Repairing Shower Surround Cracks
The other day my wife noticed some cracks in the shower enclosure. I don't know what caused it but I changed tires not too long ago so maybe the frame flexing caused the problem. I'll eventually...
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Ours cracked in our previous camper. I just used silicon caulking (clear) and just touched it up ever now and then. Worked ok. Sold the trailer with those cracks still there.
You may try Eternabond tape over the crack too. If this tape works on RV roofs and roof joints, then it will hold on a shower walls too.
It may look bad, but aluminum sided stove pipe (heat ductwork) tape is like adhering steel to anything it touches too.
Cracks in shower surrounds is usually caused by the difference in expansion and contraction rates of the 2 materials, the surround itself and whatever is behind it. Usually a screw is screwed right into both. When expansion or contraction occurs, and one expands or contracts more than the other, the the plastic or vinyl surround, being the weaker material will get too much pressure against the screw, no where to expand or contract, and cause a rip.
Now that it's already got a rip, it will not happen again.
I suggest if (and when) you replace the shower surround, you pre-drill holes in the surround first, making them slightly larger than the screw. This allows for some movement (expansion and contraction) of the material without causing stress and eventually a new tear. A drop of silicon sealer under the screw will seal the water out and is flexible to allow expansion and contraction.
You may try Eternabond tape over the crack too. If this tape works on RV roofs and roof joints, then it will hold on a shower walls too.
It may look bad, but aluminum sided stove pipe (heat ductwork) tape is like adhering steel to anything it touches too.
Cracks in shower surrounds is usually caused by the difference in expansion and contraction rates of the 2 materials, the surround itself and whatever is behind it. Usually a screw is screwed right into both. When expansion or contraction occurs, and one expands or contracts more than the other, the the plastic or vinyl surround, being the weaker material will get too much pressure against the screw, no where to expand or contract, and cause a rip.
Now that it's already got a rip, it will not happen again.
I suggest if (and when) you replace the shower surround, you pre-drill holes in the surround first, making them slightly larger than the screw. This allows for some movement (expansion and contraction) of the material without causing stress and eventually a new tear. A drop of silicon sealer under the screw will seal the water out and is flexible to allow expansion and contraction.
