Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have recently started my teardrop, my version of a 8' Cubby, on which the top will be skinned with aluminum and the sides wood. Now my question is, what are your humble opinions on Cabots Varnish? As I'm sure most of you have, I've spent hours this past week reading on and on here on the forums! How do any of us sleep?! My brain is rambling back and forth trying to decide on what to use. I have a very tiny budget.

Of course I would love to use epoxy and an epifanes finish, but let's face it, $$$$$. I'm not afraid of having to sand a re-coat every few years if I have to, but with care on making sure everything is sealed, will the Cabots do the job for protecting the wood/leaks?

I plan on my exterior walls being plywood sealed (encapsulated) with exterior paint or something similiar, even henrys asphalt emulsion if it doesn't dry smelly!

And over top of the plywood, my siding being sheathing rated pine beadboard. Something similar to this: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202089045/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Which is what the Varnish would be for.





Thanks to you all ahead of time for your help!


BTW, anybody used these guys? Closest non-box store near me.
http://www.suwaneelumber.com/

Hi Jon,

Any cheap varnish will do the job, the difference is in how long it will last and how well it will protect the wood from UV damage.

Of more concern based only on what I read and obviously not having a full understanding of just how you plan to do it, is how you will keep moisture from getting behind the outer layer of siding.


If you can encapsulate the outer layer as well as the base, then the inexpensive varnish will do fine.

Welcome to the forum!

Rob

Thanks for replying, yeah I'm not 100% sure yet what I'm going to use on the unseen parts of the wood, but I plan to make sure every square millimeter is covered. along with sanding/planing the angles down to a smoother angle to help seal the ends better.

Cabot is what I am using.
First coat on the roof will be a Cabot stain then the Cabot Spar Varnish..the sides and ALL hidden parts are getting a coat of Cabot deck stain then the varnish over that...
The deck stain adds to the water resistance and the Spar is the shell.

looks like T-111 siding watch out for voids in those grooves other than that should last along time good luck in your build

I'm planning on doing the same,aluminum roof,woody sides.
I will use several coats of uv resistent Polyurathane but my tear will not be stored outside.The only time it will get wet is while traveling or camping,