Repair of a shower stall: how to repair a crack and a hole in an acrylic tray?

How to repair a shower tray

During the operation of the equipment, a variety of defects can appear in the pallet: from very small cracks to deep scratches. In each case, a specific approach is required. In addition, before repairing, you need to remember that the better you perform it, the longer the equipment will last.

Sealing minor flaws

If you notice a small, barely noticeable crack on the surface of the bowl, then you need to correct the situation immediately, since even such minor damage can lead to more global problems.

Coverage restoration in this case looks like this:

• carefully and slowly with a sharp knife, clean the edges of the scratch;
• remove dust from the area with a damp sponge;
• wipe the place with alcohol or any other means with the effect of degreasing;
• put on goggles, gauze bandage, rubber gloves and dilute the acrylic mixture according to the instructions;
• Apply the composition to the damage with a small brush or brush until it is completely filled with paint, and the layer protrudes slightly above the level of the bowl cover;
• wait until the composition is completely dry, and then clean the excess with sandpaper.

Finally, a layer of polishing is applied to the area.

Repair of deep cracks

If the damage is more significant, or even runs along the entire pallet, then staining will definitely not help. Here we need more drastic measures to restore the surface:

1. Remove the pallet completely. To do this, first turn off the water supply and disconnect all connected communications. If in the process of unscrewing the nuts you find that they do not come off well, lubricate them with a silicone-based lubricant: this will greatly facilitate the dismantling process.
2. Wash the bowl thoroughly on all sides and wipe dry.
3. Remove all debris and plaque inside the crack, and thus completely expand the damaged area.
4. Sand the outer and inner bottoms with emery paper.
5. Remove dust again and degrease surfaces.
6. Apply a layer to the back of the bowl with epoxy glue. Repeat the procedure several times. In this case, the layers should alternate: glue-fiberglass-glue-fiberglass and so 3-4 times, depending on the size of the defect.
7. The inside of the pallet is handled slightly differently. First you need to completely fill the chip with epoxy glue. Use a rubber trowel to fill the crack as tightly as possible. Further, the composition must dry completely.
8. Sand the excess and cover the bottom with acrylic paint.
9. After the acrylic has dried, polish the bottom.
10. Connect all pipes.

After completing such a repair, you will not only add strength to the bowl, but also extend the life of all equipment.

Sealing through holes

In fact, the repair of through cracks is practically the same as the repair of deep cracks. But in this case, you need some kind of durable patch. The holes are repaired as follows:

1. The pallet is similarly completely dismantled, cleaned, degreased.
2. A patch is placed on the inside of the bowl. It can be the same epoxy glue and fiberglass.
3. Prepare epoxy glue according to the manufacturer's instructions and fill the gap with it so that it rises slightly above the bottom. In order for the glue to fill the hole as tightly as possible, it must be pierced with something long and sharp. For example, wire or even a knitting needle.
4. Apply another patch on top of the hole.
5. Paint the completely dried patch with acrylic paint.

Repair of a through hole is advisable only if its size is less than 10 cm.Otherwise, this will not lead to a result, since such damage has already lost its integrity and strength and it is better to replace the bowl with a new one.

Operating instructions

Follow the step-by-step instructions.

Light damage

If the pallet is slightly cracked, but no significant damage has appeared, it is recommended to immediately repair the crack. Otherwise, it will start to creep and cause big problems. Step-by-step algorithm of actions in this case:

• Remove moisture from the pallet, wipe off liquid with a clean cloth and let it dry - with minimal cracks, it does not need to be removed.
• Wipe the place of the crack and the crack itself with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
• Apply regular acrylic glue.
• Allow to dry for the required time.
• Apply a second layer.

The minimum amount of glue should be applied at each stage, a few millimeter layers. In this case, it is better that the composition lasts at least a day, and only after that apply the second and third layers. To polish the surface, if traces of the composition are visible on it, you can use fine sandpaper. But you should not try hard - sandpaper can cause new scratches that will lead to cracks.

Deep damage

Gluing the pallet, if the damage is deep, is not as easy as it seems at first glance. You will need:

• Dismantle the plumbing fixture.
• Treat two surfaces with a cotton swab dipped in ethyl alcohol.
• Brush with glue along the most remote places.
• Gradually leveling the plane, ensure that the distance between the faces is the same on all sides.
• Fill the crack with adhesive.

