Mr. Joy H. Hansen [mailto:joytbrew@patriot.net] wrote:
>
>I think I understand what your aim is. I used Lowe's aluminum flashing to
>extend the exterior
>skin so any water would be directed past the floor. It' seemed impractical
>at the shelf edge and you can still see the raw plywood edge. I caulked the
>plywood edge with vulkem to prevent water contact with the floor.
Now we're on the same page, Joy. The flashing material seems thin
enough that it shouldn't effect the shell. After reading about all the
problems other folks have had with their floors back there, I've been
looking for a better solution. I just don't trust caulk all that much.
For me it's hard to tell when it needs maintenance.
>You can also see why water wicks into the floor when this seam isn't
>properly maintained. Not an obvious maintenance chore since it's hidden by
>the trim strip.
Airstream's engineers put way too much faith in that trim strip. I was
surprised to see that the underbelly wraps up and over on the *outside*
of the shell panels. Water getting past the trim strip drops down into
the inside of the belly this way. If the underbelly were *under* the shell
panels, the water would stay outside. I just don't get what they were
thinking there. There must be an ease-of-manufacturing reason
for it.
Jimbo / '76 Sovereign