Building a new shower?

[doglickfarms]

I have gutted an AS and now I am in the slow process of putting it back together. Has anyone built there own shower? I would like to do mine out of aluminum but I can't really figure it out. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.

[Aerowood]

I work with aluminum all the time and I would not recommend it unless you are willing to clear-coat it or paint it. Every time it is cleaned it will turn the cleaning person and tools black. Stainless would be a better option. Ask Zep about his Aluminum kitchen.

Kip

[Kevin245]

Ditto to what Kip says about aluminum. The only way I would ever use it was if I had it anodized. I'd stick with stainless steel also.

Kevin

[Gypsy Jo]

What are the thoughts on a copper shower pan?

[olddog299]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jo

What are the thoughts on a copper shower pan?

I'm thinking that might be a big recipe for corrosion by galvanic action. I misremember my high school chemistry ... is aluminum more noble than copper? One or the other is quite likely to rot away in a very short time, particularly fast if the HW heater is attached to 110 AC. Providing the necessary protection will likely be tedious and expensive. A high nickel stainless steel has had very good long term results in an Airstream, if the double SS kitchen sink in my 20 years old trailer is any indication.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jo

What are the thoughts on a copper shower pan?

Copper would work but the issue cost and dent resistance are a couple of issues I would be concerned with though some alloys are fairly hard.

As olddog299 indicates galvanic reaction between AL (0.70, 0.90, or 0.95V) and CU (0.35V) is a consideration if these materials are in contact with each other. In a harsh environment such as wet, high humidity, or outdoor installations the AI difference should be 0.15V or less to lessen the effect of galvanic corrosion.

Regards,

Kevin

[Gypsy Jo]

Probably not such a good idea. What about using fiber glass cloth and resin making a shower pan using the existing mh wall and floor as part of the frame? Did it in a bus and it held up for years.But that is not an airstream.

[Montique]

If I have to replace the tub/shower in my '74 argosy with rear bath, I'm leaning toward a round shower base shoved into the corner where the tub was and don't try to build a shower enclosure but use a "ring" at the ceiling and a shower curtain like the old clawfoot tubs had. This would free up space when not using the shower. I'm a plumber and have looked at the different shower bases but hav'nt come up with the right one yet. My plan would use the present shower valve setup and not change the walls? The ring at the ceiling could be made larger than the base to give more elbow room. A guy can make his own shower base/pan but the masonry and tile would add too much weight so fiberglass/acrylic semms the way to go.

[mbattin]

I am dealing with the same issue, the bath in my '74 Sovereign was gutted when I got it, so I need to get creative. Idea's I have considered, a SS drip pan for hvac equipt, yet to find the one that will work best, I also would consider having a SS pan fabbed by a metal shop, I dont know how much that would be, but its a pretty simple thing to make. There are also fiberglass options out there, and SS pans already to go, I have yet to find cheap ones, but there are some beautiful ones for a real price. If things get desperate, I might just have to cut the belly pan out, and shower on wood slats...prob not...
The sides are the easy part, if you want SS, consider veneering it to a wood or plastic substrate. Depending on where my budget is by then, I would like to use 3Form.

[toastie]

I'm also building a shower in our 1955 Safari, looking at going with cypress wood for the walls, was looking at teak but at $25 a board ft. decided on the cypress. The floor however will be teak slats and removable.

toastie

[InsideOut]

We re-built our shower out of stainless and are very happy with the results. The ss pan was damaged and since we were adding an above floor tank it wouldn't have worked anyways. The original walls in ours were aluminum - I would not recommend that - they were cruddy - oxidized, dented & scratched.

Here's a picture of our new shower...more can be seen in our "It's a Girl!!!" thread.

Shari

[NJtoNC]

we are in the process of installing a wet bath in our 62 gobetrotter. we commissioned a stainless shower pan and black water tank 'cover' @ approx $1100 including materials.



its a bit hard to see here. the aluminum 'wall' is where the old tub was. it is now going to be a closet. the cordless drill is sitting atop a grey water tank, which will be covered with a vessel sink. in the closet is a greywater pump - a "whale gulper". it drains the shower pan into the grey water tank that is above floor level. what you cannot see is whats behind the photographer - the toilet and blackwater tank thats covered by a stainless 'floor' thats raised about 6".

you can get an idea from this pic (pre-stainless shower pan and floor install)


the plywood covers the old fiberglass blackwater tank and you can see the existing location of the toilet.

my husband is quite tall and im 5' 8" myself, so the old fiberglass tub in the corner was not at all practical.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

We re-built our shower out of stainless and are very happy with the results. The ss pan was damaged and since we were adding an above floor tank it wouldn't have worked anyways. The original walls in ours were aluminum - I would not recommend that - they were cruddy - oxidized, dented & scratched.

Here's a picture of our new shower...more can be seen in our "It's a Girl!!!" thread.

Shari

Nice Throne room Shari.

The stainless looks great.

Kevin

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

Nice Throne room Shari.

The stainless looks great.

Kevin

Thanks...it sits well with us!

Shari

[69TradeW]

Do you have any photos of your bathroom, shower? I am interested in refurnishing my trade wind.
Thanks,
Terry

[mwernke]

Following

[SilverSunny]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

Ditto to what Kip says about aluminum. The only way I would ever use it was if I had it anodized. I'd stick with stainless steel also.

Kevin

---galvanized steel walls? I have seen them in several remodels, but only in pictures [although I am sure I can find a gazillion videos on youtube, I'm sure].

Any thoughts?

[jbates]

Originally Posted by toastie

I'm also building a shower in our 1955 Safari, looking at going with cypress wood for the walls, was looking at teak but at $25 a board ft. decided on the cypress. The floor however will be teak slats and removable.

toastie

Hey Toastie. I realize that this is an old post, but I'd love to see how the team slats in your shower look. Any pics? Thanks!