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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 07:12:21 pm

Title: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 07:12:21 pm
i have seen some really smart looking vans on this inside were they have fiberglassed the sides and made it different colours! how is this done mine is all ply wooded at the moment but i want to make it water proof and look better
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: mark m on September 09, 2013, 07:33:54 pm
if you are not thinking of doing it for a few weeks I will be setting up another van very  shortly and we be making a video of how to do it is not that diffuicult and I will try to explain it as easy as possible it works out about £100 for a traffic and it will for ages
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 08:01:56 pm
if you are not thinking of doing it for a few weeks I will be setting up another van very  shortly and we be making a video of how to do it is not that diffuicult and I will try to explain it as easy as possible it works out about £100 for a traffic and it will for ages
Yeah mate a month or so just so its all waterproofed for winter:)
Let us all know please matey
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: Carl@Cwc on September 09, 2013, 08:36:14 pm
if you are not thinking of doing it for a few weeks I will be setting up another van very  shortly and we be making a video of how to do it is not that diffuicult and I will try to explain it as easy as possible it works out about £100 for a traffic and it will for ages
Yeah mate a month or so just so its all waterproofed for winter:)
Let us all know please matey

can u not source a local company to do it for you?

i have a local specialist willing to do it any colour i want for £150 .
trouble is i cant find time to free the peugeot expert up .
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: davids3511 on September 09, 2013, 08:38:05 pm
I'd be interested too, needed to get two new sills welded onto the van to pass the mot this year. Keen to not need to do that again.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 08:40:18 pm
if you are not thinking of doing it for a few weeks I will be setting up another van very  shortly and we be making a video of how to do it is not that diffuicult and I will try to explain it as easy as possible it works out about £100 for a traffic and it will for ages
Yeah mate a month or so just so its all waterproofed for winter:)
Let us all know please matey

can u not source a local company to do it for you?

i have a local specialist willing to do it any colour i want for £150 .
trouble is i cant find time to free the peugeot expert up .


Im quite interested to try it myself, just need to know where to buy the stuff from:)
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: stuart mc on September 09, 2013, 08:45:53 pm
peter fogwill sells the fibreglass kits

http://www.window-tools.com/window-cleaning.htm

best phone him he doesn't or never used to answer emails
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 09, 2013, 09:03:24 pm
Look how to fibre glass on youtube and get the glass chopped strand and hardener and  fibre glass roller.the colour is added as a pigment.Dont mix al the glass at once just enough to last a while or the glass will harden in the tin/I would not mix more that a litre at a time.I will source them on e bay just give me a minute.Its easy to do don`t pay someone to do wht you can do yourself. Just make sure you use a scale to weigh glass resin and hardener.
This is the e bay pigment for the glass  polyester resin on e bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=+Polyester+Pigment&_sacat=0&_from=R40


This is for the chopped strand the fibre.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xchopped+strand+&_nkw=chopped+strand+&_sacat=0&_from=R40
and the basics of fibre glassing
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioj1YBm6bJY
 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHRnFI7JRQ8

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polyester-Resin-5kg-Lloyds-Approved-GRP-repairs-/360298253767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53e3730dc7

and the tool you need to roll the resin onto the chopped strand (fibre)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PADDLE-ROLLER-50MM-x-15MM-FOR-FIBREGLASS-moulds-RESIN-GRP-WORK-/251067584438?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item3a74cb4fb6
All you need to do is do the job its all there for you, Any questions just ask.I am always around this dump.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 09:32:40 pm
Look how to fibre glass on youtube and get the glass chopped strand and hardener and  fibre glass roller.the colour is added as a pigment.Dont mix al the glass at once just enough to last a while or the glass will harden in the tin/I would not mix more that a litre at a time.I will source them on e bay just give me a minute.Its easy to do don`t pay someone to do wht you can do yourself. Just make sure you use a scale to weigh glass resin and hardener.
This is the e bay pigment for the glass  polyester resin on e bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=+Polyester+Pigment&_sacat=0&_from=R40


This is for the chopped strand the fibre.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xchopped+strand+&_nkw=chopped+strand+&_sacat=0&_from=R40
and the basics of fibre glassing
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioj1YBm6bJY
 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHRnFI7JRQ8

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polyester-Resin-5kg-Lloyds-Approved-GRP-repairs-/360298253767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53e3730dc7

and the tool you need to roll the resin onto the chopped strand (fibre)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PADDLE-ROLLER-50MM-x-15MM-FOR-FIBREGLASS-moulds-RESIN-GRP-WORK-/251067584438?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item3a74cb4fb6
All you need to do is do the job its all there for you, Any questions just ask.I am always around this dump.
Quality! I wi get ordering and take some photos when its done thank you
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 09, 2013, 09:42:00 pm
iTS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE GO FOR IT MATE. DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK. O YES YOU WILL NEED A SCALE TO WEIGH OUT THE HARDNER FOR THE RESIN.THIS MUST BE DONE ABSALUTLY ACCURATE,OR IT WILL NOT SET HARD OR IT WILL HARDEN IN THE TIN WHEN MIXED.
 Remember fibre glass can be painted with good results with polyurethane 2 pak paint and even some single pak urethane paints
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 11, 2013, 01:45:26 pm
right I have watched a few videos and have a little bit of knowledge on how to fiberglass lol
I have a list of things to buy-
300 gsm fiber glass chopped strand
polyester resin 5kg
paddle roller
colour pigment

on all the videos the people use a top coat once the fiberglass is hard, what is this I need to buy? because I obviously add the colour pigment to it aswell
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 11, 2013, 01:58:41 pm
there we go boys
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-GRP-Fibreglass-Kit-4-5m-Lloyds-approved-EXPRESS-DELIVERY-/171029763782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=470248011826&hash=item27d22b16c6
everything you need to fiberglass van out... cheaper than protectakote and probly last longer!!
might even get 2 vans out of this aswell.
im ordering this next week so hopefully will have pictures in a few weeks
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: Tony Edwards on September 11, 2013, 02:09:45 pm


Can you fibre glass straight onto ply lining ?


