ron ll
05-23-2009, 07:39 PM
I'm replacing the canvas on my cabin top this weekend. So far just in the demolition of old stage, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find the the previous installation had been done properly, maybe professionally. What that means to me is it made it SO much easier to remove cleanly without destruction. The bullnose trim was steam bent white oak with white oak plugs. When the paint was scraped off the wood was still bright and solid. The plugs had been set in varnish rather than glued. They were all properly in place yet popped out easily when split with a small chisel.
The screws holding the bullnose on were slotted oval head bronze. I was initially disappointed that they were slotted, but changed my mind when I realized how easily the slot could be cleaned with an ice pick. The screws all backed out easily showing evidence of still soft bedding compound. The screws look good enough to be reused if desired. The canvas was tacked with copper tacks. Again solid but easily removed and also still looked new.
The canvas peeled off somewhat easily altho it took a little bit of the top grain of the cedar planks with it but nothing a little sanding won't solve. There was no paint left on the decking so not sure how the canvas was bedded if at all. No Irish felt, but maybe the paint or white lead just stck to the canvas when it was pulled. The canvas was very course weave, almost looked like burlap. Was burlap ever used for decks?
The biggest difficulty in the removal process were a couple of spots where someone tried to stop leaks by pouring epoxy on them. DON'T DO THAT.
So here's to proper workmanship. It's well worth it even if you don't know it until a few years down the line when you or someone else has to remove it.
The screws holding the bullnose on were slotted oval head bronze. I was initially disappointed that they were slotted, but changed my mind when I realized how easily the slot could be cleaned with an ice pick. The screws all backed out easily showing evidence of still soft bedding compound. The screws look good enough to be reused if desired. The canvas was tacked with copper tacks. Again solid but easily removed and also still looked new.
The canvas peeled off somewhat easily altho it took a little bit of the top grain of the cedar planks with it but nothing a little sanding won't solve. There was no paint left on the decking so not sure how the canvas was bedded if at all. No Irish felt, but maybe the paint or white lead just stck to the canvas when it was pulled. The canvas was very course weave, almost looked like burlap. Was burlap ever used for decks?
The biggest difficulty in the removal process were a couple of spots where someone tried to stop leaks by pouring epoxy on them. DON'T DO THAT.
So here's to proper workmanship. It's well worth it even if you don't know it until a few years down the line when you or someone else has to remove it.