How to repair a chip in an acrylic bathtub

Acrylic bathtubs have one drawback. They are very fragile. It is possible that chips or cracks may appear on your bathtub. How can they be repaired so that after all the work no one can even think that there were any defects on it?

Methods for repairing an acrylic bathtub

If your bathtub has fallen into disrepair, chips and cracks are already visible on it, then the situation urgently needs to be corrected. If these injuries are left unattended, they will increase in number and become much larger. The product will become completely unusable. There are several ways to solve the problem:

1. The simplest, but most expensive is a complete replacement of the bathtub. Of course, if its service life is ending, then, most likely, this is the method that should be resorted to, since restoration attempts will be ineffective.
2. If there are too many defects and they are global in nature, then it is better to contact those who deal with such repairs professionally. In the absence of experience, a full-fledged repair is impossible, because it will cause more harm.
3. The cheapest option is to repair it yourself. To do this, you will only need a repair kit, as well as some free time.

How and how to fix chips and holes in the bathtub

Any item may become damaged during use. The bath is no exception. It may also have chips and holes. Chips can be large or small. Small chips can be removed by polishing; large chips will require liquid acrylic. If a chip appears, you must follow these recommendations:

1. Sand the damaged surface with 800-grit sandpaper.
2. Next, you need to sand the damaged area. We start with coarse-grained sandpaper and gradually move to fine-grained sandpaper.
3. Then wipe with soapy water and let dry.
4. Clean the treated area from fat.
5. Use liquid acrylic from the repair kit. Mix the components according to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Use a rubber spatula to level the liquid acrylic so that its level coincides with the level of the bathtub.
7. Leave to dry for a day, then polish.

Important! When repairing a bathtub yourself, you should carefully choose a repair kit. Acrylic can have different compositions, so it should be selected so that the repair acrylic and the one from which the bowl is made are homogeneous.

If suddenly there is a hole in the bathroom, then this option is more difficult to repair. In this situation, it can be restored if only it is removed from the base and sealed from the outside. This is unlikely to make anyone happy, but it will serve as a lesson for a more careful attitude:

1. Turning the bathtub over, we clean the back side. Around the hole, twenty centimeters in diameter, we clean and remove the fat. We clean it with regular sandpaper and remove the fat with a solvent.
2. A patch is placed on the damaged area - for example, a piece of fiberglass. The main thing is that it is larger than a hole.This panel can be purchased separately, and sometimes it is included in a repair kit.
3. We fix the fabric using epoxy compound, making sure that the edges of the hole are closed with a margin. After the patch is glued, it needs time to dry completely, after which the bath can be returned to its normal position. It doesn't hurt to turn on the hood in the room.

The subsequent stages of restoration work take place from the inside. We prepare the bath in the same sequence as when sealing a simple crack. We clean the damaged area with sandpaper, apply liquid acrylic, wait until it is completely dry, and use wax to polish it to a mirror shine.

How to repair a crack in an acrylic surface

Troubles in life happen quite often. And what if your favorite bathtub cracks? The main thing is to eliminate it quickly, otherwise the damage may increase due to constant loads and temperature changes:

1. First, the crack needs to be drilled out. This way we will prevent its spread. Using a thin drill, switching the drill to high speed, we drill a couple of holes at the ends of the crack. No need to drill deep. A hole up to three millimeters deep will be enough.
   

2. Now the crack needs to be widened so that the composition fills the entire damage. Using a drill, move it along the entire crack.
   

3. Apply masking tape around the crack. It will not allow damage to occur where there is no crack. Once the tape is pasted, use sandpaper to roughen the surface of the crack. Remove the resulting shavings with a soap solution.
   

4. Following the instructions, mix acrylic with hardener and apply the composition to the damaged surface.Smooth it out with a piece of plastic or a rubber spatula. Let it dry for a day.
   

5. Now the surface should be polished. Place tape around the former crack. Armed with sandpaper, we begin sanding with coarse grain first and gradually move on to fine grain. Next, remove the shavings with soapy water. Once you have achieved a uniform surface, you need to take a polish and rub the surface with this paste. Continue rubbing until a mirror shine appears.

Reference! Acrylic bathtubs have different shades of white. When carrying out renovations, it is often very difficult to accurately select the required shade. Repair kits are available in cold and warm colors, so it is important to determine exactly which one is suitable for your product.

Rules for using acrylic bathtubs

At the moment, several types of bathtubs based on polyacrylic are known. They are distinguished by the characteristics of the top layer, its resistance to mechanical and chemical influences.

A bathtub with a coating of more than five millimeters in thickness is designed to last for more than twenty-five years. If the layer has a smaller thickness, then it will last up to fifteen years, but subject to careful handling.

The main condition is to avoid mechanical damage and not treat with aggressive chemicals. Bathroom care should be carried out with gentle detergents without strong oxidizing agents.

The surface of the bath is wiped with soft sponges. It is not recommended to keep heavy objects near the bathtub, or to place metal containers in it.

For bathing pets, it is better to have another bath. After all, even such soft and fluffy creatures under normal conditions are capable of causing damage to the bath with their claws.

If you follow all the recommendations, you can increase the service life of the product without the need for repairs. True, cases that can lead to various damages cannot be excluded:

• the appearance of roughness and small scratches;
• the appearance of chips and noticeable scratches;
• occurrence of cracks;
• the appearance of holes;
• delamination.

It is quite possible to restore an acrylic bathtub on your own. However, it is much better not to bring it to this state. Careful and careful handling of it, as well as compliance with operating rules, will allow you to do without repairs for a long time.