RV Paneling

While aluminum siding and fiberglass siding have their pros and cons, they have become the two main types of RV paneling. Aluminum paneling can be identified over fiberglass paneling because it typically has ridges, whereas fiberglass paneling is smooth.

The biggest benefit of aluminum siding is price. Aluminum RVs with aluminum siding can be thousands of dollars less expensive than RVs with fiberglass siding. Aluminum paneling is perfect for the first time buyer so they can tell if they enjoy owning an RV. RVs with aluminum siding can also be warmer, due to the way they are constructed. The usual way an RV is built that has aluminum siding is with aluminum siding on the outside, a wood frame behind the paneling, insulation, and then some open space. This space adds warmth to an RV that others with different siding do not have. But just when you thought that Aluminum paneling was definitely the way to go, there are a lot of other things that fiberglass paneling offers that aluminum paneling does not.

Fiberglass paneling handles wear and tear much better than aluminum paneling does. With aluminum paneling scrapes and dents are all too common, This wear and tear greatly affects the resale value of your RV. So if or when you decide to try and sell your RV, it may not go for as much as you want if you have aluminum paneling on your RV. Also, fiberglass paneling is much lighter than aluminum paneling. On top of that, fiberglass paneling is also built to have better aerodynamics, which not only makes it a smoother ride but will also help you save on gas. When traveling across country in your RV, saving on gas can make your trip a lot more enjoyable.

So now lets look at possible problems you can have with your RV paneling. When it comes to fiberglass, you can have an issue that is called delamination. This is when air bubbles get in between the siding and the inner wall that the fiberglass is attached to.

You can see delamination by looking for bubbles or blisters on the outside of your fiberglass paneling. The most common cause of delamination is moisture that gets in between the outer fiberglass layer and the inner wall that the paneling is attached to. In addition to delamination, cracks can also develop in fiberglass paneling and cause damage to the resale value. The common problem with aluminum siding is that it easily attracts dents, dings, and scrapes. These can be fixed as well but if you travel more, you will have a greater likelihood of more dents, dings, and scrapes which all RVs with aluminum paneling tend to have more of than fiberglass paneling does.