Weatherproofing Tongue and Groove Siding

[toyobaru]

Hi all,

Picked up this custom trailer build on craigslist a couple days ago. Shes a little rough around the edges, and I've had thoughts of selling. The trailer has a welded skeleton with aspen tongue and groove siding bolted directly to this frame structure. I'm concerned that the tongue and groove will not be waterproof. Any advice on products I could use to seal the tongue and groove? Or am I better off covering the tongue and groove with an exterior skin, like aluminum?

I might sell as I intend to use this for winter camping and want a nice weatherproof seal.

Thanks!

 

[opp1]

a marine varnish you'll have to upkeep it every year but that way you have the look of the wood

 

[toyobaru]

I dont think aspen has much weather resistance.
Probably should paint it well or paint on a membrane type sealer like Gaco.

Do you have a specific product in mind? For a vertical surface, could I use a roof sealer?

 

[NatersXJ6]

Considering that t&g sided houses are sealed with… house paint… you could probably just go down to Home Depot and pick up a gallon of exterior anything in whatever color you like.

 

[billiebob]

No matter what you do T&G wood expands and contacts with the seasons. Impossible to seal a joint in annual motion cycles. Wood needs to breathe. You either like it and refinish it often..... or change it.

T&G is an interior finish, Old school wood siding should be shiplap or bevel siding. Both are built to survive annual movement cycles, and attached with nails to accomodate that mivement. For a trailer on the highway, a shower is a hurricane. Commercial railers are sided to survive those daily hurricanes.

If you skin it you might trap moisture and create the ideal atmosphere for rot.... google rain screen... but likely not practical on a camper trailer.

Very cool trailer, I'd not spend much money, just get a quality solid stain and do it every year or two.... One gallon might last 5 years.
And STORE IT UNDER A ROOF.

 

[Teardropper]

It's a nice-looking trailer.

As you know, using boards for the outside of a trailer isn't a good idea. Neither you nor I know how big of a problem it will become. It may work out.

If it were mine, I'd give it two or three coats of a high-quality spar varnish and keep it covered when not in use and see what happens.

Tony

 

[OverlandNA]

1st coat= mix 25% polyurethane to 75% paint thinner
2nd coat= mix 50% polyurethane to 50% paint thinner
3rd coat= mix 75% polyurethane to 25% paint thinner
4th coat= straight polyurethane
Scuff with 220 grit paper and finish with a quality exterior paint
Ideally you would apply several coats of each to the endgrain.

 

[jwiereng]

would epoxy be a good idea?