Bathtub repair

[michdad]

I have a fiberglass bathtub with a 12 inch crack in the middle of the bottom. I know the best answer is to replace the tub, but at this time I would much rather repair it. Any suggestions?

Matt

[yablanowitz]

The only thing I've seen work for very long is an insert that covered the whole bottom of the tub. Anything less is likely to crack again very quickly. You could try laying a fiberglass patch on both the inside and outside of the tub, but that would require pulling the tub, at which point you might as well put in a new tub.

[videl]

Slicone sealant might hold up for a while? Like the aquarium grade stuff, just make sure to let it fully cure before getting it wet.

[willseeyalater]

Do you have access to the underside of the tub through the floor? Any patch with strength is going to need above and below layers.
Patching and laying on more fiberglass is a messy job with lots of fumes(hazardous to health and explosive) so I can't imagine doing it in place. Can you remove the tub to the outdoors and do a full fiberglass overlay under the crack and an epoxy overlay over the crack? By the time you do all that you would maybe have done better to have bought a new tub unless you already are used to working with it and the tub can be taken out without to big a battle.
A temporary patch could be done with epoxy above and below, it might look like a apocalypse job but you could get by. I would look at using the fiberglass mesh that drywallers use to do seams and then epoxy over that.

[russianpolander]

^ That is right on and I would add bracing under the tub center to avoid this in the future.

[michdad]

I dont have access to the bottom, but I think I will try the repair kit. I got a little side tracked with a rough week at work, big $ repairs on my wife's truck, and to end the week, my truck decided it would burn itself to the ground on my way home yesterday.

[willseeyalater]

It's always something. Hope you get it to hold tight. Let us know how it works out. You will be the expert after that.

[BA_Colt]

I have worked a lot with fiberglass. Get a TC-23 cartage also know as an organic vapor respirator. Most hardware stores have them. Get a pint of acetone, lots of gloves, wear two on each hand. I would clean the tub with the acetone. scuff the surface with 80 or 100 grit. Clean the surface again. I would put a layer of fiber glass mat. Make sure you tamp it well air bubbles bad and be liberal with the resin. When that cures use a layer of mesh, then a layer of mat with each layer larger. In the kit there is a goop like substance called gel coat. It is basically the same polyester that you use with the glass except with colorant and thickener. Put three layers on as smooth as possible. To make it all shine wet sand it starting at 220 grit and work your way up to 1200 grit. Feel free to email me if you have more questions.

Here is a link http://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Fibe...-Tub-or-Shower

[omniviking]

you may want to try to fill in space between floor and bottom of tub some people do this with foam, make a small access hole in crack to put tube from a cam of spra foam insulation to fill gap go slow it expandeds and you want fill but not to jack up bottom of tub. kinda hillbilly fill patch laugh if you wannabut it will help. then do as above with 3 layers of resin and mesh. this ought to last a while to get you through times till more able to replace or re model.

[BA_Colt]

Get some wax paper cups to mix the resin in. Pour the resin on the glass and work it from the middle out. The resin can get hot. DO NOT leave any of the used cups in the house. Put them on a brick or something similar outside until the retirements are dry, then throw them out. It is sticky smelly work but not really hard. Also assuming you bathroom has a window, put a fan forcing the air out, and leave the door around 1/4 open for clean air.

[BA_Colt]

you may want to try to fill in space between floor and bottom of tub some people do this with foam, make a small access hole in crack to put tube from a cam of spra foam insulation to fill gap go slow it expandeds and you want fill but not to jack up bottom of tub. kinda hillbilly fill patch laugh if you wannabut it will help. then do as above with 3 layers of resin and mesh. this ought to last a while to get you through times till more able to replace or re model.

I would drill three holes. Be careful with the expanding foam. Go slow with it. It quadruples in volume. You do not want an AB foam oops.


A place I worked for had an incident like this. Well except my coworker blew up a 1/4 million science museum already installed exhibit.

[mewolf1]

I would drill three holes. Be careful with the expanding foam. Go slow with it. It quadruples in volume. You do not want an AB foam oops.

^^^what BA said



It can be repaired from the top only. I fix boats for a living and unless the crack goes all the way through, a top repair only will do.
IMO it is best to grind away the damage and to either side of said crack at least 1" . Fiber glass it just a scosh high.
When cured block it out straight (sand) then prep for paint or Gelcoat. Ya it's sucks to do, but could save you a replacement cost.
Tips for grinding and sanding: run a shop vac to keep down the itch!!

[fast14riot]

+1 to Mewolf1

I repair boats as well, the onlt other thing to add is to grind the gel coat back at least another inch to get a good surface to adhere to.


-Xander

[michdad]

I did try a combination of the advice offered, with a fiberglass repair kit and will let you know how it turns out. BA had a VERY good point about an open window, 'cept it don't have a window. I do work in an environment where breathing bad stuff can be a constant concern, so I did make sure I didn't. It can be a VERY bad buzz! That is something we all should be aware of.

Thanks again for the advice.

Matt

[mewolf1]

So how did the Tub repair turn out?

[plumberroy]

If the is any way possible get some support under it. The reason they crack is .... there is styrofoam glued to the bottom of fiberglass tubs . Most people think it is packing and take it off ,it is not. It is for support If it gets taken off the tub flexes . If the styrofoan isn't on the tub I pour a bucket of drywall mud under it before I set it.