Here, too, the rule applies: you need to apply less glue, but leave it on longer. It will be great if a person who is engaged in repairing a pallet with his own hands can not use it for at least one week.

DIY through-hole elimination

Repairing a pallet if a through hole appears on it is the most difficult thing. But with due perseverance, this can be done. You will need:

• Dismantle the pallet by removing all devices that may be damaged if dropped or hit.
• Use a sander or drill to chamfer to sharpen the edge.
• Wipe clean from dust and dirt, use a cloth with alcohol to remove grease.
• Cut patches out of fiberglass or acrylic.
• Saturate parts with resin.
• Attach them to the previously cleaned edges.
• Turn the pallet over and fill the crack.

Of course, the pallet cannot be used with a through hole. It is not always possible to achieve positive results even during repairs in the service. Therefore, in many cases it will be easier to buy a new pallet, if it is not expensive, than to deal with a long and expensive repair of the old one.

Causes of defects in pallets

On the domestic market, there is a large assortment of shower cabins with pallets, for which a mandatory warranty is issued upon sale. But in some cases, these obligations are unable to protect products from accidental breakdowns, which most often occur for the following reasons.

A manufacturing defect discovered during operation, consisting in the presence of voids in the pallet body or in violation of geometry. In this situation, it would be most reasonable to try to exchange the defective product for a quality product.

Installation errors, consisting in improper preparation of the base for the shower stall, when it is not sufficiently leveled. Such a malfunction leads to undesirable deformations and gradual destruction of the overstressed material (at high loads, it can simply burst).

Violation of the rules for handling a shower stall, which requires respect for itself.

Small cracks are formed on the body of a plastic or acrylic pallet due to unacceptable loads, when several people enter it at once (an adult and a child, for example).

In addition, heavy, sharp-edged objects are dropped on work surfaces that are severely damaged. If the pallet is unexpectedly cracked for one of the reasons listed above, first of all, you should figure out how large the detected defect is, and only then proceed with the repair, if possible.

How to repair a pallet

During the operation of shower cabins, small and deep cracks, chips and holes can form in their bowls. Each case requires a separate troubleshooting approach. Repairs must be carried out so as not to redo the work performed after a short period of time. Consider a list of measures that are carried out when eliminating various kinds of damage in the bowl of the shower stall.

This is the most common malfunction that occurs on shower trays. If the crack is repaired right away, then the destruction of the bowl will end there.

Small crack on the pallet

This work must be done in the following sequence:

1. Use a sharp knife to clean the edges of the crack. It is necessary to scrape off the acrylic until the walls of the scratch acquire the original color.
2. Remove generated dust with a vacuum cleaner. Wipe the treated material with ethyl alcohol.
3. Wear goggles, respirator and gloves. Prepare acrylic paint for use.
4. Using a brush, apply acrylic paint to the scratch. Depending on its depth, repeat the procedure several times until the paint level exceeds the level of the bottom of the bowl.
5. After the paint is completely dry, smooth out all beads with sandpaper, gradually reducing its graininess.

If the damage is deep, then it can quickly destroy the entire bowl, rapidly increasing in size. If the product has burst throughout its entire volume, then staining is indispensable here. More action needs to be taken.

Deep crack

Here's what to do:

1. Dismantle the bowl. To do this, you will need to turn off the water and disconnect all communications from the shower stall. If bolts and nuts are corroded, they must be treated with silicone grease. This will greatly facilitate the process of unscrewing them.

   Dismantling the pallet

2. Remove dirt, limescale and mildew from the pallet on both sides. Wash it thoroughly with soapy water, rinse with clean water and wipe dry.
3. Expand the gap, removing plaque, dirt and fragile material that has split into fibers from its walls. If there is such a need, then you need to make a through hole.
4. Sand the bottom and working part of the container with sandpaper. You need to process the surface with a margin of 5 cm on all sides. Remove dust, degrease acrylic with rubbing alcohol.
5. Knead the epoxy glue, lubricate the back of the bowl with it, focusing on the areas sanded with sandpaper. Press regular gauze or glass cloth tightly against the epoxy glue. Repeat the process 3-4 times depending on the size of the gap.
6. Fill the gap with epoxy glue on the front side. Wait a day until it completely hardens. Sandpaper the glue, cover it with several coats of acrylic paint.
7. Grind and polish the front surface. Install the product in place, connect communications, check the drain function.

After such a repair, the pallet will become stronger than at the time of sale. Its service life will increase significantly.

