RV Repair: Stripping off outside walls and roof??, aluminum siding, siding panels


Question
Hi Garry!
I am looking to buy an RV I can use in cold climates but none are insulated enough for mu taste so I decided to buy one and increase the insulation R value in walls and roof amongst other things I will do to make my RV a 'four-season' one.

In order to increase the R value of the insulation (without changing the thickness of the walls and roof) I would have to strip off the outside panels of all walls as well as the roof membrane and the roof decking.

I think a unit with aluminum siding panels would be easier to handle as those fiberglass units appear to be vacuum bonded and/or glued to the frame. Also, I probably should go with a wood frame unit because the metal in aluminum frames tend to create condensation on the inside walls and conduct the cold into the unit.

How are aluminum siding panels usually affixed to the frame? Screwed? Glued? Or some other method I don't know about?

Most roof deckings are screwed and glued on, how can I remove such a glued decking?

Do you anticipate any other problems with this task?

Thanx, Guy in Calgary, Canada

Answer
Fiberglass units are usually very well insulated with solid foam insulation, very dense, but as far as removing the panels, they are glued, and/ or vacuum bonded  Aluminum panels are stapeled at the ends and on the bottom edge.  the will have to be removed from the bottom up.  as far as removal of any decking that is glued, you will have to remove the staples, screws and pull the panels up.  then you will have to scrape to remove the residual glue.

Garry