Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: H20cleaning on November 09, 2013, 11:04:52 am

Title: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: H20cleaning on November 09, 2013, 11:04:52 am
I was talking to one of my customers who i know very well and she has just had her flat roof fiberglassed. I told her i was going to do the same with my van, later that evening i got a call saying their son ( who is a qualified roofer) said he would do it with me for free! As he has lots of left over material and doesnt want to see it go to waste.
For those on here who want to know how easy it is to i will take photographs and explain it as best as i can.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: Mitchellmoxo on November 09, 2013, 11:34:41 am
I was talking to one of my customers who i know very well and she has just had her flat roof fiberglassed. I told her i was going to do the same with my van, later that evening i got a call saying their son ( who is a qualified roofer) said he would do it with me for free! As he has lots of left over material and doesnt want to see it go to waste.
For those on here who want to know how easy it is to i will take photographs and explain it as best as i can.

Lucky you!!
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: rosskesava on November 09, 2013, 12:02:56 pm
Why would anyone want to fibreglass the roof of their van?

 ;D
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: H20cleaning on November 09, 2013, 12:38:51 pm
Har har har:p
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: SPE on November 09, 2013, 02:23:47 pm
sod that, giving ya time for free on a sunday ! sounds like his mums got a soft spot for you  :D
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: H20cleaning on November 09, 2013, 03:01:26 pm
Haha its one of my best mates mums.
Quick question, my tank is already installed and its bolted through the floor should
I just fiberglass around it and silicone the edges
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: South Window Cleaning Ltd on November 09, 2013, 06:44:09 pm
Haha its one of my best mates mums.
Quick question, my tank is already installed and its bolted through the floor should
I just fiberglass around it and silicone the edges

No you should take it out,
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: Spruce on November 11, 2013, 07:33:38 am
Did you get it done? If so, how many layers and are you happy?

What sort of non slip paint will you be using on top of it?
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: South Window Cleaning Ltd on November 11, 2013, 09:03:27 am
Did you get it done? If so, how many layers and are you happy?

What sort of non slip paint will you be using on top of it?

The proper way is to resin chicken grit over the fibreglass, then gelcoat (fibreglass resin is not 100% water proof so must be gelcoated or top coated to be waterproof)
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: Spruce on November 11, 2013, 09:17:55 am
Did you get it done? If so, how many layers and are you happy?

What sort of non slip paint will you be using on top of it?

The proper way is to resin chicken grit over the fibreglass, then gelcoat (fibreglass resin is not 100% water proof so must be gelcoated or top coated to be waterproof)


I didn't know that fibre glass isn't 100% water proof. That explains why the roofers use top coat over the F/glass base.

As a roofer will do/have done the job, my guess it that they wouldn't have put grit over the fibreglass as you suggested, as they would need to do that on a flat roof - the top coat isn't slippery on a couple of roofs I walk across, so maybe top coat will be sufficient.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: South Window Cleaning Ltd on November 11, 2013, 09:43:50 am
Did you get it done? If so, how many layers and are you happy?

What sort of non slip paint will you be using on top of it?

The proper way is to resin chicken grit over the fibreglass, then gelcoat (fibreglass resin is not 100% water proof so must be gelcoated or top coated to be waterproof)




I didn't know that fibre glass isn't 100% water proof. That explains why the roofers use top coat over the F/glass base.

As a roofer will do/have done the job, my guess it that they wouldn't have put grit over the fibreglass as you suggested, as they would need to do that on a flat roof - the top coat isn't slippery on a couple of roofs I walk across, so maybe top coat will be sufficient.

Top coat or gelcoat is very slippery once wet, it will be like an ice rink in the back of the van,
but if you only have a small van where your not walking in the back it should be fine,
all our newer van our now hightops so waling round in the back of them grit is necessary,
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: H20cleaning on November 11, 2013, 10:22:46 am
Yesterday i went round to do it at 3, and he said there is no point using the fiberglass matt, so we used just the resin. HOWEVER the temperature dropped dramatically by the time we applied the first coat so it didnt dry, so i left a heater im overnight and its dried now.
Next weekend he has a gel top coat in a grey colour, im not fused about the anti slip additive as i barely walk in the back of my van.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 02:58:08 pm
Hi guys

I know this is silly, but I fibre glassed back of my van today, and I think I didn’t put enough hardener in to the resin when I mixed it,  ???  its been about 4 hours now and the resin still not harden, is this normal or have I messed it up ?  :-\ :-\

What can I do to put it Right ?

I think H20cleaning is the expert in this, but any one else can help?  :-\
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 05:35:07 pm
Any one ? ???
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: tlwcs on December 26, 2013, 05:56:47 pm
Any one ? ???
Start a new thread with your problem, you may get more views.
Tony
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: deeege on December 26, 2013, 06:21:32 pm
It sounds like you didn't put enough hardener in when you mixed it.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 07:02:06 pm
Any one ? ???
Start a new thread with your problem, you may get more views.
Tony

Thats a good idea tony  :)
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 07:03:19 pm
It sounds like you didn't put enough hardener in when you mixed it.

Thats what i did.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: EandM on December 26, 2013, 07:11:38 pm
If it's sticky / tacky and going off then you might be ok.
If not...it's all going to have to come out as it won't air dry via evaporation only through the chemical reaction of the mix with the hardener.
Get some heat in overnight - failing that do you know a local bodyshop with an oven ?
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 07:17:53 pm
Many thanks for your reply EandM
Well yes it was a bit sticky, I am going to check it again in few minuets and I have a oil radiator heater that I can leave in the van, so hopefully it will be dry by tomorrow.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on December 26, 2013, 07:21:20 pm
hi mate you ok lad did it come out ok
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 07:32:56 pm
I just checked it again and its gone much harder now, I have put the heater on as well and hopefully by tomorrow will be all cured.

I think the Cold weather stop it healing so quick as well.
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 26, 2013, 07:34:51 pm
By the way, is there a special paint we can paint it on ? 
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: mark m on December 26, 2013, 08:55:46 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc1cxIF2xA
Title: Re: My van is getting fiberglassed tomorrow!
Post by: hasti on December 27, 2013, 10:36:34 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc1cxIF2xA

Thanks mark
Yes I have watched it few times, I did exactly what this video shows, but my mistake was that I didn’t put enough hardener in the resin. And once you lay down the matting and spread the resin on it, it will be big mess to clean it up again. (That’s if you don’t put enough hardener in the resin)

I like to know if there is any solution to that.