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Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 19, 2011

Liquid EPDM

Tom C · Guest

I've never used any type of liquid EPDM but I just glued down 45 mil EPDM to my cargo trailer. The liquid EPDM looks like you will have to put multiple coats plus where the box flexes you probably will have a failure with the liquid application unless you install seam tape. This won't matter too much unless you have a spill then the mix will find its way into the nooks and crannies to do it's damage. Possibly price out what the cost will be for the liquid vs. the sheet. EPDM sheets are typically sold by the roll and the smallest being 10' x 50' so you would have a fair amount left over. You would also need a bucket of bonding adhesive (yellow glue). Seams are usually glued together with a splicing adhesive (black glue) but you could probably get away from using the splicing adhesive and just using the bonding adhesive. Not sure on EPDM pricing but it might be in the range of 25 - 40 cents a square foot and bonding adhesive will be round $20 per gallon and you will need a couple of gallons (you will probably have to by a 5 gallon bucket). If you know any commercial roofer in your area, give them a call and they might have a few butt rolls that they will give you cheap.
Good luck with the new truck!

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks Tom

Maverick Contracting · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Ed a heads up;

just read the MSDS and under section 10 it states "incompatability: avoid contact with oxidizing material". Might want to look into or call their tech support first.

I started a while back looking into "highly chlorinated" pool paints to see if they might be a way to go. Its made to resist breakdown due to pool shock. Ask a Sherwin Williams rep for more info, they know their companies products well and won't BS you unlike a HomeDepo or the like.

http://www.amesresearch.com/msds/SEB_msds.pdf

Oct 19, 2011

Ed watch your step getting out of the " box "....the S/H makes it very slippery and you can easily take a nasty spill. My box truck was 3-4 feet off the ground, I almost slipped off it every day. The last day I had it I did fall off...thought I broke my arm...got lucky. Becareful, put up some photos. P.S. Nice to see a new guy on here { Tom } already a premium member and giving some great information.

Maverick Contracting · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

You can add a non-skid additive to the paint. Even just graded sand (graded is cleaned and sifted of any impurities that might affect the paints performance). I'd paint the step as well.

PS, I'd put multiple coats on the decking if the coating you use is not meant to take foot traffic. What your looking into looks like an elastomeric (rubberized) coating which should take abuse easily.

-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Wednesday 19th of October 2011 01:06:19 PM

clay · Guest

Maverick Contracting wrote:
Ed a heads up;
just read the MSDS and under section 10 it states "incompatability: avoid contact with oxidizing material". Might want to look into or call their tech support first.
I started a while back looking into "highly chlorinated" pool paints to see if they might be a way to go. Its made to resist breakdown due to pool shock. Ask a Sherwin Williams rep for more info, they know their companies products well and won't BS you unlike a HomeDepo or the like.

http://www.amesresearch.com/msds/SEB_msds.pdf

pool paint now thats something worth a try I'm going to get some and test it

Maverick Contracting · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

might need to prime steel bolts etc with anti-rust primer first before chlorinated paint but its a start.

clay · Guest

think I might have to use an etching primer but I'm doing some experiments to see

RCIA Founder

By all means experiment! Solid Rubber (EDPM) sheets work great, but you must nail and glue them down, and even then they come loose on a flatbed truck over steel.

In our old Box Truck, they outlasted the Truck (5 years)

deleted member

Ed- My truck is working while I am working to improve it, but the first thing I did was buy a $50 roll of linoleum for the floor. The actual floor is aluminum, but I wanted to coat it anyway. I had contemplated Herculiner, EDPM, Rhino Liner and other options, but I didn't have time to play around so I went with fast and simple. The linoleum is torn in some places, but not due to roof cleaning & soft washing activties. (I helped someone move and their furniture tore up the linoleum). My trailer also had a linoleum floor and it held up splendidly.

I keep a few towels in the truck in case I spill, which happens occasionally, and I just wipe up whatever I spilled. I haven't fully decided, but next winter when I redo everything I'll probably just go with a fresh roll of linoleum.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 22, 2011

A building supply quoted me $110.00 for a 10'x16' cut of EPDM off the roll. I have no idea how much that stuff costs but im sure im getting gouged a bit. Whatever! I may go with the liquid for the ceiling and some kind of plastic glue on panel for the walls. May even use a few condenser and/or washing machine pans to put under potentially leakable items. These are the things I failed to do in my first van because I was in a rush. I know i'll pay a price for that.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 22, 2011

Thanks Gary. I have no experience with that stuff. Will it eventually get muffed up from walking around and general wear and tear?

Tom C · Guest

If you fully adhere the sheets they wil stay down and last a long time. Pond EPDM is pretty much the same as Roof EPDM without the talc on the sheets. Pond EPDM will be a little more expensive but you can probably get it in smaller sheets. Roof EPDM will run about 35 - 45 cents sq/ft for 45 mil and the 60 mil will be a little more. 45 mil should work just fine. As long as you don't wear golf shoes in the truck, the EPDM should handle the traffic.
Tom

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 22, 2011

Whats is the most cost effective way to glue it down? Can i use Liquid Nails or something similar?

Liberty SoftWash · Oct 22, 2011

ED any pics of truck?

Tom C · Guest

Ed,
Gary is right, it's contact cement or commonly called yellow glue. Pond shops won't have it. A roofing supply should have it if they carry EPDM. You apply it with a smooth paint roller, put it on both surfaces (EPDM and truck bed) let dry for 5 - 10 minuted until tacky, then pull the sheet over the glued area and broom the surface to make sure it's stuck.
Tom

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 22, 2011

Roof Cleaning By A&E wrote:
ED any pics of truck?

Not yet. Smelled break on the way home so I left it at my mechanic. Its a 99' E350 w/ a 14' box. Very nice shape except for 2 dents on the lower front box, as if someone tried to squeeze through a toll and didnt quite fit. 5.4L gas w/ 119k. Paid $4500. Im happy with he purchase. Will post some pics as I go. Still pondering the equipment design.

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Oct 22, 2011

Take your time on the layout. My last trailer I laid everything set out the way I thought I wanted it but ended up moving it through 6 different itterations before I finally came up with my final design.

Put your equipment where you want it but not bolt it down. Then decide where the hoses and any wiring will go. Think about it a week and you will probably come up with a better design. Time is on your side since we are going into the winter months and you will have more time then.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 23, 2011

Talk about it Marcus. I reinvented my van maybe 4 times. My first layout was a real Rube Goldberg. I understood it but it was too complicated for anyone else to learn it. The simpler the design, the more likely you can quickly train guys to operate it.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"