Fiberglass Reinforced Wall Panel

[SteveH]

The only thing wrong with FRP, in my opinion, is that it only comes in 4X8' sheets. Eliminates making anything larger than a 4X8' teardrop. Even aluminum left out in the weather without any protection will deteriorate.

[Gambam]

you can get it bigger. I'm building mine out of 4x9 foot sheets, donated from an uncle.

[Creamcracker]

I'm thinking of using FRP -- I like the shine and the clean look of the material. However, I read that some people have problems with the glue used and a subsequent buckling of the FRP because of expansion. I've had some advice offlist but was wondering what others may have encountered problem wise when using FRP. Do you find expansion to be a problem? What adhesive do you use? How much gap if any do you leave between roof and side wall? What do you cover that area with? Thanks Philip

[jagular7]

I've got a commercially built td with the FRP as walls and top. The walls comprise of 3/4" marine plywood and the FRP. Top has FRP inner and outer panels with a frame of 2x2's. From what I can see and tell, he FRP is not secured directly to the frame work in a mass area. Its more attached through the trim and the trim screws.

Though warning, look at that paper backing. Water it does not like. Make sure there is no way water can get behind it. My interior lower kick panels are FRP and they show discoloration. We'll see if the external will start to show the same. Pics

[Jiminsav]

jagular, you don't have frp, you have filon..it's made for outside

[jagular7]

jagular, you don't have frp, you have filon..it's made for outside

Really, when I found the leaking situation, I contacted the manu. I removed the inner lower panels on the front/rear headers and found whats in the pics. The lower corners had growth on it, so I cleaned it up with clorox/water. The backing peeled away as its layered paper. On the outside, if you look real close, you can see the fiberglass strands. Oh, well, thanks for the info.

[brian_bp]

jagular, you don't have frp, you have filon..it's made for outside

I know this is an old topic, but I just stumbled across it...

Filon is FRP, which just means fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which of course is usually just called "fiberglass". Filon is FRP made in sheets, with or without a gelcoat... yes, generally as an exterior panel.