Has anyone converted from aluminum siding (old school) to smooth skins?

[Mr4btTahoe]

Hey alls...

Just got a slide in camper that I have to pull the factory siding for some rot repair. I'm not a huge fan of the aluminum siding look and was curious if anyone had ever converted one of these to smooth fiberglass or aluminum sheet skins?

If so.. what was involved? I'm concerned about the camper's need to flex.. if I go with a solid sheet and glue it in, that pretty well eliminates the ability for the walls and such to flex and move which could cause issues.. would it not?

I may just reuse what I've got.. but figured I'd ask.

Thanks

 

[southpier]

no me, but a consideration may be the configuration of the original siding. some of that stuff has dimples & bends because they give it strength on accountta it's so thin.

 

[Mr4btTahoe]

^ That's what I'm worried about. If I skin it and fully glue everything.. there won't be any room for expansion/contraction which is how the camper was originally designed.

Probably not a good idea I'm assuming...

 

[southpier]

if you look into some sheetmetal roofing techniques, https://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/arch_dhb/arch-details/roofing/long_pan.html there may be something you could adapt. metal standing seam roofs have been around for a bit. find yourself a carpenter or siding guy with an aluminum brake (or buy one and then resell it after - I think the big box stores have one for reasonable http://www.homedepot.com/p/Van-Mark-Trim-A-Brake-II-T850/203260183 ) and go to town. just keep "wind peel" in mind when you're laying out joints and fastening.

doesn't have to be an either/ or proposition. adapt!