Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have the trailer made completely from wood, and it is a perfect square shape with 1/2" ply for the roof.... I was at my local HD the other day and saw they sheets of aluminum it looked like in rolls of 20" wide by 10' long

Would this make for a watertight roof? How would I "glue or epoxy" the strips together to create one piece?

How would I secure the aluminum to the 1/2" ply roof securely?

Please help.... good idea or bad idea?

That is flashing and in my opinion it would be a mess to try to install and seal. Better to avoid seams if you can.

Check your area for a large truck repair garage and see if they have a large roll of aluminum skin, often times available in widths up to 102 inches by any length. They use it for lining truck and trailer vans (boxes).

you would need a solid sheet underneath the aluminum strips, something like rubber roofing membrane or tar paper.

To Quote KC.

it would be a mess to try to install and seal. Better to avoid seams if you can.

Aluminum, more or less, is sold by the pound. You might as well as buy it by the sheet. If I can get it in the middle of Idaho, you can get it in eastern SC.

TL

Using flashing strips would be horrendous IMO. Sealing without having overlapping seams would be a nightmare as the aluminum and the wood underneath have different rates of expansion.


Tar paper, BTW, is classed as a weather resistive barrier, not a waterproof barrier like a rubber membrane would be. Tar paper will absorb moisture. It will also repel liquid water but does absorb water as it does so. The absorption causes the fibers to swell and become tighter thus better repelling liquid water. Then as conditions dry the tar paper will release the absorbed moisture to the air. This is actually a great feature in house building.

I'm gluing mine down as one piece .050" aluminum 60" x 120". Using 3M 5200 fast cure. I've had success in the past with 5200 staying flexible and watertight. It's made for marine below waterline fitting so should hold up well for outside skin glueing and sealing.

48Rob wrote:To Quote KC.

it would be a mess to try to install and seal. Better to avoid seams if you can.

OK where were you guys when I put 18" white aluminum flashing on the Barn.







Seriously it worked out well for me no leaks no drips no errors.

HOWEVER this is a curved surface and these layers were installed much like shingles with a 6" or more overlap and a healthy bead of silicone based adhesive.

The general opinion is correct that on a flat surface 1 piece is best. You might seriously look at 1/2 foam covered in EPDM rubber roofing. Pieces 8 x12 foot are generally tossed as scrap by commercial roofing contractors you might ask around.

Another option to cover your roof is something called DURADECK. It's a vinyl sheet used for decks and walkways. Comes 72" wide, and I'm quite sure they will sell you a 10' piece.
http://www.duradek.com/3-part-specifications/