How to Repair a Crack in a Jacuzzi
A Jacuzzi-brand hot tub is constructed of fiberglass, which makes for an attractive look and easy-to-clean surface. Heat from the hot tub can weaken a section of the fiberglass and make it susceptible to cracking if the corner of a heavy object should strike, like the glass container of a candle placed on the tub's decking. To repair the crack, assemble a number of specialized supplies from a pool/spa supply store or from select hardware stores. Only common household tools are necessary. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hose
- Soft dry cloth
- Coarse-grit sandpaper
- Compressed air
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Tape measure
- Straight edge
- Utility knife
- Fiberglass cloth
- Fiberglass resin kit
- 2 glass bowls
- 2 wooden paint stirring sticks
- Work gloves
- Marine-grade plastic surface material
- Gel mixture kit
- Model brush
- Plastic tarp
- Spray bottle
- Coarse-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- Fine-grit wet/dry sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Turn the Jacuzzi's electrical control panel to "Off." Go to the fuse box and trip the circuit breaker to cut the power. Drain the tub's water, attaching a hose to the outlet socket. Once the water is drained, dry the area of the crack with a soft, dry cloth.
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2
Press an edge of a coarse-grit sandpaper against one side of the crack. Press down on the edge as you drag the sandpaper across the length of the scratch. Lift the sandpaper and return to where you started. Repeat the procedure until the inside edges of the crack look smooth.
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3
Switch to fine-grit sandpaper and repeat this procedure a total of 10 times. Scatter the fiberglass dust from the surface of the crack with bursts of compressed air.
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4
Measure the length and width of the crack with a tape measure. Cut three patches out of the fiberglass cloth using a straightedge and a utility knife. The first patch should have the same measurements as the crack, minus a half-inch. The second patch should have the same measurements as the crack minus an inch; the last patch should have the same measurements as the crack minus 1 ½ inches.
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5
Mix the components of the fiberglass resin kit in a glass bowl with water using a wooden painting stir stick. Follow the instructions provided with the resin kit.
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6
Put on a pair of work gloves. Totally saturate the fiberglass cloth patch that is the smallest in size in the mixture. Place the patch onto the crack. Press down on the patch to adhere it to the crack. Repeat this procedure with the next smallest fiberglass cloth patch and then the largest of the three fiberglass cloth patches. Let the fiberglass resin harden for the amount of time specified in the instructions. Typically this will be at least eight hours, but could be 10 hours or longer, depending on the environmental conditions.
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7
Sand the surface where the scratch was with a coarse-grit sandpaper in the previous manner. Blow off the loose dust from the surface with blasts of compressed air.
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8
Cut a piece of marine-grade plastic surface material to the same measurements as the crack, using a straightedge and a utility knife. Remove the paper backing from the cut piece. Place the cut piece, adhesive side down, over the surface of the former crack. Press down on the material to adhere the adhesive to the surface.
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9
Sand that area with fine-grit sandpaper in the manner. Blow off the loose dust with bursts of compressed air.
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10
Mix the components of the gel mixture kit in a glass bowl, using a wooden painting stir stick. Follow the kit's instructions. Dip a model brush in the mixture. Paint the surface with the gel mixture.
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11
Cover the surface with a piece of plastic tarp so that the gel can cure on its own. For the drying time, consult the gel mixture instructions.
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12
Remove the piece of plastic tarp and discard. Fill a spray bottle with tap water. Spray the formerly cracked surface. Sand with fine-grit wet/dry sandpaper in the same manner. Continue sanding until the materials covering the crack are no longer visible. Restore power at the fuse box and refill the Jacuzzi with water.
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Tips & Warnings
Resin and epoxy are often interchangeable names with repair kit mixtures.
