How to Repair the Surface of a Fiberglass Shower Base
The surface in fiberglass showers can become cracked and worn over time. Any cracks that go all the way through the fiberglass can cause water damage to the wood underneath the shower. However, it's not necessary to rip the entire shower out and replace it with a new one. You can repair the damage yourself in a couple of easy steps using supplies found at your local marine supply store. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shower cleaning solution
- Scrub brush
- 80 grit sandpaper
- 300 grit sandpaper
- Dust pan
- Broom
- Fiberglass filler
- Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (fiberglass hardener)
- Small buckets
- Stir sticks
- Putty knife
- Fiberglass gel coat
- Felt roller
Instructions
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1
Clean the entire shower floor using shower cleaner and a scrub brush. Remove all of the soap scum on the floor. Rinse the shower out with clean water. Let the shower dry.
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2
Using 80 grit sandpaper, gradually taper the walls of the cracks. The more surface area there is for the repair to bond to, the stronger the bond will be. When the walls of the cracks are sanded down, use 300 grit sand paper to scuff the surrounding area of the cracks. Sand at least 6 inches all the way around the crack.
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3
Remove the majority of the dust from sanding with a dust pan and broom. Rinse the shower out with water to remove any remaining dust. Let the shower floor dry.
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4
Mix the fiberglass filler with the hardener in a small bucket, using a stir stick. Follow the mixture recommendations on the containers.
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5
Apply the filler to the cracks using a putty knife. Smooth the filler out so it is level with the surrounding fiberglass. Let the filler harden.
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6
Sand the filler smooth using 300 grit sand paper. Remove all of the dust and rinse the shower out with water.
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7
Mix the color matched fiberglass gel coat with the hardener using a small bucket and stir stick. Apply the mixed gel coat to the scuffed area of the shower floor using a felt roller. Let the gel coat harden for 24 hours before using the shower.
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