Rejuvenating
The Left Roof

1968:

The rounded roof border was sheathed with ¼” plywood held in place by the edge of the tin roof, a steel center strap, 2 steel corner shells and lots of nails.

¼” plywood is made with 3 layers of ply glued to each other.

2001:

Most of the outer ply is gone as is the factory glue. Much of the center ply is gone leaving one cracked inner ply 'intact'.

Below that is a layer of roofing paper, the framing and insulation.
Most nails are loose or gone.

2002:

How it was done:

Glued, weighted and pressed with just about everything available.

After the left end dried, did the same with loose middle ply fragments.

And then the right...
Hey – this clamping setup worked!

Left and right end shots show no fragments projecting

First varnish, thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits to get some penetration

Series: About Foaming

Only right-half foamed, for now

The area left of the center strap had dropped ½". Glued and filled that gap liberally

2 or 3 more layers of wood filler and hand sanding gave it a smooth and solid surface

Reattached strap with new screws. The bright yellow is glue poured into holes

This shows the same separation from below

The metal corners are firmly reattached with lots of glue, toothpicks and screws

The same from below: screws & toothpicks visible. Replaced screws with shorter ones

Left border of roof has been spot glued, filled and sanded ... about to re-varnish ...

But then it rained ...

And it warped ...

Sliced each warp down the middle, trimmed the edges, glued and nailed

A close-up of that process in another spot

Filled and sanded the new repairs. Varnished! (Trailer is tilted intentionally)

Painted