How To Repair A Plastic Shower Pan

Regular cleaning and maintenance keeps a shower pan lasting for years.

A plastic shower pan can withstand years of utilise without dandy or damaging if the installation is done properly, only accidents tin all the same happen. Small cracks and pits in a shower pan aren't a reason to panic, since yous tin can restore the pan to most new with a little fleck of patching. Begetting in mind that grooming and practice are the key to making superficial repair invisible, there are several ways that you can bring your pan dorsum into working order via epoxy, caulking and patch kits.

Cleaning the Pan

Earlier you make any repairs, first clean the shower pan then that whatever repair compounds used actually adhere to the pan. As a general rule a expert scrub with a household bath cleaner and a scrub brush is enough to remove the soap scum and other buildup from the pan. From there, rinse the pan out and permit it dry for at least 24 hours earlier making any repairs. If at that place is still water present, soak it upwards with a rag to ensure the pan is dry.

Hairline Cracks

Hairline fractures that are barely visible with the naked eye, only are caught during regular washing of the shower pan, are non a reason for panic. As a general rule these are simply stress fractures as a outcome of weight over fourth dimension on the pan. An awarding of a silicone-based caulk quickly and easily patches the crack and ensures that no h2o is leaking through it. For all-time results, employ a transparent silicone to let the color of your shower pan to remain visible. Smooth the caulking down with your fingers to forcefulness information technology into the crack and coat the pan area surrounding it.

Patch Kit

Gelcoat and other patch kits are available at habitation improvement centers specifically for utilize with shower pans. As a full general rule they come up with the filler and the hardener, and come in a variety of colors. They tin as well exist dyed to more closely match a shower pan's colour, but behave in mind that matching the verbal color of the pan is an impossibility. Instead, exist content with "every bit close as you can go." Smaller cracks (upwardly to i/8 inch) can exist filled with the gelcoat and hardener. Larger cracks (up to 1/4 inch) must likewise use a fiberglass mesh that is placed over the crack or hole and adhered with the mixture. Afterwards it dries, the patch must exist sanded to match the surrounding shower pan. Always follow manufacturer instructions, every bit they vary by brand.

Epoxy

Epoxy is some other solution to filling in cracks and voids in a shower pan up to 1/4 inch in width or 1/2 inch in bore, equally a full general rule. The principles are the same as with gelcoat, except that epoxy hardens far more rapidly and is harder than a gelcoat. Application timing is fundamental when using epoxy, as y'all must fill the void and then sand it down earlier it has a chance to completely harden. Each make has specific instructions and generally comes in two parts that are mixed together. Similar to gelcoats, you lot tin go for a quick ready and simply employ the base colour of epoxy, or add dyes and pigments to the epoxy to attempt and match the colour of your shower pan.

Considerations

Anything larger than 1/two inch in width or diameter may exist a sign of underlying issues with the home. In add-on, cracks that work their manner beyond the entire shower pan every bit opposed to just a small area may be indicative of a problem with the structural integrity of the habitation. For whatsoever scissure or hole larger than 1/2 inch, consult a structural engineer to determine the underlying cause.