We added a screen porch to our seasonal TT last weekend. After all of the work was finally done, the CG manager came over to chat and mentioned that if we do not fill EVERY screw hole and line all of the 2X4's with RV silicone, water will get into the places where screws are in the TT and rot it. Anyone heard of this? Did you go to these measures? We stopped at a local RV dealer who said that they don't recommend using RV silicone and that they did not feel it was necessary to fill screw holes, just caulk around the screen house, which we did.
Thanks in advance for your help!
DH , 2 DD's (9 & 6 ), DS (2)& Me in a Wilderness 33V!
There are various ways to attach a screen house so I'll just give you the generic common sense answer. IF you penetrated the walls of your trailer in any way, and IF water can get to those holes/screws (whether or not a board is attached)....it will!!! This would allow water to enter the walls and begin its damage.....JMHO...Brian
He's telling you the truth. I would like to have awnings installed on my windows, but I'm reluctant to have the holes drilled in the coach's sides..don't want any delamination down the road!
I'm not not at all sure about the need to attach your porch. Does your local code require you to attach the porch to the trailer? If not, the porch could just sit next to your trailer and there would be no need to drill holes. There are ways to make them free standing. OR, how about attaching the porch to your awning brackets? Again, no holes. Best bet would be to contact a professional carpenter. Look for one who has a reputation for coming up with creative ways to solve problems. Look at some of their previous work.
RVnRobin, DW, and the cat.
The cat thinks she is the boss!
We had one installed on our rig, and used it once. I wouldn't spend the money next time because it's just too much of a hassle putting it up for a short stay, and on the long stays (3 to 5 months down south during the winter), you always have to watch the forecasts to see if the weather that's coming requires that it be taken down to avoid damage or loss. It's one thing to roll up the awning, and another to take down a screenhouse.
Regarding water damage from screw holes, I have not noticed a problem to this point, but you never know. However, with all the other things that mount with screws through the outside skin (window frames, water and electric connections, stove vents, porch lighting fixtures, outside electrical outlets, cargo doors, and so on) I think that that is ALWAYS a possibility.
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, 2 DD's (9 
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