How to Repair a Crack in a Fiberglass Shower Floor
A crack in the floor of a fiberglass shower can cause water damage and other problems if not immediately taken care of. One option is to tear out the old shower and buy a replacement. This will take a lot of work and can get expensive. An easier way is to patch the crack and repaint the shower. Fiberglass is painted with gel coat, which is a fiberglass resin that is pigmented to match any color. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Scrub brush
- Bleach
- Coarse grit sandpaper
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Rags
- Acetone
- Fiberglass filler
- Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (hardener)
- Putty knife
- Palm sander
- Gel coat
- Small bucket
- Stir stick
- Foam paintbrush
- Wet sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Clean the crack and surrounding area using bleach and a scrub brush. Remove any soap scum buildup that is on the shower floor. Rinse the shower out and then dry the repair area using a clean rag.
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2
Put on a respirator and sand the crack using coarse grit sandpaper until the edges are at a gradual taper and smooth. Also sand a couple of extra inches all the way around the crack.
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3
Clean the repair surface with a clean rag and acetone. Remove any grease or dust that is on the repair area.
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4
Mix the fiberglass filler and hardener as directed on the containers. Apply the filler to the crack using a putty knife to smooth it out. Add filler until the repair is level with the surrounding fiberglass. Let it cure until the filler is hard and cool to the touch.
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5
Sand the filler smooth using a palm sander and fine grit sandpaper. The surface of the filler should be level with the rest of the shower floor with a seamless bond.
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6
Mix the gel coat that is color matched to your shower with the hardener as directed on the containers. Use a small bucket and stir stick to mix the gel coat in. Apply the gel coat using a foam paintbrush. If two coats are needed, wait until the first coat is tacky before applying the second coat. Let cure until the gel coat is hard.
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7
Wet sand the repair using fine-grit wet sandpaper until there are no lines on the edge of the fresh gel coat. Apply a boat wax and buff out for a shiny finish.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear a respirator when working with fiberglass.
