May be this has been posted somewhere else in the Foamies section, but the following is a portion from another wood - canvas covered TD I found in this build thread. The steps and tips for installing the canvas would clearly apply just as well to a foamy.
Build Thread:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=45718
From the thread:
"millstone wrote:
Great job on the canvas. Any secrets?
Thanks, guys.
Other than what I mentioned already, let's see what I can remember....
I used a router to put a 3/16 radius on the edges before starting the canvas.
We bought painters drop cloths from Harbor Freight for the canvas. Untreated cotton 10 ounce fabric. We were disappointed to find a seam in the middle of the "tarp" and had to change the orientation of the canvas after cutting the piece to remove the seam. We did end up with one overlap seam on each side, and on the roof. We applied the rear pieces first, so the front piece overlaps the rear piece. That's to keep the headwind from towing from lifting the seam. (I don't think it would have lifted even if we did it backwards, the glue really stuck it down.)
After trimming the hems from the canvas, we laid the canvas on the driveway, and soaked it good with the hose to preshrink it. it shrank a LOT. 10 foot wide before shrinking was under 9 feet after shrinking. I pre shrunk it because I was worried it might shrink while the glue was drying and pull the overlap around the corner.
We applied the canvas flat and let the untrimmed overlap hang while the glue set up, then went back, trimmed the overlap to size and glued it down.
Trimming the overlap evenly proved a challenge. We tried scissors guided along a spacer block, and using an x-acto knife along a block.
Marking the overlap with a pencil and following the line with scissors proved to be the most accurate.
After trimming the overlap, we used a small brush to apply the glue to the overlap, then worked along the seam smoothing the overlap with our palms. It was surprising to us how easy it was to "bend" it around the corner without wrinkles.
No pictures yet, but we have put the first thinned coat of exterior latex pain and second full strength coat on the canvas. One more full strength coat, and it should be done. We are pleased with how it looks so far, a bit nervous about how it will hold up.
With our intense summer sun, and snow in the winter, we are planning on building a shed to keep the tear in to protect it when not in use. Doing that, I'm hoping it will hold up for years without any attention.
Sam and Kat (fingers crossed)"