Shower tray

Repair of holes should be carried out in the following sequence:

1. Remove the container from the base. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage its edges and not split. Clean the bowl from all types of dirt, wash and dry.
2. Clean the edges of the hole from all contamination. Remove protruding fibers and fragile fragments. Degrease the acrylic with rubbing alcohol.
3. Apply a strong patch on the inner surface of the pallet, which is necessary to fix the filler and seal it.For this, epoxy glue and several layers of any durable material are used. It is best to use fiberglass, which is intended for just such a purpose.
4. Prepare epoxy adhesive according to the attached instructions. Pour it into the hole so that it protrudes slightly above the surface of the bottom of the pallet. To avoid voids in the epoxy filler, wire the epoxy in several places.
5. Place another patch over the glue-filled hole. For this, epoxy glue and thin fiberglass are used. Paint the patch with acrylic paint after drying.

The main types of breakdowns and their elimination

The most common type of damage to the shower tray is cracks. Depending on the degree of their depth, cracks are:

• through (holes);
• small surface (no more than 35 cm in length and an area not exceeding 100 × 100 mm);
• a network of small cracks (scratches).

Causes of occurrence

The main causes of cracks are:

• Incorrect installation. If the technology was violated during the installation of the pallet, for example, the pallet was not aligned horizontally or the fasteners were not tightened tightly enough, then during its operation the load will be unevenly distributed, which can lead to the formation of cracks.
• Initial manufacturing defects of the product. Quite a rare case, but sometimes before buying it is impossible to determine the presence of hidden internal flaws that can only appear during operation. But usually they are detected much earlier than the warranty period expires, so it is not worth repairing such a pallet.
• Carelessness during operation. The most common reason. In the case when relatively cheap models of Chinese-made pallets are used in the shower, sometimes it is enough just to drop the shower head from the hands to form a crack.

Step-by-step repair instructions

The specific steps for repairing cracks directly depend on the type of crack. In general, in order to repair almost any cracked pallet on your own, you need to have the following materials and tools:

• ethanol;
• hardener;
• sandpaper;
• acrylic paint;
• epoxy resin;
• acrylic liner or fiberglass;
• stationery tape;
• liquid acrylic;
• brush;
• medium sized rubber spatula;
• drill with a special polishing attachment;
• angle grinder.

Many shower enclosure models are supplied with a repair kit to repair cracks in the tray. Therefore, a number of the materials listed above can not be purchased separately, but you can use them from this kit.

The simplest case is when the crack on the pallet is very small and only extends along its surface.

To eliminate it, you do not even need to remove the product, you just need to dry it before repairing it.

Using a brush, cover the entire crack surface with acrylic paint in several layers and let it dry for a day.

The process of repairing deep cracks and holes looks a little more complicated. In this case, it is necessary:

1. Dismantle the pallet if the damage is in a hard-to-reach place or it is through.
2. Expand the crack with a grinder, making a chamfer along its broken edges.
3. Clean the seam from all kinds of contamination by rinsing it with water and degreasing it with ethyl alcohol. Under no circumstances should aggressive detergents be used for cleaning.
4. Mix liquid acrylic with hardener in appropriate proportions according to the instructions.
5. Apply the resulting mixture to the damaged area of ​​the pallet with a plastic or rubber spatula in abundance so that it completely fills the crack. Then remove any excess acrylic.
6. If the crack is through, then on the reverse side, previously also cleaned and degreased, you should attach patches of acrylic liner or fiberglass, abundantly impregnated in epoxy resin.
7. Cover the crack with tape and let the mixture dry. This usually takes from 1 hour to a day (the duration depends on the composition of a particular repair kit).
8. After the composition has dried, peel off and grind the surface of the pallet with sandpaper or an electric drill with a special nozzle.

Regardless of the complexity of the work, all of them should be carried out in a well-ventilated area, since the materials used in the process (acrylic paint, epoxy resin, hardener) in a liquid state are harmful to human health and pets.

Best Answers

White and fluffy))):

sealant

Comte de Walle:

Your case is almost rotten - the plastic adheres very poorly. The sealant will not adhere to the surface. You can try cyanoacrylate adhesives of instant gluing (such small tubes ...), only the surface needs to be thoroughly cleaned with acetone before work. And do not breathe - the glue is poisonous. The crack will stick together, but the glue itself is not waterproof, so everything depends on the quality of pressing the walls of the crack against each other. In general…. I would paint it with green paint and throw it away. If there is such an opportunity ....)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

RA1ABN:

If a person gets up on the pallet, then no amount of gluing will help - it is useless. We cannot see here where this crack is and why it formed. You can temporarily stick it with tape while you buy a new pallet.

