FRP and water immersion

[belfert]

Sounds like you got that stuff like they sell for bathroom walls, Looks like plastic and has a fine fiberglass material embedded in the mix. It will degrade in storage and if it gets wet on the back side since the front is sealed during the texturing process.
I got mine at Lowes and have some that was stored for a while in a damp place and it discolored and warped badly.

This is exactly what I have.  It sounds like they only intend it to get wet on the front side.  The back side of most or all of the sheets got wet.

I'm not sure any of the sheets are salvageable after a closer look.  They all seem to have some level of deterioration.  I could certainly use the $150 for something else on the bus.  I hope the lumberyard still has more of the $15 sheets left.

[Busted Knuckle]

Brian,
I have to agree with Dallas on this one! As an ex-long time renegade chicken hauler. I have seen lots of FRP in "reefer" trailers. And I have gotten it plenty wet, washing it, with a sprinkler set up to water a load of exotic tropical plants (hauled coast to coast 4 different times with the unit on heat instead of cooling), iced down loads of chickens & various veggies, etc! I believe Dallas has hit the nail on the head about it being a bad batch from the start! (might explain the low price!) FWIW   BK 

[Hartley]

Brian,
I have to agree with Dallas on this one! As an ex-long time renegade chicken hauler. I have seen lots of FRP in "reefer" trailers. And I have gotten it plenty wet, washing it, with a sprinkler set up to water a load of exotic tropical plants (hauled coast to coast 4 different times with the unit on heat instead of cooling), iced down loads of chickens & various veggies, etc! I believe Dallas has hit the nail on the head about it being a bad batch from the start! (might explain the low price!) FWIW   BK 

Great...

The essential thing to remember is that the FRP used in truck bodies and trailers is surface sealed to be water resistant and the plywood they use is very well encapsulated to help limit damage from the elements. The fiberglass matting and epoxy coatings used in it's construction is also pretty thick. ( they should call it plywood reinforced fiberglass. (PRF)
just to be different..

OK, I am being silly but it's something to ponder....

Dave

[belfert]

I don't think it was a bad batch.  The stuff was fine when I loaded it into the trailer, but the plastic cap on the front of the trailer cracked and let rain in.  (Caps cracking is a common flaw with this model trailer.  The replacement cap is much more flexible.)

Dave has indicated that FRP is not sealed on the back side so that is how the water damaged it.  Semi trailers have the sealed side exposed and the stuff is tightly glued to the plywood.