Which Caulking to Use to re-assemble roof?

[austinado16]

Where can I pick up some of the PL400? Also, do I NEED to use that tape, or will caulking it surfice? If I have to, I'll grab the tape just didnt know if the caulking would be enough.. I'll stop by a building supply place tomorrow or Saturday. Thanks!
 Kevin

Think "building construction" during most of this process and you'll have a much better end result.  As such, the PL400 is at your local building supply, along with the flashing and acrylic or silcone based caulk. Pick up the galvanized sheetrock screws there as well and a bit to run them in with your variable speed drill.  You'll also need some metal C clamps if you want to clamp the flashing to the wood side.  I put a board on the outside of the aluminum so my clamps were biting into that, rather than denting the aluminum. Plus, it evened out the clamping force as much as possible.

Regarding the thin version of the putty tape, I guess you have to go with what you think is best for how you want to build it.  Putty tape is nice because it's fast to work with, doesn't squish out, fills in the lows, trims off excess easily, etc.

[kmh1596]

Thanks a LOT for the replies! If I grab the putty tape and use that on the inside seams, then just the caulking to do the edges on the outside? Don't you in some ways WANT it to squish out on the edges?
  I hope to find the PL400 and flashing tomorrow at a local building supply place!
 thanks!
Kevin

[roanoke91]

Kevin,
When I had to rebuild my PUP entry door I found a local storm door company that had huge sheets of the aluminum skin material. It matched the factory stuff exactly. They were kind enough to trim two pieces for me to exact size for the inside and outside panels. I think I paid a few bucks for it. Check your yellow pages for storm door companies in your area. I was told it is a common stock item for these types of manufacturers. Of course some camper dealers that do repairs may have sheets of this material in stock for repairs but would probably charge out the wazoo for it. I guess it wouldn't hurt to check.
Good luck,
Greg

[austinado16]

Thanks a LOT for the replies! If I grab the putty tape and use that on the inside seams, then just the caulking to do the edges on the outside? Don't you in some ways WANT it to squish out on the edges?
  I hope to find the PL400 and flashing tomorrow at a local building supply place!
 thanks!
Kevin

No.....

Wood to wood, you want the PL400 and galvanized screws.
Aluminum skin to wood you want the PL400 clamped and left over night (at least)

Exterior trim to aluminum, you want the thin putty tape and the factory (or similar) screws that hold the exterior trim in place.

Then, along the edges of the exterior trim, you trim off any squished out putty tape using a dull screwdriver blade.  

Finally, you caulk the edges of the exterior trim where it meets the aluminum sides and whatever your roof is made of......with the silicone or acrylic(if you want to paint over it) caulk.  Like you'd caulk your bathtub or a sink.

[kmh1596]

Roanoke,
 Thanks a LOT for the info! I will be calling around tomorrow to storm door companies (which is just a garage door place?)..

  Also, Austinado:
  I was told the PL400 wont allow it to come apart if I need to pull it back apart for whatever reason, later on... I dont want that, and am not worried about it not being tight enough together, (am using the staples like factory, and screws, as well as the sealant to simply seal it.. I will likely use the PL400 to adhere the thin sheeting to the wood, but other than that I just need to find the right putty tape to use... thats thick enough. (which is best?)
Kevin

[austinado16]

If you want to be able to pull that new side piece off for some reason, then I'd go with acrylic caulk between it and the old sections of the roof.  That'll proved a decent seal and be easy to work with in terms of cleaning off excess, etc.

At my local RV place, they have a thick putty tape that's maybe 1/8" thick and 1" wide, on a role, and they have a roll of stuff that's about 1/16" thick and 1/2" wide.  

I used the thin stuff between my exterior trim pieces and the aluminum roof, and that's how it was originally built.  I'm guessing when you take yours all apart, you'll discover what the factory built it with.

[kmh1596]

The factory actually built it with a THICK coat of the caulking lol..  But I will try and pick up a thin tape to use on the seams, then the LAP sealant on the outside trim..
 Kevin