Hi,  as there is no window on the long wall in my trailers dressing room, door is on the short side, I was considering getting a window installed.  It's my understanding that framing for this would have to be "tigg"? welded in.  How would this affect the paint on the aluminum skin?  Would it bubble the paint up?Thanks  Joan 

The frame work will usually be TIG or MIG welded. The skin on your trailer may be affixed to the wall studs by rivets or 3M tape. If there are rivets installed, they can be drilled out and removed in the areas of the alterations. If tape is involved, it can be cut and the outer wall can then be separated from the studs. Use care when releasing the outer panel. You do not want to stretch the metal, which would leave a bulge when it is reattached.

A thin piece of stainless can then be slid between the studs and the areas to be welded and the outer skin. This will help absorb the heat, and lessen the amount the aluminum skin will absorb. If a second person were available, he could be on the outside of the trailer with water soaked rags, pressing them against the aluminum skin in the areas where the welding is being effected. This will keep the skin temperatures low enough to prevent the paint from being blistered, and the aluminum from buckling.

New rivets can easily be installed, as well as new tape, to resecure the outer panel to the new structure. The rivet heads, if prepainted new rivets aren't used, can be touched up with an artist's brush and paint from an matching automotive spray can.

Gard