Azdel or not?
I keep seeing so many stories about fiberglass walls delaminating and the such with luan as part of the construction. I see people who don't even have water damage and the walls are coming apart. So...
Forum Discussion
theoldwizard1 wrote:
I would NEVER trust a typical EPDM roof for 10 years unless it was stored more than 50% of the time out of the sun.
If stored in the elements, somewhere between 5 and 10 years, it needs to be removed and replaced.
My EDPM roof was 13 yrs old when I sold the TT and tight as a drum. I cleaned it once a year, and re-coated it at the 10-year mark. Just need to very careful about using products that are not petroleum based. The lap sealant around openings had a tendency to crack and separate but the rubber itself was fine.
No question Azdel is superior to luan for water resistance, but it's only one component. There is a new company called Alliance RV that is making 5ers (no TT's) with aluminum frame, azdel sheathing on side and rear walls, one piece fiberglas front cap and PVC roof.
But you still have insulation and that 1/8" interior wallboard...so a water leak may not cause structural damage, but it will still soak the insulation and interior wallboard and create a mold issue. So leak damage is potentially less expensive to repair, but it doesn't allow you to not worry about having to re-seal the trailer. As an aside, you would expect that kind of construction in a 5er costing $100k+...
Which brings you full circle...if you have to seal the trailer anyway, luan and wood framing is every bit as good as azdel and aluminum if they stay dry....
