Bathrooms are a very important part of our apartments and houses. With the advent of bathrooms, the process of maintaining body cleanliness has become not only more accessible and easier, but also much more pleasant. Everyone loves comfort and aesthetics, so it's no surprise that the industry is constantly improving bath equipment. Cast iron was replaced by enameled ones, they were replaced by plastic and acrylic.
Why people choose acrylic
This modern material is constantly gaining popularity. It does not make noise when collecting water, like its predecessor - enamel; it is not heavy like cast iron, so even one person can install the bath. At the same time, acrylic containers keep the temperature well, and their coating does not peel off over time, so it does not require regular restoration. And due to the initial flexibility of the material, it is possible to make a "pool" of any configuration out of it - even an angular one, even a round one, and even an intricate shape. At the same time, such bathroom equipment allows the integration of additional units, which greatly expands the purchase functions.
Different bathtubs - different repair methods
However, no matter how good the material is, careless handling or long and active operation will sooner or later lead to the need for repair of an acrylic bath. And before proceeding with it, you must definitely find out how your bowl was made. This is especially important if you are going to repair acrylic bathtubs with your own hands, and not call a special team.
There are only two methods for creating this useful equipment: spraying a gelcoat on the surface or vacuum forming. Note that most of the products sold are of vacuum origin. It is possible to determine whether this is the case already at the time of purchase: such bathtubs are supplied packed in a protective film. The repair of an acrylic bathtub made in this way requires the use of polymethyl methacrylate, which is also called liquid acrylic. If the bathtub you have chosen is made in a different way, gelcoat will be needed for its restoration; most often it is included in the acrylic bath repair kit supplied by the manufacturer complete with sanitary ware.
Equipment required
First of all, you need sandpaper of different grits. If the chips or cracks are small, then only fine sanding paper will suffice. But if the defects are serious, be sure to get a rough one. You may need a drill. And, of course, a repair kit for repairing acrylic bathtubs. If it is not included in the delivery list, you will have to buy it - it is sold separately, in anyconstruction store. Please note that such kits are available for minor repairs, and for the elimination of deep damage. It includes a special resin in a volume of 200 ml, a hardener - a 2 ml tube - and a special material. And so that the repair of the acrylic bathtub is subsequently as less noticeable as possible, take care of the selection of paint, which will subsequently toned the former damage. Make no mistake, even white comes in many shades, so it's best to be vigilant. In the passport for European baths, color marking is usually indicated - look for just such a tone.
Putty: for small imperfections
Acrylic bathtub repair starts with stripping. Roughness is carefully eliminated with an appropriate sandpaper, after which the repaired area is degreased with alcohol. Some people make the mistake of using acetone - it's flat out wrong. The resin included in the repair kit is diluted with a hardener according to the instructions, and the composition is thoroughly mixed. A small part of it is inserted into the crack, the attached material is laid on top, which is impregnated with the same composition. The resulting layer dries for three hours, after which the operation is repeated twice more, with a break for drying. When the last layer is completely dry, the repair site is cleaned with fine sandpaper to smoothness. It remains only to paint over it.
Repair tape - fast and convenient
Large chips or cracks, in principle, can be repaired in the same way. However, if your acrylic bath is seriously damaged, repairing cracksexperts recommend producing using a special tape. This is where a thin drill comes in handy. The damage is traditionally cleaned, small holes are drilled at its ends, the entire area is washed, dried and treated with alcohol. A piece of repair tape is cut off according to the size of the crack (it should extend about a centimeter beyond the edges of the defect). The protective film is removed, the adhesive side is applied to the desired place and pressed so that all air bubbles come out. The bath will dry for the same 3 hours, the main thing is to make sure that water does not get there (the tap did not leak, the child did not indulge). If repairing acrylic bathtubs with your own hands is done with a repair tape, painting will still be necessary. Depending on the manufacturer, the painted product may dry for different times; but on average your plumbing unit will be unavailable for two days.
To make repairs needed soon
The ancient wisdom that prevention is always cheaper and better than cure applies to your plumbing. Some defects are often formed from the fact that people do not know or forget the rules for using acrylic. So, it is categorically not recommended to pour boiling water into these baths. Those who are accustomed to cast iron or steel options ignore this indication and get a lot of cracks where hot water enters. Negligence is the second reason for the spoiled appearance of an acrylic bath. Do not place sharp, heavy or breakable objects on the shelves above it (for example, glass bottles of deodorant). There is always a risk of falling, and the result will be chips. the washing updogs - especially large ones and those who do not like this procedure - can also cause damage. Acrylic is also not very suitable for hand washing: here you have both the impact of the hard ribs of the basin, and the subsequent pouring of unsuitable solutions into the bath (the same bleach, for example). It is also unacceptable to wash the surface with abrasive products or hard (especially wire) sponges and brushes. Anyway, after using the bath or washing it, it is better to wipe the bottom and walls dry. So if you treat your plumbing with care, you will not need to repair an acrylic bathtub for a long time.
