How to Repair a Damaged Acrylic Shower or Bath Tub

by Luke Tries Effects work on Waterproofing, Sealing, Grouting,

Budget-conscious homeowners search for budget-centric yet grand-looking alternatives for their homes and one of them is fibreglass or acrylic bathtubs. They are often less expensive than others available in the market and most importantly, they are very easy to install. But they also have a downside that they often get dented or crack very easily. In such situations, shower repair services are helpful in most cases; you will find experts filling the crack or hole using a fibreglass or acrylic chips.

They use the epoxy material that appears very similar to the compounds used in the fillers in automobile workshops. In this article, we will learn about the steps involved in filling up these cracks and managing these dents.

Before You Begin

According to leaking shower experts, a better choice is a repair kit that is factory-matched to the tub or shower and they come with filler paste that is already matched to the colour of your shower. Apart from this, these kits will have everything needed to make these repairs and some additional tools or materials would be required. In other words, this single kit is enough to complete showers and bathtub repair works. The colour can be specified by you and the supplier will make sure that the same colour is delivered. These paste kits usually include the following –

Base coat paste and catalyst
Rubbing compound or buffing bar
Lightening and darkening toners
Sprayed or brushed clear top coat
Wet/dry sandpapers

Considerations for Safety

While working with these kits, some safety considerations exist because epoxy fillers used by leaking shower experts often generate hazardous fumes. You need to make sure that the ventilation is of the highest quality in the area, where you are working. If this is not possible, you will require a good quality ventilator mask and you have to ensure that manufacturer’s recommendations regarding safety measures are followed.

You Will Need–

Colour-matched Acrylic/fibreglass paste-type repair kit,
Nail polish remover or acetone
Tools
Utility knife
Utility knife blades
Power drill
Wet/dry sandpapers (220-, 320-, 400-, and 600-grit)
Scouring pads
Clean cloth or paper towels
Heat gun
Buffing cloth
Protective gloves
Ventilator mask

For the highest quality shower repair services, high-grade sandpaper of 600-grit is needed and it can be easily found at automotive workshops, online as well as home improvement centres. A higher number of grit means finer and smoother surface and this will deliver a glossy finish to the shower or tub.

How to Do?

Using a sharp knife, you can scrape out a V shape while making sure that you cut down through the colour of the structure. Then, keep the surfaces clean using cloth or paper towel and use a 220-grit sandpaper to rough and the area. Now you will again have to clean the area using a nail polish remover or acetone. Here ventilation will be very useful or the ventilator mask that you are using. Don't forget to wear protective glass as well as protective gloves. Some other steps involved in the process are –