How To Repair A Gouge In My Fiberglass Tub And Shower Surround

Fiberglass tub

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

Fortunately, repairing a cracked or damaged tub or shower pan is a straightforward DIY job that most homeowners can do to save themselves money over an expensive replacement. The cost to hire a professional to ready issues may prove worth the minor investment to ensure the cause of the event is addressed to forbid time to come issues.

This guide covers the basics for fixing all shower floors, including bases and pans, only it mainly focuses on the most common issue – fiberglass tub repair.

This project costs an average of $20 to $240, depending on the extent of repairs needed and whether you lot hire a professional or handle fixing the damage on your own. Minor damage often only requires an epoxy kit, available at almost habitation improvement stores. More extensive cracks and chips may require drywall mud, special two-component foam, and patches. Even at the high end, repairing is considerably less expensive than installing a new tub, and it unremarkably only takes four to six hours including drying time.

Repairing a Fiberglass Tub

No matter how bad a crack or an indentation may wait, the process is the same as if it was a little pit. In either case, it'southward surprisingly simple. By using a basic epoxy kit with a few essential items, repairing a fiberglass tub takes as piddling equally ane day, with virtually of that time spent as the compound dries.

Materials and Tools Needed

In full general, this project requires minimal tools. For starters, you'll demand household cleaner and a sponge to clean the 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 record
Two-component cream
Fiberglass mesh/cloth
Fiberglass repair kit

What Type of Repair? Crack, Chip or Hole?

Assessing the damage is the outset step to determining the type of repair needed. Over time, heavy use tin get out fiberglass, acrylic and other tub and shower materials vulnerable to cracking and chipping. Additionally, if something heavy drops on the surface, information technology could leave a large crack or a substantial hole, especially if the base isn't properly supported.

Superficial chips, cracks and scratches may merely require unproblematic filling and refinishing. But for large ones, a professional should address the potential underlying trouble and add together extra support to the structure before patching and refinishing the base of operations.

What to Look for in a Bathtub Repair Kit

To make your repair simple and stress-free, look for an all-inclusive kit that has everything you need to fix most 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.east. almond, off-white), if needed
Finishing polish

For larger cracks and pits, it may also be necessary to purchase fiberglass mesh to reinforce the putty and make it less likely to dimple. Equally a rule, use mesh for whatever crevice wider than a quarter-inch or an open pigsty that is too large to fill in with the resin mixture alone. More extensive problems acquired past improper installation and back up may require drilling shallow holes in the tub, filling those holes with ii-component foam, and adding fiberglass patches earlier using a refinishing kit.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Filling a small pigsty or crack in fiberglass is a unproblematic procedure, but you should set aside a whole day to allow time for the mixture to harden betwixt steps. For this reason, this is a good job to begin in the forenoon and complete throughout the solar day between other home improvement projects. Repairs are similar for acrylic tubs, just we'll cover the differences betwixt the two processes beneath.

1. Prepare the Expanse – Before getting started, clean the area with household cleaner and a sponge. Utilize rubbing booze, acetone, or a similar solvent capable of removing oils, soap scum, and glass fibers.

1. Drill as Needed – When a lack of support is the root of the problem, you need to address the issue caput on. Instead of removing the tub and rebuilding the support organization, drill six to eight small-scale holes in the tub and add cream (see next stride). If you aren't working on the underlying support, only you lot're repairing a crack, use a rotary tool with fourscore-grit sand paper to grind a bevel that'southward most ane ane/2 inches wide centered on the crack.

1. Add together Ii-Component Foam – For extra back up, inject two-component foam into the holes that you drilled. It sets in a few minutes and creates a strong foundation.

1. Apply a Patch – If using fiberglass mesh, lay it over the crack or pigsty to mensurate, and so trim it so that it is slightly larger than the opening it is to encompass. More than one layer may be necessary for especially deep holes.

