How to Repair RV Shower Pans

Is your shower pan cracked in your RV or 5th wheel trailer? No need to replace the whole outfit. There are many inexpensive solutions to your problem.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fiberglass resin
• Caulking
• Patience
• Warm, dry surface

1. 
    
   http://www.hobbylinc.com/gr/paa/paapt40.jpg

   If your shower pan is made of fiberglass you will be able to fix the cracked pan easily. Any hardware store will carry epoxy resin for fiberglass as well as fiberglass cloth as a patch. Simple instructions will be printed on the specific brand you choose. One thing that is typical of these resins is that they come with two distinct formulas that must be mixed and applied creating a bond that is strong and secure.

2. If your shower pan is made of plastic then your best option for a repair that will last is to have it welded. This is not a do-it-yourself option. The easiest place to find someone who could eld the crack would be a auto body repair shop. They often weld bumpers and might be able to do the job rather cheaply.

3. With the fiberglass repair there will be a slight bump over the crack where the filling and cloth stick up. The plastic welding should be less noticeable.

4. If you wanted a repair that would leave no cosmetic damage, you will need to install a new shower pan. Sometimes it is recommended that a new shower pan can be installed over an old cracked one. However, if you are purchasing a new shower pan anyway, you should upgrade from the one that cracked, thus meaning that you will need to rip out the old to accomadate for the new dimensions and shape of the new pan.

Tips & Warnings

• For large cracks it may be best to replace the pan.
• If you are not a handy person, you can always go to a RV repair shop and they will likely have the supplies on hand.
• Never spend more than half of what the pan is worth on repair supplies. If you find that the cost of the supplies is more than half of what it would cost you to replace the pan, just have it replaced. It will save you money in the long run.
• When repairing a fiberglass boat I used too much epoxy leaving an unnecessary cosmetic scar. With epoxy, more is less. Just use enough to get the job done, no more.