If you are looking for an interior wall finish that will resist most any abuse you or your customers can think of then the answer to your prayers may be as simple as Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester (FRP).       

There are two variations of FRP:

• Spray on liners, which are applied by experienced installers primarily on new construction.
 

• Or the alternative, and more common method, which are four-foot wide wall and ceiling liner panels used in the carwash industry.

The common method

Liner panels are available in a variety of sizes and colors, other than the standard 4’ x 8’ white panels most everyone is accustomed to.

Panels can be purchased in lengths of nine, 10, and 12 feet with custom lengths also available. Panel width is standardized at four-feet even though you can purchase coils which are eight feet wide by 200 feet long.

An advantage to using the eight-foot wide coils is that there are no seams or panel joints; however, installation is more difficult because of the size of each individual piece.         

The versatility of FRP

No matter what type of operation you have:

• Self-serve,

• Automatic,

• Full-serve, or a

• Lube shop.

When properly installed, FRP can create a moisture barrier between the wash tunnel and the customer viewing area and/or the equipment room of self-serve/automatic bays.

FRP will not peel or crack like paint, does not harbor the growth of mold or mildew and, once installed, will last a lifetime and as long as it is cleaned on a regular basis will look new for years.   

What other areas could utilize FRP? In fast lube facilities there are the walls in the pit and the main floor work area. Grease and other lubricants will not adhere to it and are easily removed with any solvent based cleaner with no harmful effects.

What about the restrooms? Whether it is installed as a four-foot high wainscot or full height the result is the same – an attractive, easily cleaned wall surface.     

New FRP methods and the accompanying stigma

There is a stigma associated with regular embossed FRP. Recent developments in the liner panel industry are bringing this panel out from the institutional “back of the house” areas.

One manufacturer developed multi-colored FRP. There are also marble and granite surfaces – designs that are generally utilized in restrooms and other “front of the house” areas where an attractive yet abuse-resistant finish is required.

This product is the same thickness – .09 inches or 3/32 of an inch – with the design and colors integrally bonded to the polyester resin.         

Proper installation, both hot and cold

One critical aspect of FRP is that it is a plastic panel that will contract and expand with temperature changes.

Consequently this will need to be a factor when installation begins.

Performing the installation in the summer is best, when the panels would be at their optimum size so they would only shrink in length and width.

When installing in the cooler months care should be taken to ensure that room for expansion is integrated at the time of installation.

This is accomplished by leaving 1/16^th to 1/8^th of an inch between the panels and related moldings and over sizing the holes in the panels when using nylon drive anchors.

Furthermore, do not install the panels directly to the floor, instead allow ¼ inch between the bottom of the panel and the floor. This gap can be filled with a high quality water resistant sealant.     

Keep in mind that FRP panels can be easily installed in both new and retrofit applications. When the installation is for a new carwash, adhesive can be used to adhere the panels to the concrete block.

For an existing facility, the use of nylon drive anchors is recommended. Glue is optional in conjunction with the anchors.

The reason for using anchors in a retrofit project is the existing wall surface, since old paint may peel and there is usually built up dirt and other residue that would need to be removed installing the panels directly over this can be accomplished with the anchors without having to clean the walls.        

You never need to close

You can retrofit your facility with FRP wall panels and never shut down your operation. All other options require that the carwash be out of service for a period of time for several reasons;

• Prepping the walls,

• The actual installation of the new finish, and

• Cure time.

The most time that FRP wall panels will take away from business is about a day – a bay at a time. You could even avoid that by having the installation completed during the evening when customer use is at it’s slowest.                            

Can you alter your FRP?

FRP can be painted with high quality enamel paint if someone wants to add graphics, etc., to their walls. How long it stays on depends upon the abuse it is subjected to and the cleaning process.

FRP is not meant to be painted. There is PVC trim accent pieces in various colors that help to accentuate and break up the solid white finish. Any established distributor should be able to help out with this request.     

Among the many reasons to choose FRP for your facility are: •Because you are tired of painting your walls every spring with the paint that peels three months after you apply it.

• Or you have just purchased your first carwash and you want to update it. Make it look brighter with new equipment, lights, and clean walls.

• Maybe use FRP because you heard that graffiti doesn’t stick to it very well.

• Or are you a do it yourself kind of person that has a tight budget and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty and take this on yourself.

Whatever the reasons, FRP wall and ceiling panels will certainly fulfill them.

Bruce Dixon is the sales manager of a respected FRP distributor in Houston that also has a stocking warehouse in Atlanta. He has over twenty years of experience in providing this product to the carwash industry. If you have any questions regarding this article or FRP in general you may contact him at sbs@frp.com.