Sanded roof?

[Alumanutz]

While waiting for parts to arrive I started to strip my 1966 Safari. Some PO had painted the roof white. The trailer is from the desert area of Southern California. I was told the white was to reflect the heat. After stripping some of the white off it appears that the roof was sanded to allow the paint to stick. I am wondering how thick the Alclad layer is and if it is going to be possible to polish this area. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow when it is light. Thanks.

NUTZ

[lewster]

Ya know...................

All of the newer Airstreams have white roofs....like my '06 CCD. IIWY, I would leave the white, stopping at the awning rail on the sides and the front and rear caps. Perhaps re-coat the white roof, but it surely will make a difference in keeping the trailer cooler if you intend to do any summer camping in hot areas.

[Lumatic]

So Lewster, et al, if you want to apply the white reflective paint to an Airstream that doesn't come with it, does the roof, need to be sanded, etched or how should it be prepped?

[lewster]

I painted the roof of my work trailer in the Spring.......which happens to be aluminum also!

I thoroughly cleaned it with soap/water and a scrub brush, then applied a self-etching primer specifically for aluminum.

I used a 2-part epoxy marine white from Inter-Lux for the top coat and rolled it on (as per the detailed instruction that boat-doc posted a while ago.

It came out great and looks just like it was sprayed on.......smooth, shiney.....NICE!!!

[thecatsandi]

You either need to rough up the current layer of paint or metal to get the new paint to stick or use a self etching primer on bare metal.