Folks choose fiberglass shower stalls since they’re affordable and low-maintenance, but fiberglass does not last forever. When your metallic stall has started to look its age, you may have the ability to boost its tattered appearance by giving it a fantastic cleaning and replacing the hardware. In addition, it is likely to paint fiberglass, even though that may be a job for a pro. A replacing enclosure is a third option to replacing the whole tired stall.
Cleaning Fiberglass
If your shower stall is becoming dingy, the issue could be minerals that have built up on the walls. You can not remove them by brushing them with soap — it also requires an acid to dissolve them. You should be able to restore the original color of the fiberglass using a paste made from borax and full strength vinegar. Spread it liberally; give it a few hours to dissolve the yellowish stains, then rinse it away with water. If you need a stronger cleaner, then use muriatic acid, but do so only while wearing protective clothing, gloves, goggles and a respirator.
The Devil’s in the Details
Restoring the original color of the fiberglass will not improve its appearance if the borders are blackened by mold-infested caulk. That caulk needs to be removed. Then you should care for the walls with a bleach solution to kill the mould, and implement new caulk. Expect the job to take one or two days — eliminating old silicone caulk is tough. It is easy to replace the observable parts of the shower faucet, for example, shower head and handle, without retrofitting the shower valve. Simply look up the faucet model on the manufacturer’s website to find the parts you need.
A New Paint Job
Yes, you can paint ceramic, and that may be precisely what your shower stall requires. The process isn’t substantially different from painting metal. Start by cleaning the fiberglass with a powerful detergent, such as trisodium phosphate, to etch it. Remove or tape off any metal or glass components of the stall you do not want to paint. Then get your respirator and masks; open the windows and paint with a primer and an epoxy paint. Make sure you use a product made specifically for painting bathtubs and showers, and follow the directions carefully.
Give Your Shower a New Skin
A rather recent trend in bathroom remodeling is to cover your old tub or shower with a new acrylic skin. This covering is called a bathtub fitter when implemented into a bathtub and also simply a shower enclosure when fitted into a shower. Because the new skin must be manufactured to be the ideal size for your bathtub and sealed properly to prevent leaks, installation isn’t a DIY job. This choice isn’t available everywhere, because bath fitter outlets aren’t common. If you do not have this choice locally, you could always remove your old fiberglass stall and replace it again. That is bound to be an improvement.