Seam trim on ceiling installed with 1" brads into aluminum framing?

[Lisa Jo]

Hi all, I am doing a little remodel on my 2002 Montana and I removed the slender trim pieces on the ceiling that covered the edges where the panels meet. They were affixed to the ceiling with 1" brad-type nails. I am pretty confused because my understanding is that this is 1/8" paneling with its edges meeting along the aluminum framing and directly glued onto the framing and the rigid foam insulation in between (something to that effect). Add to that another 1/8" of trim and that's it, 1/4". But what I don't understand is, if that is the case, are these 1" brad nails going into the aluminum? I cannot image that is the case and if not, can someone explain how this was put together? Am I wrong about the paneling meeting at the aluminum framing on the ceiling? This is the case with all of the small trim I have removed - it is all affixed with 1" brad nails but it is no more than 1/4" thick including the paneling underneath. I would really appreciate any knowledge to add to my own. This mystery is holding up my progress a bit. Thanks as always!

 

[jxnbbl]

Here is a thread on this...

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28979

I have only had minor problems on the first trips with my trailers as they somewhat work the kinks out. In our case our first trips are 4k+ miles so they work themselves out!

I have just found a nail filler compound that matched the wood strips and pneumatically stapled these back in place and fill the staple mark.

I never thought of how they were really attached but staples made more sense than the finish brad.

 

[Rhagfo]

Well those brads are installed with a pneumatic nail driver and can likely drive them into the aluminum.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

You should also consider pulling a ceiling vent trim off on the inside to see what type of ceiling construction you actually have. Looking from the rear, if you have a "rounded" roof profile, you likely have rafters, and those rafters are typically wood. On my past RV's, where the rafters were steel (never aluminum), they used seam tape and not stapled battens on the ceiling. On my past RV's that had a flat bonded roof construction like the sidewalls, it also had seam tape and not stapled battens. My current unit has wood rafters, and stapled battens.

So before you go too far, you need to know what your ceiling construction is. You can remove the trim ring of a square ceiling vent, or from a skylight and it will tell you exactly what you have.

 

[Lisa Jo]

Okay well after doing some experiments, the brad nails are in fact driving right into the aluminum with my finish nail gun, which really surprised me. Thanks for all your input everyone.