many years.

Thanks to everyone for the replies, this has helped me a lot with an understanding of the problem, I really appreciate it!  Neil

[Gary M]

18 minutes ago, Jim McGarvie said:

We have what sounds like what you are describing, but in our case it isn't paint, it is in the graphics tape. We would probably have to try to remove the tape, which I understand is quite difficult.

My first coach had decals and they were checking. The new owner removed decals and had them painted on.

[Dennis H]

Same appearance but different issues. Graphics, (stick on) will, over time, lose their adhesion and often will show cracking. That's in the product itself.  Paint checking, as pointed out, Thermal Checking, is in fact caused by a fiberglass defect but to go into detail about how and why is not worth the band width, nor do most people care about the why. There is no easy fix. IMO, live with it. You're really the only one who will notice it and only while washing your coach. Mine showed it shortly after we bought it and I'm the only who's really had an issue with it.  Think of it this way, esp if you've been shopping for coaches; how often have you noticed it? If you weren't shopping for a coach would you even be aware of it? Driving through a campground, have you seen it? Probably not....Dennis

Neil, yes, it's only in the dark colors.

[Neil Loveless]

20 hours ago, Executive45 said:

Same appearance but different issues. Graphics, (stick on) will, over time, lose their adhesion and often will show cracking. That's in the product itself.  Paint checking, as pointed out, Thermal Checking, is in fact caused by a fiberglass defect but to go into detail about how and why is not worth the band width, nor do most people care about the why. There is no easy fix. IMO, live with it. You're really the only one who will notice it and only while washing your coach. Mine showed it shortly after we bought it and I'm the only who's really had an issue with it.  Think of it this way, esp if you've been shopping for coaches; how often have you noticed it? If you weren't shopping for a coach would you even be aware of it? Driving through a campground, have you seen it? Probably not....Dennis

Neil, yes, it's only in the dark colors.

Thanks Dennis, great summary...….really puts it in perspective!  You are right, no one else really notices it.

[Dennis H]

56 minutes ago, Neil Loveless said:

Thanks Dennis, great summary...….really puts it in perspective!  You are right, no one else really notices it.

Probably should have mentioned though---it IS a GREAT bargaining tool when talking to the salesperson. 🙂 ....Dennis

[Moonwink]

Like others have mentioned, this is an industry wide problem.  I heard it refereed to as "crazing" and began searching for information from that angle.  I found out that even high  end coaches like Country Coach had this problem.  The gel-coat was applied over lauan plywood.  The dark colors and heat from the sun caused the biggest problems.  I had heard that the industry began using a different material for sidewalls after 2008.  The only real fix is sidewall replacement - very costly.   I had an area on the rear quarter panel of my Trek where the clear coat was pealing off.  I used duct tape to pull off as much as I could before having a local body shop paint the area.  That was a couple of years ago and while the crazing is still visible, the cracks haven't opened up again and the freshly painted area looks a lot better than it had before.

Try searching for RV paint crazing in addition to checking.  There's lots of forum responses available on the subject.  Like is said, I continue to live with mine because I can't afford to replace the sidewalls and have the MH repainted.  The fogged up dual pane windows were fixable - paint crazing is much more costly to fix.

http://finaltouchrv.com/dirty-little-secret/

"In most cases it can be traced back to a defect in the fiberglass material, which Winnebago, Fleetwood, National RV and others bought from a subsidiary of Dow Corning glass."
https://www.coachspecialists.com/blog/much-cost-fix-rv-paint-problems/

The issue with vinyl graphics is completely different and not related to the gel-coat over lauan.  The vinyl shrinks because of the effects of exposure to sunlight.

Edited March 9, 2020 by Moonwink