DIY shower stall questions

[Vendeta44]

I'm planning to do a wet bath in my bus and I've got some questions about the best budget options to do it. I'm more concerned with functionality and price then I am aesthetics for the record.

My plan was for a roughly 32" x 40" shower base with a box'ed off compositing toilet off to one side. see

I intended to use marine grade ply for the walls and coat with a epoxy such as this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...C0ZJ5XI5&psc=1. With the corners sealed up this seems to be a pretty water proof way of doing it well being reasonably cheap if im not mistaken.

I'm hung up on the best way to accomplish the shower pan, originally I was going to just build basically a wood basin and try and seal the edges, but that seems like a bad idea in the long run. Fiberglass pans seem to be a bit expensive $250-$400 for the appropriate size and the cheaper ones tend to need a cement base anyways. I was intending to do a teak or bamboo slat shower floor anyways so I don't need a pretty pan. Could I just lay a 2" thick cement slab with a drain and put slats over that?


Side note: Any advice on on demand tankless heaters? Looking at some of the cheaper sub $300 electric ones as I won't have a super high pressure shower, but I need something that will function throughout a Canadian winter(bus will be well insulated).

[BeNimble]

I'd be looking for a complete fiberglass shower wall system, sometimes you can find used ones or unused new ones people decided not to use, or closeout/returns at the bigbox stores at a discount. I just looked at my local CL and found acrylic shower pan for $100.

Like all bathroom projects, not having to redo it is the primary goal.

[Vendeta44]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

I'd be looking for a complete fiberglass shower wall system, sometimes you can find used ones or unused new ones people decided not to use, or closeout/returns at the bigbox stores at a discount. I just looked at my local CL and found acrylic shower pan for $100.

Like all bathroom projects, not having to redo it is the primary goal.

I looked, but theirs nothing immediately avalible in the size I need, and I don't have the time to wait for a good deal to show up.

Is there a reason why marine ply with epoxy for the walls and a cement base wont work?

[BeNimble]

I would not spend for marine ply if you use epoxy. Did you price out epoxy? It isn't cheap, but you don't need it either, just use polyester resin or vinylester even if you can handle the odors.
I've seen them done in fiberglass or steel roofing panels if you don't care how bad it looks.

You could create the shower pan with epoxy and wood. cement too heavy. Might look at sheet vinyl flooring for the walls. it is quite cost effective, you can do all three walls in a single sheet.

[Vendeta44]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

I would not use marine ply if you use epoxy. Did you price out epoxy? It isn't cheap, but you don't need it either, just use polyester resin or vinylester even if you can handle the odors.
I've seen them done in fiberglass or steel roofing panels if you don't care how bad it looks.

Yeah I was looking at this epoxy https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...C0ZJ5XI5&psc=1 I'd probably end up needing 3(maybe only 2) gallons of it, so not particularly cheap. I'm concerned about offgassing with polyester/vinylester in such a small space.

Would marine ply on its own stand up for the walls? If so that'd cut a fair bit off the price.

[Vendeta44]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

I would not spend for marine ply if you use epoxy. Did you price out epoxy? It isn't cheap, but you don't need it either, just use polyester resin or vinylester even if you can handle the odors.
I've seen them done in fiberglass or steel roofing panels if you don't care how bad it looks.

You could create the shower pan with epoxy and wood. cement too heavy. Might look at sheet vinyl flooring for the walls. it is quite cost effective, you can do all three walls in a single sheet.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...C0ZJ5XI5&psc=1 was the epoxy I was looking at, would need probably 3 gallons so it gets up there in cost for sure.

Vinyl flooring definitely seems like a good cost effective way. I suppose I can use cheap construction ply as the wall in that case as well. Probably end up going this route.

What do you mean too heavy? I was thinking 2" thick base, with some mesh for strength. Doesn't seem like it would be that heavy? Or would its weight and the movement of the bus end up destroying it quickly at that size?

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by Vendeta44

I'm planning to do a wet bath in my bus and I've got some questions about the best budget options to do it. I'm more concerned with functionality and price then I am aesthetics for the record.

My plan was for a roughly 32" x 40" shower base with a box'ed off compositing toilet off to one side. see

I intended to use marine grade ply for the walls and coat with a epoxy such as this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...C0ZJ5XI5&psc=1. With the corners sealed up this seems to be a pretty water proof way of doing it well being reasonably cheap if im not mistaken.

I'm hung up on the best way to accomplish the shower pan, originally I was going to just build basically a wood basin and try and seal the edges, but that seems like a bad idea in the long run. Fiberglass pans seem to be a bit expensive $250-$400 for the appropriate size and the cheaper ones tend to need a cement base anyways. I was intending to do a teak or bamboo slat shower floor anyways so I don't need a pretty pan. Could I just lay a 2" thick cement slab with a drain and put slats over that?


Side note: Any advice on on demand tankless heaters? Looking at some of the cheaper sub $300 electric ones as I won't have a super high pressure shower, but I need something that will function throughout a Canadian winter(bus will be well insulated).

