Need lightweight waterproofing cladding to put on swimming pool fibreglass cover of filters etc
Hi @brianman,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
Being outdoors, whatever you use needs to be both waterproof and UV stable to resist weathering and degradation from exposure to the sun.
You could use something like Hardieflex which is a thin fibre cement sheeting that is relatively lightweight, but would require painting, or alternatively you could use https://www.bunnings.com.au/ekodeck-219-x-26mm-3-6m-carbon-batten-screen-castellated-panel_p0488949 which is a composite product that comes prefinished.
While cladding could be stuck to the enclosure using an adhesive, it would be best if you can attach it using screws alongside an adhesive such as liquid nails.
Is there any kind of frame inside the fibreglass enclosure? Steel or timber?
Ideally, you would apply a liberal amount of adhesive, then press the cladding on and screw through it into the frame. If there is a frame, and you can advise what it is made of, I can assist with selecting the right screws for the job.
Let me know what you think.
Jacob
Hello team
There is nothing to screw to , I did have small tiled squares stuck with Silastic did last did the job for 7-8 years till road work vibrations caused them to fall off .
How would Shiplap cladding be to stick on .
Thank you for your help
It's not ideal being unable to use screws, and it is unlikely to be covered by any kind of manufacturer's warranty, but as you've already found, something like silastic or Liquid Nails will last for a decent amount of time. You'd just want to make sure you get all the old adhesive off and give it a good clean before sticking anything to it. You can use a paint scraper and some sandpaper to remove the old adhesive, then give everything a good clean with some warm soapy water to remove any dirt or contaminants that can affect adhesion.
If you are referring to something like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/ekodeck-164-x-13-5mm-5-4m-carbon-shiplap-cladding_p0617437 , then it wouldn't really work because the profile is designed to work with clips, which means the back of the cladding is not flat, so there is very limited contact area for an adhesive.
If you are limited to using adhesive, you need to use something with a flat back, so the adhesive has a much wider contact patch.
There is also https://www.bunnings.com.au/james-hardie-4200mm-x-325mm-x-14mm-stria-cladding-smooth_p0710349 , but at around 19kg per square metre, the weight is getting right up there and I'm not particularly confident that you could install it with adhesive alone.
Unfortunately, only being able to use adhesive is a bit limiting in terms of options and you'll find that most profiled fibre cement sheets start to get pretty up there in terms of weight. Where the Stria cladding is around 19kg per square metre, the 4.5mm Hardiflex is around 7kg per square metre, which would be better suited to an adhesive only installation. You can always paint it to add a bit more character.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Hello Jacob
Would it be better to paint and with what outdoor weatherwise paint to use
Yeah, it would definitely be best that it gets painted. Fibre cement is water resistant and suitable for outdoor use, but paint just helps to seal everything up, which increases life span and just makes things look better.
You can use an exterior paint such as Dulux Weathershield, Wattyl Solagard or Taubmans Sunproof. They come in a variety of sheens and a massive assortment of colours, so you can really customise it to your liking.
Having had a bit more of a think, I would also recommend attaching a PVC angle like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/brutus-19-x-19-x-2-5mm-2-4m-pvc-building-moulding_p1100622 on that top edge to help prevent water from getting in behind the sheet, as it would negatively effect the adhesive over the course of time. You can use the same liquid nails to stick it in place.
As you aren't able to use screws, we should do our best to really protect that adhesive.
Let me know what you think and if you've got further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Hello Jacob, I was wondering if painting the whole box would be better, your thoughts?
The adhesive only cladding installation being a potential pain point would certainly make painting it a better option in my eyes.
If you were to go with just paint, then you would just need to ensure you get it really clean by removing all that old adhesive and washing it down with soapy water and a scrubbing brush.
After prep, you would also want to apply a coat of primer such as this https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-1step-prep-primer-sealer-undercoat_p1370234 which will neaten the surface and create a quality surface for your external paint to bond to.
Hi Jacobz
Do you know of any very good adhesive cleaner , I tried soap , bicarb , vinegar on my pool cover with no effect
You have seen cover before , any advice would be much appreciated
Bryan
This https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-sealant-remover-375g_p0828840? might help depending on what the adhesive is, but you'd still need to combine this with scraping.
If you apply the silicone remover, then use a scraper like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/100mm-sharp-edge-paint-scraper_p1670156 to scrape it off, you will hopefully have some success.
If you're still struggling, you can try an abrasive like steel wool or sandpaper.
If all else fails, an angle grinder with a flap disc will get it off, you'll just want to be careful not to overdo it and gouge out the surface beneath.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
