waterproof permenant adhesive needed

Gooday all
I am new to this forum, just a quick background of myself. I am 25 yr. veteran carpenter who blew out my back. Closed my reno business after 14 yrs., went back to school 2 yrs. and became a municipal bldg. inspector.
( there are many days I wish I was back on the other side of the hammer believe me, but am physically able to work this job. There, now that is out of way onto my reason for being here:
I recently installed a 5′ one piece shower (fiberglass) in my home. For doors I would like to install 1/2″ tempered glass. One fixed panel and one operating hinged door. Door aprox 26″ wide. This is custom made enclosure so dimentions of panels are varible.
My problem is on the hinge side all I have to fasten hinges to is: predrill through fiberglass and fasten hinge plates to shower. There is no “meat” behind at this location and I am hoping to find a adhesive to that will assist in holding steel plates to acrylic finish of shower. soooo……..
Installation will be: 1). screws and either plugs or ….???
2). epoxy ??? glue??? which when set, will be
waterproof and also very strong as door
will be aprox. 26″ x 60″ 1/2″ plate glass
and very heavy. Also permenant!!!
Any ideas or product will be helpful.
Thank you
Chris Carroll —– Picton, Ontario Canada
Replies
Is the shower enclosure, in the area where you want to attach these hinges, sufficiently strong and stiff to support them and the attached door?? Do you have a rough idea of how thick the fiberglass is in the area where you want to make this attachment?
Generally, if this is built-up fiberglass, and the area where you want to attach is at least 1/4" thick, it should be strong enough to support the door. You'd need to use some sort of a toggle or Molly style bolts to attach the door, though, vs just sheet metal screws into the fiberglass. You could add epoxy between the hinge and the fiberglass, but it would only marginally increase the strength of the attachment, and would risk damaging the finish of the enclosure. You should use some sort of sealer or caulk around the screws, though, to prevent water penetration.
If the fiberglass is not sufficiently thick/stiff, or if the attachment point is in the middle of a large flat area where it will flex too much then you basically have no choice but to somehow access the area behind and install blocking.
Dan
Thanks for your reply, yes the fg is fairly heavy in this area (min 1/4" thick) I am of same mind as you re: toggles, ect. as fasteners. I am thinking that an epoxy will assist the fasteners. Kind of a extra guarantee as this door assembly will weigh in the neighbouhood of 150-200 lbs. now this is a guesstimate on my part. Possibly a smear coat of high quality silicone applied to back of hinge plate is all i need then seal around them afterwords ?
Thanks again Dan
The best way is to put the silicone on, attach the hinges, and tighten not quite all the way. After the silicone sets a bit tighten further to compress the silicone.
Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle. --Mahatma Gandhi
Personally I'd try using 3M double faced pressure sensitive tape to augment the screws. It is an automotive type product. I used it to stick a towel bar to a glass shower enclosure, and it held up fine for a number of years.
I'm thinking along the same lines as Matt. Auto adhesives are not ojnly sstrong, but flaxxable and water proof.
Your biggest problem is the different thermal co-efficient of expansion. This will break the bond of any hard adhesive. It has to retain some resiliency.
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