1. Mix the Filler – While wearing protective gloves, mix the resin putty and hardener as directed by your repair kit, adding colorant if working with a non-white tub. Use the provided mixing stick and tray and put it atop a piece of scrap cardboard to prevent adventitious spills onto porous bathroom surfaces.

1. Repair the Crack, Chip or Hole – Immediately spread the mixture into the fissure or hole, or on acme of the fiberglass mesh. Accept care to work it in thoroughly to go information technology into all crevices and forbid dimpling. Don't be afraid to pile the mixture atop the pigsty to fill it in completely; you lot will exist sanding information technology later.

1. Allow the Mixture to Set – Allow the mixture to set up in the hole for ii-three hours or longer for larger, deeper holes. Once set up, use the sandpaper to carefully smooth the surface. This might have some time and elbow grease.

Refinish the Surface – Use the finishing shine to complete the patch and assistance 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 floor of a fiberglass stall, the method you employ to consummate a patch is no different than in a larger tub. However, considering most of the surface of the base is horizontal and flat, it is possible to fix and reinforce larger holes and pits with bit plywood in addition to epoxy, but only if you take access to the back or lesser of the pan. Some quick steps are:

Spread epoxy on the plywood and printing it onto the crevice, 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 Care and Maintenance Tips

Like almost habitation fixtures, when it comes to extending the life of your tub, preventing bug is the all-time solution. Your first line of defense it regular cleaning with the right type of cleaner and methods. This material responds best to mild soap, similar dish lather, or even just a paste of blistering soda and water. This is because the coating is thin and subject to wear over time. For this same reason, it is important to never utilise annoying cleaners on these fixtures.

To maintain the luster of a single- or double-piece fiberglass tub, yous might also consider giving it a regular polishing using automotive finishing products designed for fiberglass. Avoid using waxing products on this type of floor as this poses a safety risk when the shower is in use.

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acrylic shower pan

Acrylic Tub & Shower Repair

Acrylic is another commonly used material that tin can frequently exist repaired instead of replaced. The steps are like, but slightly different.

1. Drill i/iv-inch holes in a 1-human foot square around the damage, existence careful to avoid drilling all the way through.

1. Fill the holes with insulating foam to halt the acrylic from flexing after you've repaired the cleft. Remove any foam leaking from the holes with a craft knife before sanding over the stale cream with a 240-grade sandpaper.

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

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

1. Once the filler is dry, sand it smooth and level with the rest of the tub'southward surface.

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

Utilize bathtub repair paint to create a smooth, well-matched surface. Once the paint dries, add a concluding layer of urethane chemical compound, and vitrify the surface area to create a shine, difficult terminate.

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removing old tile from shower

How to Repair a Tile Shower Floor

If the crevice is minor, you lot may exist able to repair it without incurring the cost of retiling the surface area. Otherwise, you'll need to remove the damaged tiles and replace them earlier re-grouting.

Tools & Materials Needed

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

Step-by-Step Guide

When removing the tile,

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

1. Drill a hole through the center of the damaged tile, or several holes in a large tile.

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

1. Apply a fresh coat of thinset or tile adhesive with a notched trowel or a putty knife if you lot're working in a small-scale area.

1. Press the new tile in place and allow the adhesive dry before grouting over the repair.

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

When repairing the tile for a minor flake or fissure,

1. Make clean the area with a mixture of oxygen bleach powder and water.

1. Utilise epoxy glue over the area to level it with the rest of the tile.

1. Paint over the repair with a porcelain bear upon upwards kit to match it to the undamaged tile.

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

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

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DIY Considerations

Depending on the extent of the impairment, this is a uncomplicated DIY project. If you decide 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 surface area across the surface y'all're working on with cellophane record to prevent the refinishing materials from running over the intact role of the tub or shower pan.

If you doubtable that the fissure or pigsty has created water damage in the subfloor, or if the project feels like it'south more than y'all desire to accept on, rent a pro to do the work for you.