Community Forums

EGRJR · 02-13-2022, 04:12 PM

Should the bottoms of the plastic shower wall panels be caluked? The bottom of the shower panels sit ontop of the shower floor tray and do allow water to drain. Just checking as I believe it could go either way. Thanks.

Eugene

NXR · 02-13-2022, 06:19 PM

Usually not. I installed one of those at home and while the manual said it could be caulked, it also said that doing that could increase the stress on the wall panels as people moved inside the shower and the shower base flexed. There's a lip behind the wall panel so water running down the wall cannot go underneath the shower base.

I would think that increasing the stress on anything in an RV is rarely a good thing.

Ray

TheCatsRV · 02-13-2022, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXR

Usually not. I installed one of those at home and while the manual said it could be caulked, it also said that doing that could increase the stress on the wall panels as people moved inside the shower and the shower base flexed. There's a lip behind the wall panel so water running down the wall cannot go underneath the shower base.

So all RV shower pans have a lip that the walls overlap for certain? I have this issue in my (N2M) '07 Coachmen Mirada. Was going to caulk it (caulk by a previous owner has failed) and won't if that the case. The wall at the bottom has a lot fo flex so I'm not sure if caulk would even hold.

kenandterry · 02-13-2022, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXR

Usually not. I installed one of those at home and while the manual said it could be caulked, it also said that doing that could increase the stress on the wall panels as people moved inside the shower and the shower base flexed. There's a lip behind the wall panel so water running down the wall cannot go underneath the shower base.

I would think that increasing the stress on anything in an RV is rarely a good thing.

Ray

Yup. There’s a shower base lip that goes up behind the wall.
It’s okay that they’re not sealed together.

Oahumike · 02-13-2022, 07:04 PM

Being a service plumber and remodels, generally you do want to caulk the low seam. The walls and base overlap so if any water does get there it will drain into the base. You do not want to trap water above overlap, possible moisture damage and mold. The kits generally flex also so the caulk joint looks terrible. Hope this helps.

edge68474 · 02-13-2022, 07:09 PM

Now I am confused. Don't you mean, generally you do NOT caulk the low seam. If you caulk, then in my view, if their is water behind the wall it would not be able to drain into the tub, it would just dry up, hopefully.
Just asking for clarification. Thank you.

Oahumike · 02-13-2022, 08:30 PM

Yes it would dry but depending on humidity and and if it got beyond the panel it would be absorbed into wood, It would not be noticed until it caused a situation which may need more involved solution, just my background and opinion.