How To Repair Crack In Fiberglass Showerpan

Fiberglass tub

Most modern homes take reward of the benefits of updated manufacturing and materials, containing fiberglass or acrylic bathtubs rather than traditional porcelain-coated bandage iron or stainless steel. Affordable, attractive, and durable, fiberglass is nevertheless prone to slap-up and pitting overtime.

Fortunately, repairing a croaky or damaged tub or shower pan is a straightforward DIY job that almost homeowners can do to salve themselves money over an expensive replacement. The cost to hire a professional person to prepare problems may bear witness worth the minor investment to ensure the cause of the upshot is addressed to prevent future problems.

This guide covers the basics for fixing all shower floors, including bases and pans, but it mainly focuses on the well-nigh common event – fiberglass tub repair.

This project costs an average of $20 to $240, depending on the extent of repairs needed and whether you lot rent a professional or handle fixing the damage on your own. Minor damage often only requires an epoxy kit, available at virtually dwelling house improvement stores. More all-encompassing cracks and fries may require drywall mud, special ii-component foam, and patches. Even at the loftier end, repairing is considerably less expensive than installing a new tub, and it normally simply takes four to 6 hours including drying time.

On This Folio:

Repairing a Fiberglass Tub
1. Tools Needed
2. Assessing the Extent of the Damage
3. Purchasing a Kit
4. Steps
Repairing a Fiberglass Shower Pan
Intendance & Maintenance Tips
Acrylic Tub & Shower
Fixing a Tile Pan
1. Tools
2. Steps
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Tub

Repairing a Fiberglass Tub

No matter how bad a crevice or an indentation may look, the procedure is the aforementioned as if it was a little pit. In either example, it's surprisingly simple. By using a basic epoxy kit with a few essential items, repairing a fiberglass tub takes as little as one day, with near of that time spent as the compound dries.

Materials and Tools Needed

In full general, this project requires minimal tools. For starters, you lot'll demand household cleaner and a sponge to clean the surface area earlier getting started. Additionally, you'll need:

Protective gear (goggles, respirator or mask and gloves)
Rotary tool
Drill
80-grit sanding newspaper
Fine grit sanding paper
Cellophane tape
Two-component cream
Fiberglass mesh/fabric
Fiberglass repair kit

What Type of Repair? Crack, Chip or Hole?

Assessing the damage is the commencement step to determining the blazon of repair needed. Over time, heavy use tin go out fiberglass, acrylic and other tub and shower materials vulnerable to bang-up and chipping. Additionally, if something heavy drops on the surface, information technology could leave a big fissure or a substantial hole, peculiarly if the base isn't properly supported.

Superficial chips, cracks and scratches may only require simple filling and refinishing. Merely for big ones, a professional should address the potential underlying trouble and add extra support to the structure before patching and refinishing the base.

What to Expect for in a Bathtub Repair Kit

To make your repair uncomplicated and stress-complimentary, look for an all-inclusive kit that has everything you demand to fix nearly issues. Minimally, kits include:

Polyester resin/epoxy in putty or paste form
Liquid hardener
Mixing stick and tray or mat
Sandpaper of various grits
Protective gloves
Colorants for common tub hues (i.e. almond, off-white), if needed
Finishing smoothen

For larger cracks and pits, it may also be necessary to purchase fiberglass mesh to reinforce the putty and make information technology less likely to dimple. Every bit a rule, utilize mesh for any crack wider than a quarter-inch or an open up hole that is too large to fill up in with the resin mixture lonely. More extensive problems caused by improper installation and back up may require drilling shallow holes in the tub, filling those holes with 2-component foam, and adding fiberglass patches before using a refinishing kit.

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Footstep-past-Stride Guide

Filling a small hole or fissure in fiberglass is a uncomplicated process, only you should set aside a whole day to allow time for the mixture to harden between steps. For this reason, this is a good job to brainstorm in the forenoon and complete throughout the twenty-four hours betwixt other home comeback projects. Repairs are similar for acrylic tubs, but we'll cover the differences between the two processes beneath.

1. Prepare the Area – Before getting started, clean the area with household cleaner and a sponge. Use rubbing alcohol, acetone, or a like solvent capable of removing oils, soap scum, and glass fibers.

1. Drill every bit Needed – When a lack of support is the root of the problem, you lot demand to address the result head on. Instead of removing the tub and rebuilding the support system, drill 6 to 8 modest holes in the tub and add foam (see next step). If you aren't working on the underlying support, merely y'all're repairing a scissure, use a rotary tool with 80-grit sand newspaper to grind a bevel that's about i 1/2 inches broad centered on the scissure.

1. Add Ii-Component Foam – For actress support, inject ii-component cream into the holes that you drilled. It sets in a few minutes and creates a strong foundation.

1. Utilize a Patch – If using fiberglass mesh, lay it over the crack or hole to measure out, and then trim it and so that it is slightly larger than the opening information technology is to cover. More than 1 layer may be necessary for particularly deep holes.

