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Roof seams in the aluminum
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:51 pmby David Beckett
I can't get a single sheet of aluminum to cover my tear. How do you handle the seams?
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:01 pmby toypusher
David,
You might try doing a seach for 'aluminum supplier' or something of that nature. I am sure that you could be able to get 5' wide or wider aluminum for your tear. Try contacting a tractor-trailer trailer repair place. The usually have aluminum about 104" wide and any length that you might want. I called a place locally and it was only $9.00 a linear foot for the 104" stuff.
Kerry
roof seams
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:46 pmby David Beckett
Kerry,
I just did call our local trailer place, but I know more about aluminum than they do! I asked about thickness, .032 or .040 and the guy said he didn't know, but that it's really thin, about 3 pieces of paper! Anyway, it's only 4x10 so I'd have to work with seams.
If you have to overlap seams, it seems (pun intended) to me that the overlap would go in different directions depending on the flow of gravity and wind direction.
Surely someone has done this before.
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:54 pmby mikeschn
Maxitear had to overlap the aluminum... check out Jerry's build journal here...
http://www.maxitear.com/maxitear/MaxiTear.html
Mike...
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:33 pmby madjack
...cut your 4x10 aluminum in half, you now have 2 4x5's, put them across the body and overlap, (front over back) 1in, over a rib and screw em down using something like automotive urethane adhesive/sealant(windshield) otherwise known as EVIL BLACK STUFF to seal between them....have lacquer thinner and rags ready to clean-up sealant
madjack
roof seams
Posted:
Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:11 pmby David Beckett
Madjack,
That's exactly what I had in mind if I'm forced. Thanks for the confirmation.
Posted:
Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:29 amby D. Tillery
A sheet metal shop with a press break may be able to form your two pieces together with a locking crimp. A shop doing duct work for HVAC would be your best bet. They may even be able to resistance weld it. But you will still see a seam that you may need to cover.
D. Tillery
roof seams
Posted:
Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:36 pmby David Beckett
A local metal shop is going to bend my 4 foot sheets at both ends with a one inch U. Then I will lay them flat on a hard surface, caulk, and hammer them down.
How does this sound?
Posted:
Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:01 pmby ceebe
Aircraft Spruce and Specialty in Fullerton CA has aluminum up to 4' x 12' in many alloys and thicknesses. The priced are not out of line and you know zackly what alloy you are getting.