I like this guy's epoxy pan idea... just not quite so flashy
https://youtu.be/iUjDC6ub-ow

[Vendeta44]

Thats a great video! I think I'll go with that process for the shower pan, seems like it will work perfect for my case.

[Epomethius]

I shower on the middle step surrounded by a shower curtain that is my door sun screen at other times. It’s made for water.

[bus-bro]

This is what I did. Got a really nice shower pan for $35, and put FRP over plywood for the walls. https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/i...-bus-7147.html

[Booyah45828]

Originally Posted by Epomethius

I shower on the middle step surrounded by a shower curtain that is my door sun screen at other times. It’s made for water.

That's what I would do. Make your bathroom out of regular ply, use a cheap shower pan, reinforce it with closed cell spray foam, and then use a hula hoop and a shower curtain and call it good.

Marine ply isn't necessary for the walls, standard is fine. Paint it with good oil based enamel paint and that will protect it, no need for epoxy. Seal the bottoms and corners with flexible silicone.

That's how I would do it if your typical shower wall and pan combo is too expensive.

[wireguy]

This is what I used. I had to modify it to make it fit but the material cut nicely with several different kinds of saws. I had to split the pan to make it fit, but it follows the curve of the bus and drains into the gray water tank.



https://www.acehardware.com/departme...rounds/4115531

[musigenesis]

I'm not sure if this would really work, but since I can't afford (or weld) stainless sheet, I was thinking it might be possible to weld a custom shower stall out of mild steel sheet and then seal it with seam sealer and paint it. If I'm relying on this same basic process to keep water out of my bus, it seems like it also might keep a shower stall watertight, at least for a while. The seam sealer (Dynatron-550 of course) could be applied pretty smoothly, and perhaps a teak platform on the bottom would work, to keep me from directly contacting the paint layer (not that I shower in cleats or anything).

I've never seen this done, which suggests it might not be a good idea (and I'll happily hear why it's not). I have a plastic step tub I'm planning to use but I have to cut part of it off at some point and rejoin the remainders, and if I screw that up and ruin the tub I may try to fabricate my own.

[Mountain Gnome]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I'm not sure if this would really work, but since I can't afford (or weld) stainless sheet, I was thinking it might be possible to weld a custom shower stall out of mild steel sheet and then seal it with seam sealer and paint it. If I'm relying on this same basic process to keep water out of my bus, it seems like it also might keep a shower stall watertight, at least for a while. The seam sealer (Dynatron-550 of course) could be applied pretty smoothly, and perhaps a teak platform on the bottom would work, to keep me from directly contacting the paint layer (not that I shower in cleats or anything).

I've never seen this done, which suggests it might not be a good idea (and I'll happily hear why it's not). I have a plastic step tub I'm planning to use but I have to cut part of it off at some point and rejoin the remainders, and if I screw that up and ruin the tub I may try to fabricate my own.

HD sells thin zinc plated sheet metal. No need for paint. back it with thin plywood, seal the seams, and be good to go.
Or maybe use metal roofing panels for the walls.

[Mekanic]

I am a big guy (280+lbs) So i used a 48 inch shower stall in my U-RV Since i have a slick aluminum floor under it i knew traditional spots of thin set would not work.
I used 3 bags of Self leveling cement for the job. Worked like a charm.

[roach711]

Originally Posted by bus-bro

This is what I did. Got a really nice shower pan for $35, and put FRP over plywood for the walls. https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/i...-bus-7147.html

I used FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels over B/C plywood in ours. I tried using a pre-made shower surround but it wouldn't fit with or sloping ceiling.

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by roach711

I used FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels over B/C plywood in ours. I tried using a pre-made shower surround but it wouldn't fit with or sloping ceiling.

nicely done. how did you do the seams? Silicon caulk?

[Vendeta44]

Originally Posted by roach711

I used FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels over B/C plywood in ours. I tried using a pre-made shower surround but it wouldn't fit with or sloping ceiling.

Very nice! This is what I'm planning to do too with the frp walls, but I'm gonna do a diy wood base coated with resin. Is frp as easy to work with as it seems?

[Daledorm]

On my son’s Sprinter van shower we used RedGuard. You brush or roll it over the seam tape and the plywood and it creates a rubber seal. Then we glued 1/4” FRP to the walls and curve of the ceiling and caulked the corners and seams. Tight as a frog’s hind end.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[roach711]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

nicely done. how did you do the seams? Silicon caulk?

The big box stores sell trim pieces to go with the FRP panels that finish the corners and edges of the panels. When I installed the panels I used a good quality bathroom caulk and filled the slots in the trim to seal them to the panels. I also slopped lots of caulk on the plywood corners of the stall to further seal the corner trim from behind.

The plastic panels are light and easy to work with. I cut mine with a table saw and used FRP adhesive to glue it onto the plywood frame. A sabre saw would work fine but be careful with a circular saw with a coarse blade. The panels are fairly flexible but a coarse blade and a fast feed rate may chip the plastic.