1. Mix the Filler – While wearing protective gloves, mix the resin putty and hardener equally directed by your repair kit, adding colorant if working with a not-white tub. Use the provided mixing stick and tray and put it atop a piece of flake paper-thin to foreclose accidental spills onto porous bathroom surfaces.

1. Repair the Crack, Flake or Hole – Immediately spread the mixture into the crack or hole, or on top of the fiberglass mesh. Have intendance to work it in thoroughly to get it into all crevices and prevent dimpling. Don't be afraid to pile the mixture atop the hole to make full it in completely; you volition be sanding it afterwards.

1. Allow the Mixture to Set – Permit the mixture to ready in the hole for 2-3 hours or longer for larger, deeper holes. Once set, use the sandpaper to carefully smoothen the surface. This might accept some time and elbow grease.

Refinish the Surface – Apply the finishing polish to consummate the patch and help the new surface area blend into the tub.

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Fiberglass shower floor

Repairing a Fiberglass Shower Pan

If you're repairing the flooring of a fiberglass stall, the method you apply to complete a patch is no dissimilar than in a larger tub. However, because near of the surface of the base is horizontal and flat, it is possible to set up and reinforce larger holes and pits with scrap plywood in add-on to epoxy, only only if you take admission to the back or bottom of the pan. Some quick steps are:

Spread epoxy on the plywood and press information technology onto the crack, from the unexposed side of the pan, to seal it.
Apply the upper layer of epoxy on the exposed surface and sand information technology downwards.

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Fiberglass Tub Intendance and Maintenance Tips

Like most home fixtures, when it comes to extending the life of your tub, preventing problems is the best solution. Your first line of defense force it regular cleaning with the correct type of cleaner and methods. This material responds best to balmy soap, similar dish lather, or fifty-fifty just a paste of baking soda and h2o. This is because the blanket is thin and subject to wear over time. For this aforementioned reason, it is of import to never use abrasive cleaners on these fixtures.

To maintain the luster of a unmarried- or double-piece fiberglass tub, you might too consider giving information technology a regular polishing using automotive finishing products designed for fiberglass. Avert using waxing products on this blazon of floor equally this poses a safety take chances when the shower is in use.

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acrylic shower pan

Acrylic Tub & Shower Repair

Acrylic is some other commonly used fabric that can often be repaired instead of replaced. The steps are similar, but slightly different.

1. Drill ane/iv-inch holes in a i-foot foursquare around the damage, being careful to avoid drilling all the way through.

1. Fill the holes with insulating foam to halt the acrylic from flexing after y'all've repaired the crevice. Remove any foam leaking from the holes with a craft knife earlier sanding over the stale foam with a 240-form sandpaper.

1. Drill holes at either end of the crack, avoiding drilling through the acrylic.

1. Use a two-part polyester filler to repair the damage, spreading it evenly over the drill holes and the crack with a rubber spreader.

1. One time the filler is dry, sand information technology smooth and level with the remainder of the tub's surface.

1. Wipe over the area with denatured alcohol to remove any grit.

Apply bathtub repair paint to create a smooth, well-matched surface. Once the pigment dries, add together a final layer of urethane chemical compound, and buff the area to create a smooth, hard finish.

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removing old tile from shower

How to Repair a Tile Shower Floor

If the crack is minor, you may be able to repair information technology without incurring the cost of retiling the area. Otherwise, you'll need to remove the damaged tiles and replace them before re-grouting.

Tools & Materials Needed

Grout saw
Drill with a masonry bit
Chisel
Scraper
Notched trowel
Tile adhesive or thinset
Grout
Sponge/rags

Stride-past-Step Guide

When removing the tile,

1. Use a grout saw to remove the grout surrounding the affected tile/tiles.

1. Drill a pigsty through the centre of the damaged tile, or several holes in a big tile.

1. Suspension the tile into small pieces using the chisel, and use the scraper to remove them along with the thinset or tile adhesive behind the damaged tile.

1. Utilize a fresh glaze of thinset or tile agglutinative with a notched trowel or a putty knife if you're working in a pocket-size area.

1. Press the new tile in identify and permit the adhesive dry before grouting over the repair.

Use a damp sponge to remove backlog grout from the tile. Allow the grout to cure before using the shower.

When repairing the tile for a minor scrap or crevice,

1. Clean the surface area with a mixture of oxygen bleach pulverisation and water.

1. Apply epoxy glue over the area to level it with the remainder of the tile.

1. Paint over the repair with a porcelain impact upward kit to match information technology to the undamaged tile.

1. Let the paint dry and add together a coat of clear urethane.

Once everything is dry, wipe over the area with a damp cloth.

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DIY Considerations

Depending on the extent of the damage, this is a simple DIY project. If yous determine to DIY this fix, make sure you let yourself plenty of time to let the epoxy and other materials used in the repair dry between steps. Additionally, consider covering the area beyond the surface you're working on with cellophane tape to prevent the refinishing materials from running over the intact role of the tub or shower pan.

If you suspect that the cleft or hole has created h2o harm in the subfloor, or if the project feels like information technology's more than you want to accept on, rent a pro to practise the piece of work for y'all.