Most RVs have fiberglass bodies. If the entire body is not fiberglass, there are bound to be some parts that are. For instance, fiberglass is often used for bumpers (on both small cars and large RVs). Fiberglass is a common auto body material because it is so lightweight yet fairly durable. An RV with a fiberglass body will remain reasonably lightweight. One of the best things about having fiberglass is the fact that it is easier to repair than metal is. This article explains how you can patch holes and chips in your fiberglass.
What You Need
In order to effectively patch fiberglass, you need a few simple supplies. First of all, you need the fiberglass cloth and resin. You also need fiberglass sandpaper, painter's tape, and a plastic putty knife.
Prepping
You need to do a little bit of prep work before you can actually apply the patch. Most importantly, it is vital that you lightly sand the immediate area around the damaged part of the RV. Anything that is going to be covered by the fiberglass patch should be sanded. This makes an otherwise ultra-smooth surface a little bit rougher so that the fiberglass resin will stick well to it. You can even trace the fiberglass cloth after you cut it onto the RV body so you know exactly where to sand. The sanding is just a quick buffing.
Applying the Resin
Once your fiberglass cloth is cut to the right size and the resin is ready, you can start to spread it. Remember that the resin dries very quickly, so you need to work hastily. In fact, it might be smart to practice applying the resin on a spare piece of metal before trying to patch your RV.
You want to spread the resin until the texture of the cloth is completely covered. Obviously, this might result in a lumpy finish that sticks out a little bit, but don't worry. Later, when it comes to sanding it down, you will have to shape the new patch and make it blend in with the original shape and texture of the car. In fact, the sanding process is usually more time-consuming than actual application of the patch and resin.
Now that your fiberglass is repaired, you can figure out what you're going to do with the paint finish. This might be a job that you need to leave to professionals specializing in RV collision repair.
Share2 May 2018
When I graduated from college, I was able to purchase my first car. After much searching for the perfect vehicle, I selected a white sedan. This car has always been special to me because I earned the money to pay for it by myself. I even still own it. However, because it’s 13 years old now, it really needs to be painted. Instead of hiring someone to repaint it white, I’m considering trying something different. I would like to have a professional paint it either black or silver. On this blog, you will discover how to give an older vehicle a new look by hiring someone to paint it a different color.
