Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Second day of my TD build and I am now ready to attach roof. I have stringers every 12" so what is the best way to attach some luan to the top? Glue, epoxy? Screws no screws? One key factor is whatever I use must come from HD or Lowes. As you can probably tell I am new to the TD community. Thanks.

Welcome Spadefeet ... there are no dumb questions, believe me! haha

I have not put my roof materials on yet, but hopefully in the next week.

I am going to use 1/8" luan , and adhere it to the spars with a Loctite product in a caulk tube that I've heard is really good , or use something like the PL type glue (Gorilla Glue)
and shoot brad nails into the spars to secure the hold. I think this is what lots of others have done.


I'll be interested to see the replies here.

Julie

I used PL Polyurethane caulk to glue it down and brads to hold it there while it sets up. Short screws with broad heads would work too, I'd probably remove them later. I skinned with aluminum so it covers up a multitude of sins.

spadefeet wrote:Second day of my TD build and I am now ready to attach roof. I have stringers every 12" so what is the best way to attach some luan to the top? Glue, epoxy? Screws no screws? One key factor is whatever I use must come from HD or Lowes. As you can probably tell I am new to the TD community. Thanks.

SF,

There are almost as many answers to this question as there are TearDrops.

I'm from the thickened epoxy and no screws, nail or staples crowd. Actually not a crowd, maybe I'm the only one that didn't put holes in my roof plywood to hold it down...Just epoxy and clamps..... lottsa clamps.

Second day, hmmmmm......... I think I was tacking up the frame with the welder on the second day. Guess you'll be finished by the end of the week.

spadefeet wrote:Second day of my TD build and I am now ready to attach roof. I have stringers every 12" so what is the best way to attach some luan to the top? Glue, epoxy? Screws no screws? One key factor is whatever I use must come from HD or Lowes. As you can probably tell I am new to the TD community. Thanks.

Second day huh. Well I guess thats why we don't have any pictures
Spade, take a break and get the camera. Someday you are going to really want them.

Aunti M

Welcome to the forum. I used Gorilla Glue on the spars and sides then stapled along where the roof met the walls. If you have some tight radius' to go around be sure to have some strap clamps ready.

I used Stainless steel screws in my 1/4" birch roof.

But for 1/8" luan in the past I have used staples in a pneumatic stapler. Don't set the pressure too high. I typically use titebond III in between the luan and the spars. After you glue and staple, be sure to get inside with a wet rag and wipe off the excess.

Mike...

Shooting brads into 1/8" ply can be tricky. When I tried it, no matter how I set the pressure, I either went right through the ply or the nailer wouldn't fire. What I tried was to get a scrap piece of ply, lay it on top, and shoot the brad through both pieces. The brad would go all the way through the first piece, and end up flush on the piece I wanted to nail..No more worries.

I used Liquid Nails Construction Glue for each rib and the tops of the side walls. Then i started at the front/bottom and started tapping small nails in one at a time at the top of the side walls. To make sure that my roof skin was going to make use of all that construction glue on the ribs (where i would have no nails) i made use of my straps. I placed boards above the spots that i had ribs. Stretched the straps from the fron to the back and when i would tighten the straps the boards would push down on the skin real even. I let the straps and boards stay on for two days just to make sure i had a good hold. All my nails are going to be covered up by wood trim. Its holding up very well and the construction glue (im told) allows for some play when the camper is beating down the highway. If you look close you can see the glue on the ribs on one or more of my pix.

We used the suggested LNHDC Adhesive and 1" serrated brad nails ... then sealed all with fiberglass tape and epoxy resin .... STRONG Like ROCK !!!!