Dont really want to have to strip it out first
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 11, 2013, 02:27:07 pm


Can you fibre glass straight onto ply lining ?


Dont really want to have to strip it out first
well its very similar to the new fiberglass roofing technique, and they go onto ply wood so I don't see why not?
I have a vivaro now and the tank etc is already in so one weekend I will strip everything out and fiberglass it, if its a success I might do the sides aswell just so it looks good.
one guys said you might be able to fiberglass a heated matt underneath for winter to keep the van warm etc? seems like a good idea
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: EandM on September 11, 2013, 03:00:29 pm
Due to it's lack of flexibility is there not a serious danger of the fibreglass cracking and the water getting underneath ?
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 11, 2013, 03:06:21 pm
like I say I have never done it so its trial and error... but all flat roofers etc are starting to use fiberglass instead of felt now, you can get different strengths of fibers it usually goes on the weight.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 11, 2013, 05:28:55 pm
Fibre glass is extremely flexible I bid a ocean go ing yacht and sailed around the world and believe it is very flexible. The top coat is just a painted buy if the pigment is the resin does its job you will not need this.The top coat in the video is a gel coat and as fibre glass in itself not water proof but water resistant one needs to add a top coat which would be a gel coat in the case of a yacht. IN our window cleaning case a coat of polyurethane paint will stop the glass and fibre delaminating. Personally I feel it will be an over kill. Just the pigment in the resin should be more than do the job. One more thing ware gloves as the fibre will make you itch.  As I said ask if your are not sure. :) :)
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: Alex Wingrove on September 11, 2013, 06:03:58 pm
DONT DO IT YOURSELF
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: PoleKing on September 11, 2013, 11:08:48 pm
Due to it's lack of flexibility is there not a serious danger of the fibreglass cracking and the water getting underneath ?

They make boats out if fibreglass don't they?
My first and 3rd vans were fibreglassed.
I loved it!
Only negative: it looks the daddy when first done but after a few months if chucking a pressure washer in, bucket sliding about a bit etc it gets scratched.
And it'll never (IMO) be completely water tight cause at the back of the van the water creeps in there.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: EandM on September 12, 2013, 12:03:55 am
Due to it's lack of flexibility is there not a serious danger of the fibreglass cracking and the water getting underneath ?

They make boats out if fibreglass don't they?



They do indeed but it's several inches thick and usually cured at temperature to remove moisture and prevent bubbling in later life. My ex-father in law removed the wings from his old Cavalier and coated the inner wings in fibreglass resin as an extreme form of weatherproofing. At the thickness he used it developed tiny cracks from the vibration, muck and bullets and allowed the ingress of water which eventually rotted the inner wings. I know the inside of a van is probably a kinder environment but it just made wonder.

Smithie - your answer was most comprehensive !
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 12, 2013, 05:45:05 am
I bond fibre glass to steel l like a fenders you will need to remove the paint but or  floor due the the large area it will bond well as long as you go up the sides as long as the surface is cleaned first. No grease,wax and oil which will work as releasing agent.Which would apply to any serface even paint.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: andy east sussex on September 12, 2013, 06:06:01 pm
I fibre glassed my old boat that part of it was cheap but fibre glss isn't waterproof by its self you need a gell coat on top of it to make it water proof and I found that to be very expensive
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: H20cleaning on September 12, 2013, 06:17:33 pm
I fibre glassed my old boat that part of it was cheap but fibre glss isn't waterproof by its self you need a gell coat on top of it to make it water proof and I found that to be very expensive
there is full kits out there on ebay around £50.00 for everything including colour pigment mate
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 12, 2013, 06:42:36 pm
Th is  big difference between a boat standing in water 24/7 and a van with wet few mishaps. Underwater line  is even  a massive difference.BUY THE STUFF AND GET IT DOWN YOU ARE SPLITTING HAIR MATE.  IF YOU ARE SO WORRIED PAINT THE TOP SURFACE.Don`t make a simple job complicated. Sorry for the caps.
  Put up  ebay link let me see.



What van are you going to glass how big in sq m2 is it, if you go up a foot at least on the sides.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on September 12, 2013, 07:07:13 pm
looking in to this myself , we ran a chiller unit for a few years delivering meat to take ways van did over 200k in less then three years and the fiberglass looked as good as new and lasted well

it must be cheaper then speedliner as our last van cost us 2500 to get done 

Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: richard jagger on September 12, 2013, 09:24:08 pm
The big trick with glass fiber is to roller  the glass resin on the glass fibre  and putting enough resin to cover the  fibre cloth smooth, but not wet  small pools of resin as this will crack.This will guarantee a good finish.
Title: Re: how do people fiberglass the back of their vans????
Post by: EandM on September 13, 2013, 09:36:06 am
The big trick with glass fiber is to roller  the glass resin on the glass fibre  and putting enough resin to cover the  fibre cloth smooth, but not wet  small pools of resin as this will crack.This will guarantee a good finish.

Saw that on Old Top Gear at the Ginetta Cars Factory - evenness being the key.