Surf Side- interior wooden window trim

[Jason, M]

I am wondering if anyone out there has replaced windows in a Surf Side? The interior wooded trim on most of my windows is quite rotten and I would like to replace it. Are the windows a similar style of construction as those in a Boler.... ie- Do the exterior mounting screws sink into the wooden trim on the inside?

Thanks in advance for tips/thoughts/help!

[Cam A]

The screws in my Surfside went through the aluminum trim of the window and into the interior wood, which on mine, was on top of the ensolite. The wood was largely rotted and the screws were shot. I made new interior wood from 3/4 inch oak plywood, used a round-off router bit to smooth the edges. Used new stainless steel screws, with rubber/metal washers to isolate the stainless from the aluminum. Cleaned off the old silicon and butyl when I had the windows out, and used new Butyl putty tape to seal the windows. Tighten the screws down evenly, and tight enough to extrude a little butyl, but not too tight. Looks good, and leak-proof.

[Jason, M]

Thanks Cam,

That's what I thought the case was, but I like to know as much as I can before getting into something.... possible something I can't handle. For now, I will live with things as is and replace the trim next year or maybe in the fall.

One more question though.... why the need to keep the aluminum and the stainless separated? Your post makes it sound like there's an issue of some kind there.....or is it just for sealing against leaks?
Oh, and what did you use to clean off the old silicon?

[Donna D.]

One more question though.... why the need to keep the aluminum and the stainless separated?

I'm not Cam, but the reasoning is they are dissimilar metals. When I went to the hardware store to get fasteners and explained to the very helpful clerk what I was trying to do, he suggested I place a THIN nylon washer between the head of the stainless bolt and the aluminum frame of the window. It doesn't take much to keep the two from touching. Further he said, if the trailer is kept in a sea-air environment (which it's not, but I do camp at the beach occasionally), the corrosion will happen quicker if the two metals are allowed to touch.

Here's a link to a discussion on the www: Dissimilar metal aluminum/304 stainless galvanic corrosion

[Cam A]

Like Donna said... plus I also wanted the rubber for a gasket around the screw to prevent water penetration. Silicon removal is a much discussed and cursed activity around the forum; a search should pick it up. Easier to do after the windows are out; scrape first (I used a plastic edged scraper from Lee Valley) and then a chemical called silicone-be-gone (Home Hardware) which worked not too bad. Sounds like a lot of work, but making up the new interior wood was the only thing that took some "handiness" (at least for me).

[Jason, M]

Like Donna said... plus I also wanted the rubber for a gasket around the screw to prevent water penetration. Silicon removal is a much discussed and cursed activity around the forum; a search should pick it up. Easier to do after the windows are out; scrape first (I used a plastic edged scraper from Lee Valley) and then a chemical called silicone-be-gone (Home Hardware) which worked not to bad. Sounds like a lot of work, but making up the new interior wood was the only thing that took some "handiness" (at least for me).

Thanks to both of you for the tips and info!