How to Repair Damaged Fiberglass Shower Enclosures

Fiberglass shower enclosures, unlike those that may be made of metal, are likely to be more vulnerable to damage, such as small holes. One advantage the fiberglass enclosure has over a metal enclosure is that it is much more easy to repair. If a hole made in one of these enclosures is 2 centimeters in diameter, or smaller, you should have no trouble repairing the hole. Small cracks can also be repaired with relative ease.

Step 1 – Preparing for Your Repair Project

Examine the dent, hole, or crack in your enclosure. Where cracks are found, you can sometimes find that they have been made in a section of the enclosure that bears weight. If you find this to be the case with your enclosure, repairing the crack may not be the best option. You may need to consider replacing your enclosure. If you are unable to patch a larger hole or crack, you will likely risk getting moisture behind your enclosure. This can eventually result in mold that builds up where you are unable to reach it for removal. Once you have determined that the damage in your enclosure is small enough to repair, begin collecting your materials and tools. Purchase a small tub repair kit with fiberglass color that is compatible with the material around your damaged section.

Step 2 – Cleaning the Area around Your Damage

Use a sponge or clean, absorbent rag to apply a non-abrasive cleaner to the area around the damage. Remove any grease, grit, soap scum, or other material from the enclosure surface that could interfere with the bonding of your repair putty to the surface around your hole or crack. After using the cleaner, remove any excess cleaner with your rag or sponge, then rinse away any debris or residual cleaner from the surface,using clean water. Then dry the surface with a lint-free cloth.

Step 3 – Applying the Repair Putty

Examine the contents of your repair kit for reinforcement tape. If you find this tape, apply a small patch to the dry surface surrounding the hole or crack in your enclosure surface. Mix the resin in your repair kit with the hardener to make a paste. Using a putty knife, spread the resin paste over the tape. With the edge of the putty knife, feather the edges of the applied paste by using a light scraping motion with the knife before the resin has dried. Once the resin has hardened, unless the edges of the applied resin have been smoothed out, you'll find it difficult to smooth them without using a more coarse grade of sandpaper that will take the polish off the enclosure's surface.

Step 4 – Finishing

Refer to the application directions on your repair kit for drying time required for the resin mixture. When the resin has fully hardened, use wet-dry 600-grit sandpaper and water to sand the repaired area.