top to side joint

[elewayne]

Hi, can anyone tell me what is the best way to make the top to side aluminum joint. Something that will keep water out for a long time. My SOB had the aluminum on both surfaces just come out to the corner with no overlap or anything, then it was covered with an L trim. Maybe there was some tape under the trim? I can say that it did not keep water out all the well. I want to do it better this time around. any ideas? I could use the help here. I am going to cover all the wood with tyvec and the tape that goes with it. but I still want good tight joint there.
Wayne

[vikx]

Hi Wayne,

Putty tape is used to seal gaps at metal to metal contact. It comes in 3 varieties: standard, RV butyl and *real* butyl. I would go to an RV shop for the modern butyl putty; not quite as sticky as *real* and ask them for tips as well. Unfortunately, some trailers were constructed with no overlap. Waterproof tape (Lowes) can help seal the joint before putty. Good luck!

[Bob]

Are you putting the original aluminum back on?
I'm re-doing a SOB with new alum. and I folded the sides over the top edge and then the roof over the sides - and then J-channel and putty tape over that joint. It should be water-tight, but it'll be a bear for anybody to try to take apart.

[elewayne]

I shoud have mentioned that. I'm using the side aluminum and replacing the top. the top piece will be something like 14' long though, so hard to work with. The trailer had a black roofing material on the roor to begin with. It was painter silver on top of that. not a great roof. I've seen people fold over the top, down the side a bit. The J trim, does that go with the wide part on tje side and the short side on top? Mine had an L piece about 3/4" wide on the top and about 1/2" down the sides. trying to do this etter this time.
Wayne