Fiberglass is a shower base material that is so convenient to clean, generally swelling- and shrinkage-resistant, and is less prone to leakage.
However, when cracks occur on a fiberglass shower base, it can be remedied by either repairing the cracked surface or replacing it. Repairing the crack is not only a cost-effective solution; it is likewise moderately easy to do.
Materials Needed:
Newspaper
Rubber gloves
Wet Course sandpaper (60- or 80-grit)
Damp rag
Putty knife
Marine plastic filler
Dry sandpaper (220-, 320- and 400-grit)
Gel coat colorant
Small paint roller
Gel coat
Plastic wrap
Instructions:
- Cover other surfaces with a plastic drop cloth.
- With a course sand paper, course the crack and approximately 2” of the surrounding area.
- Buy a fiberglass kit from a hardware shop in your area. The kit should have fiberglass cloth, hardener, and fiberglass resin. Read the label prior to using the kit.
- Cut the fiberglass cloth patch measuring a little smaller than the crack, and cut two additional patches, each progressively smaller than the previous.
- Mix the hardener and resin as indicated in the label.
- Put the patches into the mixture. Take out the smallest patch and place it over the crack, following it up with the medium and the largest patch. Leave it for 7–8 hours to dry.
- Sand the patches using wet sandpaper, then wipe with a damp rag.
- Apply the marine plastic filler evenly using a putty knife. Dry it according to package suggestions.
- With dry sandpaper, blend the filler with the surrounding pan, then wipe with a damp rag.
- Using a colorant, blend it further with the color of the shower base surface. Use it per package instructions.
- Apply a layer of gel coat about 1/8” thick using a paint roller.
- Cover it with a plastic wrap and leave it overnight.
- Sand the area with a 220-grit sandpaper, and clean it with a damp rag. Repeat this procedure using 320, and then 400-grit sandpaper until area is well blended.