Chairman:

The commentators are right: the case is rotten, since the pallet will move under the weight of a person, and ANY glue will not withstand this, so the thickness of the glued surfaces is SMALL. The only thing that can save is to install a SUPPORT under the crack at the bottom of the pallet in order to relieve the load. Then you can merge.

Nikolay Belogurov:

throw out everything, or something extraordinary

galino4kas galino4kas:

And if you try to fill with pool solution ?! Fill the entire surface of the pallet! Good luck (Sales consultants can help)

Alexey Pastukhov:

Dorofeev is right ... it is necessary to remove the load from the pallet and then glue or weld with a soldering iron, it's up to you .... the weight will crush all efforts….

Marmelad- Marmelad:

You can cover it with a water-repellent sealant for the first time, and soon buy a new pallet. If there are large people in your family, then you can install a metal one.

Rest .:

Acrylic ... Then I ran into a similar problem. The options (and they are - Materials for repairing yachts, etc.) turned out to be so time-consuming and cost-intensive - a newer one is simpler ... Or by unloading the pallet as correctly noted in previous posts ... (that's why it cracked) Make an alliction of fabric with epoxy glue on the crack .... And you can spend 2-3 days completely gluing in fabric with epoxy resin ...

Mikola:

And try in this place to cut another hole for the drain fittings and install it. The fittings can be connected to the sewerage system or muffled.

Anar Darkesheva:

I have a crack in the pallet. Have been using the shower for 12 years. And they said that the Chinese for 3 years ... Maybe my cabin is Polish, I don't know ... We need to completely change the kit. And the tiles too. Everything is glued to the wall. I'm afraid that during the dismantling the tiles will move away from the wall ... I've been living in this apartment for 12 years ... We'll have to temporarily repair the crack until we get a new one ... Let's think ...

kostilka:

1. Make a support in the place of the crack, thereby relieve the load from this place 2. Buy fiberglass + epoxy glue. Close up the crack

Alexey Petrov:

pavilno epoxy adhesive

Anatoly Kichigin:

Carrying out repairs

When applying the composition, the master must wear a mask and gloves.

Before you take on your own to repair the surface of the pallet, it is necessary to determine the feasibility of this action. A large number of cracks, their rather large depth may indicate that it is better to replace this element of the cabin completely. After all, constant repairs will not be able to lead to the desired result.

It is advisable to order a new pallet from the same company, which made it earlier, so that the fasteners of the cab and the pallet correspond.

All work related to the application of liquid acrylic, it is advisable to perform in the air or in a room that is well ventilated. This will avoid toxic poisoning of the body.

At the time of purchasing a shower cabin, you need to inquire about the availability of a repair kit for the pallet, as well as all instructions for installation and dismantling, and operation features. All the manufacturer's recommendations that are given for further use must be fully adhered to so that the integrity of the pallet is not violated for as long as possible.

How to glue the shower tray - the choice of glue

In modern shower enclosures, acrylic (white plastic) trays are used. This is a fairly strong and "warm" material, it is not afraid of moisture, but under the influence of excessive load, acrylic can bend and crack. The acrylic surface can also be damaged by dropping heavy objects.

If the crack is large, the best solution is to completely replace the pallet (these are standard sizes and are sold separately). Minor damage can be repaired at home.

It should be borne in mind that acrylic has poor adhesion and special glue is needed to glue it. It should also be taken into account that the repaired surface will continue to be exposed to stress, as well as to aggressive exposure to moisture and detergents.

For quick repair of deep scratches, chips and small cracks on the face of the pallet, a ready-made universal repair kit for acrylic bathtubs is suitable.

The kit is sold in plumbing stores and usually includes:

• solvent;
• liquid acrylic;
• acrylic hardener;
• a paste for polishing and glossing the restored surface;
• polishing cloth
• gloves, a stick for mixing the components.

On sale you can find repair kits from different manufacturers ("Samodelkin", "New Bath", etc.)

To eliminate through cracks and holes on the back of the pallet, a patch must be glued.

For her, you additionally need to prepare:

• fiberglass sheets;
• EDP ​​(epoxy glue);
• small spatula for applying glue.

