Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am just about ready to seal my the underside of my floor, I bought a can of Henry's asphalt emulsion. People (non-tear droppers) keep telling me that there are probably much better methods. While I am sure that there are better methods, most seem to be out of my budget. I still think that the emulsion will work, but before I take that step, I want to ask around for some opinions. I know a lot of people have used black goo, and it seems to be a teardrop "industry standard", so I want as many (and diverse) thoughts as I can get. Here are my main questions, but if someone has information that they feel is important that I have not asked, please chime in! I need all the help I can get!

1. Has anyone used emulsion and wished they had not? why?

2. How many coats are adequate, how many overkill, and advantages or disadvantages of each?

3. What problems have people encountered using emulsion?

4. If used, how long should I expect to go without re-coating the floor?

5. Is emulsion sufficient by itself, or should I put something between the black goo and the floor

6. Henry's has fiberglass tape (medium fine mesh) designed for reinforcing, I bought some and was planning on putting it over every seem, between layers of emulsion, is this a good idea?

Ok, now I am gonna sit back and hope lots of experienced people will "edjumacate" me. And thanks in advance for all the help I have and will receive from those of you you know more than me!

As a retired carpenter, I had occasion to work with roofers. I will probably use a torchdown membrane on my build. I'm sure if I look around, I can get some leftover pieces for free or a six pack or two. It goes down easily and is ready for use as soon as it's cool. You may have to rent a torch, I'll use my rosebud tip on my oxy-acetylene setup.
Here's a link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me4XDzb4v8Y

I'm going the root of every trailer manufacturer these days. I'm insulated below floor and will span the frame with coroplast. In my opinion if building the floor before attaching to the frame this would be even better option. Coroplast is cheap

Where clothes and shoes you plan to throw away. It takes forever to dry so be ready for it to "appear" on different parts of your construction. It is however cheap and after two years on our tear, it is still there and as thick as ever.

that torch down stuff looks interesting. From watching the video, you have a layer of asphalt down first then melt them together? is that right?

It's not that bad, just consider everything as "Disposable" when you do it. You can put on as many coats as you want, it will just take longer to dry out and not be sticky. It's been a while, but I think I did 3 or 4 coats. The biggest pro; it's cheap, the biggest con; it can hold up your build while you wait for it to dry. It's messy, but it's only as messy as the person applying it.

egjacks wrote:that torch down stuff looks interesting. From watching the video, you have a layer of asphalt down first then melt them together? is that right?

I think in the video that he is putting down a second layer. It's hard to tell. I've seen roofers put it directly onto plywood. The flame will slightly char the ply, here and there, but once the membrane is rolled over it, it is sealed and there is no danger of fire or damage from the flame. As you can see, when he heats it and rolls, there is a good amount of the bitumen that melts and runs ahead of the roll and off of the edges. The nice thing about the stuff is it is ready to go once it cools. 10 or 15 minutes and your good to go

I used the black goo on my first build, and I do not plan to use ever again. I have ranted on this before and I may miss all of my reasons but. First, do we use the black goo because of habit? because that is what factory trailers look like ( but they don't use black goo either). Ok, the goo will not penetrate the wood to any appreciable extent. The goo will not flow into crack, corners or crannys. You have to really push the stuff to make it go in there. The goo is made to go on a roof where gravity helps it stay on the surface. Under a trailer gravity is trying to pull it off and when a chunk comes off you will have bare wood. If you have made your floor from a single piece of plywood you won't have to worry about seams letting water in. If you do build with seams in the floor do a good job so the seams are fairly water tight on their own. What would I use? I am going to use varnish, probably cheap spar varnish. The first two coats with be cut 50/50 with mineral spirits. That way it will soak into the wood pretty good to protect it. Yes it will take a day for so for it to dry for another coat but I ain't running no factory. Then will finish it with a coat or 2 full strength. After the floor is installed the varnish will be protected from the sun and most rain. Ok will get road splash, so will the goo. but I feel it will be easier to touch up than the goo. Just my 2 bits worth.

Randy

Yeah, I have decided I'm not going to go the black goo direction. I was going to, but I think I will stick with what I know. I will be using 2-3 coats of Zinsser oil-based Cover Stain primer and 4-5 coats of PPG Manor Hall exterior latex. This is what we use on our signs and this combo last for years out in all kinds of weather, I'm sure it will serve well sheltered under my trailer.

Check out this thread at the top of this section: I used Henry's the first time and it was ok and wasn't terrible to work with, but this stuff is thicker, and easier to apply.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=45873

that self adhesive roll looks like an interesting idea. what kind of glue is used? would it stick well underneath the trailer for a long time?

It's not glue, it's asphalt. Once it's torched down, it's not going anywhere

oops, sorry. I wasn't very clear. I was talking about the self-adhesive flashing that Thomas (2bits) mentioned. In this thread:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=45873

I went by Home Depot earlier tonight, looking for some other things, decided to look for it too and could not find it.

egjacks wrote:oops, sorry. I wasn't very clear. I was talking about the self-adhesive flashing that Thomas (2bits) mentioned. In this thread:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=45873

I went by Home Depot earlier tonight, looking for some other things, decided to look for it too and could not find it.

It is a self adhesive, peel the paper back and be sure you stick it right the first time because it's not goin anywhere once it is in place!