How to Repair Fiberglass Tub

Fiberglass tubs are expensive, which goes to say any damage they may encounter will burn your paycheck pretty hard. Unless you put yourself to work and learn how to fix them on your own. It is generally easier said than done, especially when you lack crucial information to assist you.

And gathering information will consume a lot of time. With a plus when you end up with unreliable or plain out erroneous bits of knowledge. So, let me correct that for you right now and provide you with everything you need to know in order to become an expert in fiberglass tub repairing.

Contents

1 Steps of Repairing a Fiberglass Tub
2 Final Notes

Steps of Repairing a Fiberglass Tub

Prep your tool box

Things you need to do:

A polyester or fiberglass epoxy resin mix
A hardener if needed (Used to accelerate resin hardening)
One or more fiberglass mats, depending on the spread of the damage
Sandpaper, usually between 100 and 400 grits
A tub of thickener for applying resin vertically, if needed
Oxygen bleacher
Acetone or another stripping agent
Popsicle sticks for stirring
Protective gloves

Once you got these ready, time for the next steps.

Clean the damaged area

First, you need to assess the damage and clean the area. Use a piece of medium grit sandpaper to remove the protruding glass fiber residues or shards, as well as any other contaminants that may get in the way. Mix the oxygen with water, clean, then repeat the process using acetone. At the end, sand the area again with a 100 grit sandpaper.

Fill up the cracks

Now it is time for the epoxy resin to come into play. Mix it with the hardener or with the thickener in the case of vertical damages and fill up every crack and hole you can find. Flatten the area with a 200 grit sandpaper after it solidifies.

Use the fiberglass fabric to reinforce

After the epoxy waxless seal solidifies, apply the fiberglass fabric, according to the needs and add another layer or resin on top. Wait for it to solidify as well, then sand the surface again, to even the asperities.

Add in some colorants to the equation

Depending on your bathtub’s color, you can use a colorant to blend in the patches, so that you keep the design and the overall look.

Add a smooth finish

In the end, you can buff the end result and restore the original gloss, so that you can hide all the repairing being made. Also, don’t forget to check the bathtub drain.

Final Notes

With a little bit of determination and know-how, everyone can save a lot of money and time by getting their hands dirty. Sure, fiberglass tubs are delicate and need to be approached with great care. But the benefits will hugely outweigh the risks.

All you have to do is do your homework and the job will suddenly become 50% easier. Take care of your bathtub and it will take care of you.