FoamStream , the restoration … a lesson learned .

[Pmullen503]

Could you treat everything with borate to discourage the ants?

[Don L.]

PVA glue mixed with borax or boric acid is a common recipe for slime. It seems be okay with acrylic paints though, I researched it on the web and didn't see any negatives associated with acrylics.

I sprayed a borax/water solution on my acrylic (gladden gripper) primed canvas and then painted over that and have had no problems. I did it more to retard mildew, doubtful if it would stop ants. It was not a strong solution. I think boric acid is more effective as an insecticide, going by what I have read on the net.

[GPW]

Guys , Thanks …. we need to do SOMETHING … Ants … grrrr!!!

Well we did manage to get a little bit done yesterday … Cabin carefully cut away from the floor … Floor removed and sent off to Burn . Today . we’re off to the lumberyard to get a new floor … Coming along …

[GPW]

Funny , I was going to store the cabin in the studio , and I kept telling my helper it would fit because I assembled it inside …. but I forgot about the added foam , and it would NOT fit , by just a scant 1/4” … We tried !!!

[GPW]

Instead of replacing the floor with OSB ( what we had before) , or worse, plywood . 　 We found some very nice “Clear and dry” pressure treated boards … No knots , premium wood and NOT that nasty wet green wood they call pressure treated… We used it recently for a little trim work on the house … 　 And to protect the cabin inhabitants from the PT , we’re going to isolate the inside cabin from the floor with a nice continuous layer of old school linoleum ( like Grandma's house ) and NOT the Vinyl Flooring they sell at the big box stores , that has a Paper backing which wicks water like a sponge … just an awful product for a camper trailer …" tried it, hated it “ Must be why they use it in “designed to fail” RV construction these days ...
We’re fixing this to “last” , although the prospect of a new trailer build is sure exciting !!!

[Pmullen503]

Cutting off the floor must have went well, judging by the lack of a "long post of woe". Are the boards square edge or bullnose and how thick?

[GPW]

PM , I had a plan and stuck to it , the camper came off with little resistance … tha sawzall just cut through foam and Rot like butter … Surprisingly everything on the whole trailer/camper was fine except for the rotted Floor …. and the ant tunneling … grrr !!!
But I went across to the Eastern half of the United States today ( back East) and got all the boards , outdoor screws and some more caulk … Ready to start primering the boards … we should (hopefully) be back in business by next week barring any rain … ( this IS the rainy time of year ) Keep those fingers crossed … “I asked my friend about the fiberglass sheet strip for drip edges , and he told me the company was reluctant to even sell him such a small order, so that’s out … Have to find something else … I was thinking this would be perfect because we could screw it into the edge of the board floor and then cover over it with the canvas … nice and neat … any water from above would never come near the floor … Or that’s the idea anyway !!!

The boards are just square edge ...

[linuxmanxxx]

Home Depot carries the plastic that covers drywall corners you could glue over it or under the canvas.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[tony.latham]

Now your gonna have to plan a camping trip. Someplace without foam eating ants.

T

[GPW]

Drywall corners… Hmmm? That sounds good . We’ll check that out , Thanks Steve ! We are now CONVINCED of the Importance of drip edges !

Tony , with any Luck we can travel somewhere just for Fun !!! Somewhere not so WET !!!

[GPW]

Today we bring the boards inside on saw horses and start applying "The Gripper"… Help isolating the PT from us ...

You know , my initial reaction to all this was … “ OH S**T !!!” … But turns out in reality , that Foamies aren’t at all difficult to repair , and now offers a chance to make it even Better …

[tac422]

Doc,
I used plastic drywall corners...

I used 3 different types as seen in this picture.

Here's a picture of the flexible type glued with Gripper.

[GPW]

Tac, that looks like that will do it , just has to go beneath the floor line just a little .. and we can stick the outer canvas to it

Got the boards inside … Pretty wood !!! Ants probably won’t like it …

[tac422]

Wood looks great !
If you use the flexible molding like in my picture, you can easily follow the round nose of the Foamstream.

[GPW]

Half primed … Time for a break … and Lunch …

Tac, I’m going there ( HD ) Monday for more Gripper and will certainly check it out !!! sounds perfect …