This repair is one of the more common issues found in older fiberglass tubs. The homeowner’s fiberglass tub had a textured, non-slip bottom that developed cracks. The geometric pattern from the non-slip texture made a spot repair impossible to disguise so a new textured tub bottom was installed.
Determining the Repair Type
Fiberglass tubs can almost always be repaired cosmetically to a like new appearance. However, when a crack appears in a textured area, such as the molded non-slip bottom, a different approach must be taken, both for cosmetic reasons and for structural purposes.
The biggest concern we face is to make sure the tub is watertight; if water should ever get behind your tub or shower, that would likely create a slew of concerns, such as mold and/or structural damage to the walls and floor of your home. The first step in our procedure (after a thorough cleaning) is to sand away the built-in texture on the tub bottom. This is so that we can insure a good mechanical bond of our repair to the original surface.
The Repair Begins!
The next step is to adhere a new fiberglass mat to the tub bottom with a polyester resin. This ensures that any cracks in the bottom of the tub are fully sealed and watertight. This fiberglass mat also offers substantial structural integrity to the tub, making the repaired tub bottom even stronger than when it came off the factory floor.
After the mat is allowed to cure properly, we will sand any rough edges left from the resin. Then we prepare the tub bottom for the application of the gelcoat finish by masking off the area to be finished. This insures a neat and clean looking repair.
We match the color of our finish (if we do not already know the factory color and have it). Then we will roll on 2-3 coats of the gelcoat finish leaving a texture in the bottom to act as a non-slip surface. All of this ensures that the tub or shower is fully watertight.
The Finished Tub Bottom
It’s very difficult to take a photo of a smooth, shiny tub as the reflections make it difficult for the camera to focus and the flash makes it hard to see the details.
While this is one of the more involved repair processes we employ, we do so knowing the structural integrity has been enhanced and we feel this is the best all-around solution to keep your tub or shower in good working order.
FREE QUOTES!
Learn how we can make your kitchen or bathroom counter look like new again. And don’t forget that we also do tub and tile refinishing to make your entire bathroom look amazing at a fraction of the cost of a construction remodel!
Contact us for a free quote.