RE: Add a room / Screen room installation

[The Overmans]

 
My 2002 Utah came with a screen room that attaches to the awning.  During initial installation, the technician installed velcro around the base of the Popup that panels attach to.  After the 2nd trip the velcro started peeling off.  What fixes or mods are out there that make this velcro attachment more permanent?[]

[topcat7736]

 The Overmans
The Overmans,
 
 Welcome to the club! LOL
 
 Okay, I actually have a real fix for you. It seems that the Velcro glue is not very good in humid/rainy conditions. Try as I could, there was no way to get it to stick. I put the Velcro on with Goop & it failed again. So, in desparation, I went to a real hardware store (where they still know their stuff) and told the guy my problem. He gave me a can of contact cement & said it would do the job.
 
 Now, the Velcro used for AAR s is a plastic type, not cloth, and the contact cement will work fine....but NOT over the glue still on the Velcro! So, using my thumb until it blistered, I removed all the glue from the Velcro by pushing it along from one end to the other. Once the glue was removed from the Velcro and the surface on which to mount it, I cleaned everything with 99% alcohol. Re-measured the Velcro & found that it needed to be shortened (the Velcro glue causes it to be compressed a bit which aids in its failure). Once everything was lined up ok, I carefully applied the contact cement to both surfaces & let it setup. With Peggy holding one end of the Velcro in the air, I slowly applied it to the surface. Once all on, I rolled it and left it alone overnight.
 
 I can tell you that this past summer we camped in some very humid conditions and through a lot of rainy weekends. The Velcro area has been saturated with water & even packed away wet & never budged from the spot where I mounted it on the awning. Forget other glues/fixes. The contact cement works.....really well!
 
 NOTE:
 Shoot, I messed up. Too early in the morning & too much glue sniffing. We used contact cement not the adhesive I posted. Sorry. [&:]

[biojbfish]

 The Overmans
Just curious.........is that the same kind of cement that you use when installing a laminate (Formica) counter top???
 Do you think it could be inside to reattach velcro pcs. that are coming off?  What did you mean by plastic type of velcro???
 Thanx[]

[mike4947]

 The Overmans
The only problem with using contact cement and velcro is that sooner or later the little loops & hooks on the velcro do break off and will have to be replaced and the only way to remove it is by sanding/grinding it off. They use contact cement on laminate counter tops because it is PERMANENT.

[The Overmans]

 The Overmans
Let me clarify my problem.  The velcro hasn t pulled off the AAR material (yet).  It is comming off the metal part underneath of the PU.  The contact cement does sound like a good solution there.  If the Velcro pulls off the AAR material, I may just  have new velcro sewn on (if that is possible).[]

[topcat7736]

 The Overmans
biojbfish,
 Contact cement is what is used for formica countertops. There are many types of Velcro available, tut the one used for AAR installation has a plastic feel to it (not like a cloth version). Whenever possible, the Velcro should be permanently anchored, (stapled, pinned, stitched) to prevent its coming loose. Inside the popup, you ll find it is both glued and stapled to the wood. Contact cement will keep the Velcro from coming off on wood or metal surfaces.
 
 The Overman s
 If you camp 26 weeks a year & have your popup for 20 years, you will have attached the Velcro pieces together 520 times. It won t be yet worn out, so the permanent attachment of it to the metal surface should prove not to be a problem. Aside from contact cement, I ve found no other adhesive that will hold the AAR weight in wet environments.  Plus, as it s attached to the underside of the trailer, it will be getting even more saturated while you are driving in the rain.

[tlhdoc]

 The Overmans
topcat do you think using the contact cement on the glue-less (sew on type) would hold up as well as the plastic type?  My velcro lasted 2 years on the trailer body.  I am going to replace it, if and when it warms up here.

[topcat7736]

 The Overmans
Tracy,
 I don t think anything would hold the cloth type Velcro other than sewing.
 
 Lots of  craft stores sell the same type Velcro, as is used with the AAR s, and it s not very expensive. The difference is in the adhesive that one uses over the other. But, if you replace the adhesive with contact cement, you ll not have a problem.

[tlhdoc]

 The Overmans
Thanks Al.  I have the glue type velcro already.  I bought it last year, but didn t get it on the trailer.  Any tips on scraping the glue off?  Would using some type of adhesive remover work (like goo gone)?  What do you think?

[topcat7736]

 The Overmans
I tried Goo Gone, belt cleaner, alcohol & a bunch of other things (after I sniffed them all for a while []) and nothing worked. I wound up getting a small area cleared & began pushing the glue with my thumb. It will stick to itself (only thing it sticks too) allowing you to build a bigger & bigger ball of it until it s all gone. It doesn t take that long to do, but once you re started, I would use a glove or maybe one of those rubber finger protectors used in sewing. I had blisters on each of my thumbs when I was finished.

[tlhdoc]

 The Overmans
Thanks Al, you saved me from wasting time and money trying that other stuff.