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A shower pan is the part of the shower that channels the water into the drain. It is a solid pan usually made of fiberglass or a similar material installed on the floor over the drain. When this part cracks or chips, it needs repair. A few options for repair are available, but the most effective is a patch kit that includes a patching compound, sandpaper and paint to match the color of your pan.

What you will need…

  • Scrubbing pad
  • Cleaners
  • Sandpaper, or rotary tool and sanding bit
  • Cloth
  • Fiberglass repair kit (includes repair compound, hardener, fiberglass and paint)
  • Small plastic container
  • Mixing stick

Clean away all dirt from around the damaged area with a scrubbing pad and cleaners. Sand down the repair with sandpaper or a rotary tool with a sanding bit to remove loose material and burrs. Wipe down the area with a cloth to make sure it is dry.

Mix the repair compound and hardener in a small plastic tub or container with a mixing stick. Apply the compound over the chip or gouge. If it is a large crack, first layer fiberglass strips across the crack, and set a wood block underneath to support the fiberglass. Then apply the compound over the fiberglass.

Let the repaired area dry until hard. Sand down the repair to make it consistently smooth and the blend it into the rest of the shower pan.

Mix up the touch up paint to create a color similar to your shower pan and paint it over the repair. Let this paint dry for as long as the instructions indicate (drying times will vary) before you use the shower.