EDP ​​universal two-component adhesive is sold as a mixing kit (epoxy + hardener).

EDP ​​glue is made on the basis of epoxy resin, which is insensitive to moisture and other irritants. If you observe the proportions indicated in the instructions, you do not need to worry about the durability of the glue seam: the glued area will not be inferior in strength to the materials to be joined.

EDP ​​is the most affordable epoxy glue (a set of two components costs about 150 rubles), it also has more expensive imported counterparts.

For example, Plexus MA 420 fiberglass adhesive, which is ideal for bonding composite materials and requires virtually no preliminary surface preparation. Its only drawback is its high cost (about 2,400 rubles per package).

We glue the cracks in the acrylic shower tray - step by step instructions

To repair an acrylic shower tray, you need to have easy access to its front and back sides. To do this, the cab will have to be disassembled.

The order of further actions is as follows:

1. We exclude further crack propagation. To do this, remove the stress from the zone of its formation.A few millimeters from the edges of the crack, you need to drill through holes of small diameter (3-5 mm) using a drill and drill;

1. We glue the patch on the back of the crack. First you need to clean from dirt and degrease the surface to be repaired. We cut out several patches of a suitable size from fiberglass, which must be glued in several layers to achieve maximum bond strength.

Since the glue hardens almost instantly, you must act immediately. The resin is applied with a brush to the cleaned surface in abundant quantities and laid with fiberglass. After the first layer has dried, the second and third layers are applied in a similar way. When the patch is finally seized, the pallet is turned over and the crack is repaired from the front side.

1. Fill the crack with liquid acrylic and polish it. In accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, we prepare a liquid acrylic mixture and apply it to the damage. After drying, the surface is treated with a polishing paste.

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Useful Tips

Almost all cracks and holes in the shower tray can be repaired on your own, but you should first determine the feasibility of repair. If the damage is severe, it makes sense to completely replace the pallet.

Care should be taken when choosing the composition for cleaning and degreasing the acrylic surface, as some solvents can damage the outer layer of the pallet. Bonding is recommended in a well-ventilated area.

The reconditioned pallet can be used only after the adhesive has completely dried.

We recommend gluing in a well-ventilated area. The reconditioned pallet can be used only after the adhesive has completely dried.

Welding

By its structure, acrylic is a thermoplastic, therefore, welding can be used. Which is the main repair method for professionals. It is in this case that it is possible to hide the defect as much as possible. Acrylic rods are expensive, so it is wise to use a different material, such as an old pallet or an old ABS plastic frame.

The extruder is essentially a large glue gun. Each of them has Chinese counterparts at home and cost mere pennies. The difference between our unit is that it is able to control the temperature to comply with the conditions of the production cycle. Everyone can make the necessary settings with their own hands and not worry about anything else. Special granules are bought for the execution of work. But no one forbids cutting the plastic at hand into pieces, if you are not afraid to ruin the device.

The edge for the weld seam is cut with a cone, the bar is laid inside the extruder. Of course, many people have a question: if the Chinese glue gun does its job so well, is it possible to transfer it to the bathroom and repair the acrylic pallet there. This is a good question. If you replace professional equipment with an amateur one, the quality suffers greatly.

For example, if the temperature is too low, acrylic will not melt and will not interact with the joint material. If you do everything slowly, then you can probably handle a Chinese pistol. The second problem is that when acrylic is heated it releases toxic substances. This happens when a certain temperature is reached. Professionals take care of their health, that's why they use expensive extruders.

If you replace expensive equipment with cheap ones and do everything by sight, and do this constantly, then you can pay with your health. There should always be a case in the Lame Horse, where many in a matter of minutes became disabled, inhaling poisonous fumes. To prevent the repair of an acrylic shower tray from becoming the last event in your life, follow safety precautions. It is best to perform the work in the open air, where the wind carries away poisonous smoke.

The advantage of welding is that the crack will not go further. And in every other case, it could have happened. Especially when patching bolts. With skillful handling, you can even use an apparatus for welding polypropylene pipes, but this is a completely different story.

People make their life as comfortable as possible by constantly inventing something. So, baths made of steel and cast iron are replaced with acrylic ones. One negative point can be added to the positive qualities - the tendency of the coating to damage. However, they are easy to eliminate at home if you know how and how to glue the acrylic bathtub of the shower stall.