How to Repair Nail Holes in Bath Walls From a Shower Door Removal

Shower doors pivot or slide on an aluminum frame that attaches to the shower walls by plastic anchors or cement fasteners. After removing the frame, unsightly holes may remain in the shower walls. The method to repair the holes depends on the type of shower walls. You can repair shower walls covered in ceramic tile or natural stone with a color-matched grout. For shower walls covered in vinyl or fiberglass panels, a color-matched caulk is recommended.

Removing the shower door may leave unsightly holes in walls.

Step 01

Remove any plastic anchors that remain in the holes. An easy way to do this is by threading a screw into the anchor a couple of turns then pulling it out with a pair of pliers. If screwed in too far, the anchor will expand, making it difficult or impossible to remove.

Step 11

Scrape away any debris or leftover caulking from the shower walls with a putty knife. Dampen a rag with acetone and clean the area thoroughly. Be careful not to scratch the shower wall surface when using the putty knife.

Step 21

Use a grout color chart to determine a grout or caulking color similar to that in the shower walls. Since these holes are usually small, a non-sanded grout offers the best results.

Step 31

Mix a small amount of grout in a bucket with a margin trowel to repair holes on ceramic tile or stone shower walls. The grout consistency should be similar to peanut butter.

Step 41

Fill the nail holes with grout applied with a grout float or the putty knife. Gently wipe away any excess with a damp sponge. For vinyl or fiberglass walls, fill the holes with color-matched tub and tile caulk or silicone. Smooth the caulk into the holes with your finger and wipe away the excess with a damp rag. If using silicone, dampen a rag with acetone to remove any excess.