Renovating Roofs with Glasspol
Page 54
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A TECHNIQUE for waterproofing van:'roots mdde of canvas or aluminium, by applying a glasspol skin has been developed;:lKits-of materials for the PtirrioSe ateavailable from supplierS fisted at: theend 'of this article. Dayidso.n;and Co.', Liverpool, applied the method for the repair of a roof of -a vehicle of, Tate and Lyle, Ltd., the roof •wds made of tongued-andgrooved boards covered with canvas. The J-mouldings were first removed and the canvas stripped off. The surface to be treated was cleaned, and joints and cracks were filled. For this purpose an oil-free putty may be used, or an activated polyester resin mixed with fine sawdust.
Fibreglass cloth was cut to length and then rolled on a mandrel. Resin was applied to the roof in the proportion of I lb. per sq. yd. and the cloth was laid upon it, being squeezed to get rid of air bubbles. This process was performed by covering the sides of the roof first and the centre last.
After trimming the edges of the cloth, the J-mouldings were replaced. The whole task took 31 man-hours. A final coat of resin was applied to the cloth for smoothness and altogether 15 lb. of resin were used.
A later job done by the company did not involve stripping the canvas, which was washed with a detergent before application of the resin. About 12 hours were saved, but it is stated to be desirable to strip the roof for inspection of the timber if it is suspected to be unsound.
An aluminium roof was similarly treated and time was saved by the absence of need to fill cracks. Resin used may be pigmented, but no difficulty in painting a renovated roof in the normal manner should arise. Cost of the process compares reasonably well with that of renovation by traditional .methods.
SUPPLIERS
Automobile Plastics Co., 62 High Street, Barnet, Hefts; Ferguson and Timpson. Ltd., 155 Minories, London, E.C.3; Halts Products, Ltd., Vulcan Way, New Addington, Surrey; Microplas, Ltd., James Estate, Mitcham, Surrey; Newtown Industries, POrtmore, Lymington, Hants; Re-Fab, Ltd., Arkwright Street, Nottingham; and Fothergill and Harvey (Sales), Ltd., Harvester House, Peter Street Manchester. '