New shower wall idea. Suggestions anyone?

[Chaz]

This is kind of an offshoot from the hot water/cold water thread. At least for me. 

This idea comes from my home shower.   A little history: I just redid my bathroom and I'm trying something different. (Yeah, can you believe it?? ME!!??  lol)
Anyway, I have a full, but small, bath upstairs that I took the shower surround out and faux painted the "whole" bathroom to look like a cave and then my girlfriend (who's a great artist/painter) did cave drawing's on the walls. The shower walls are drywall and painted as well. Then I took 1/4" tempered glass, cut and drilled to size, and stuck it to the walls with clear silicone sealant so the painting can be seen and continuous through out. By the way, I hammered the basin out of bronze sheet to keep it natural looking as well.

Well, I like it so much that I'm thinking about doin it in the bus - but not cave stuff. But something more appropriate for the bus theme.
The problem is, I don't want to use glass. I'm thinking either Plexi or Lexan but which one do you think would hold up best with that kind of use?? Any of you know??

A little more insight in how I use my shower is, per se, I don't scrub it.  I know, I know, some jaws just hit the floor but what I mean is, since the advent of the "automatic shower cleaner sprays", I figured out what works equally as well, in the same manner----------------- Scrubbing Bubbles. Just spray it on after a couple showers or so and forget about it. Next shower, it's clean. The water sheets off and it's as shiny as a diamond in a goat's butt.

So my point is, if I do that same method, will one of the two plastics hold up better to the cleaner as opposed to the other?? I'm thinking one would probably fad worse than the other. 

OK, this was pretty long winded for such a short question.  But I was trying to give ya all enough detail the first go 'round. Keeps the thread shorter I think. (And I've been reading the "deleting thread" and band width etc. so I thought it might be a good idea. Then again... I might just be long winded. )

Thanx for reading!
   Chaz

[TomC]

Chaz- On Freightliner trucks, the headlight dome shield is made of Lexan.  While it can get discolored, I've also seen the shields polished back (with a power buffer) to a nice clearness.  On some transit buses, Lexan was used instead of glass also.  As far as Scrubbing Bubbles machine (we use it in both our showers-works great!), I don't know how Lexan would react to it?  But, there's only one way to find out.  Good Luck, TomC

[muddog16]

Chaz, you really make me mad!.................... No one person should have that much talent!....LOL

[Dreamscape]

Heck, I want to see what you just described for your house bath! We all need our cave!

Pictures...............Please!

[PCC]

My experience with plastics involves the manufacture of a plastic electrical device. My manufacturer told me that plexiglas, while bendable, may crack leaving a dangerous sharp edge, while Lexan will simply bend and/or crease, but not break. It may discolor, but it will not be a hazard.

[JohnEd]

A friend that auto races stock cars uses Lexan for fairings and "sail" surfaces.  The stuff has been on the cars forever (racing seasons) and it is still crystal clear.  It gets buffed!  Lex is eminently bendable so you could make the entire three walls out of the stuff, bending right angles at  each corner, and have a durable enclosure.   The only way to realistically ell if the Lex will be affected by SB is to check with the Mfr of both products.  Experience is a very effective teacher but a trifle harsh in some cases. Ask any who learned that potassium cyanide is lethal in the "school of hard knocks".  No wait,,,,,you can't talk to them....at least not and expect an answer quickly.

I would be most concerned with accessing the rear for periodic cleaning.  Hermetic sealing?  Hinges?  How?

I am most curious how you drilled holes in tempered glass.

Great post Chaz.  I stayed in a motel in Northern California built by a guy that was rich and worshipped his wife.  The place was hot pink cause...well you know why. All the rooms had unique decor.  I stayed in the "Cave". The shower was actually covered in rock.  A friend in Ramona, Ca had a house built onto the side of a enormous boulder.  The bathroom and shower were chisled lout of the rock.  You aren't the first but I'll wager yours will be the most beautiful.  The others were well done s that a complement.

[David Anderson]

How about Formica sheets?  4x8 cut to fit and glue them up.  The downside are the corners.  Caulking them is the only way I can think of.  There will be lots of movement from the side wall of the coach at the 90 degree corner of the adjacent wall.  That could be a problem even with caulk. 

The substrate needs to waterproof and for added resistance a rubber vapor barrier between the substrate and frame of the coach and adjacent walls.  This would wick any moisture downward and keep it inside the drain pan.

I wish someone would try it, report back in a couple of years to see how it is holding up.  I've thought about doing it but haven't.   Don't have the courage to try it.

David

[steve wardwell]

We have a shower with a curved glass door on 2 sides and  corrian sheets (butted corner and match caulked) on  the other 2 sides. flexing was a concern but it seems to hold well with no leaks after 5 years now. (I did re caulk last year to rid us of some mildew)  mildew =  the germ of life

[David Anderson]

We have a shower with a curved glass door on 2 sides and  corrian sheets (butted corner and match caulked) on  the other 2 sides. flexing was a concern but it seems to hold well with no leaks after 5 years now. (I did re caulk last year to rid us of some mildew)  mildew =  the germ of life

Corian sheets.  Haven't thought of that.  I bet that looks pretty good and good protection from dings and bumps.  Good idea.

David

[rwc]

If the cleaner has any ammonia in it the plastics will yellow. That's what happens to motorcycle windshields if cleaned with Windex or  any ammonia based cleaner

[JohnEd]

RWC,

Now that's a piece of priceless info.  AMMONIA!  I have shot myself in the foot with Windex and never knew it.  Bike windshields, convertible windows and auto headlights.  ARRGGGHH

Thank you,

John

[Nusa]

Take samples of your top candidate materials and hang them on the wall of your current shower for a few weeks...see how they hold up.

[Chaz]

Hey Guys,
  Thanx for the compliments. I don't think it was that creative to have a cave bathroom since I already live underground.    I will get you all some pix when I get another camera. (Mine went outside without it's umbrella.  )  Sorry Muddog, I think I got "shorted" in other ways.   
 
Looks like Lexan gets the nod. I need to get some for my vista's and destination window anyway. But they will probably be different thicknesses. I don't really have time to experiment with pieces in a term experiment but when I get it, I may do some harsh short term experiments to see what to stay away from.

John, you are right, you cannot drill  tempered. They do all the cutting/drilling before they temper it. Your measurements have to be spot on. I did one wall at a time and adjusted the angles. The glass is completely encompassed with a high dollar clear silicone sealant (supposedly the cats PJ's) . I suppose it "could" give me grief in some way, but I'm not sure how. 

Not sure about Formica either. I'd have to investigate that. I do like the idea of Corian! But aren't they a little "proud" of that stuff?? I compete against it with the copper countertops I do. My copper ususally runs in the same price neighborhood. (They tell me I'm cheap.)

The ammonia is a good tip!! Thanx!

Thanx for the input folks. I'm now armed and dangerous!    (hell, I've been that way for years! lol )

Chaz

[Len Silva]

Now, I think a copper shower would be really cool!

[edvanland]

Chaz
Since it is a bus You need a drawing of a cave man with a club pulling his girlfriend by the hair, or maybe she will drag you.  I agree with others no one man should have the talents you do, but glad you do.
Keep up the good work and ideas.
ED
MCI 7