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 affordable and easier, but also much more pleasant. All people love comfort and aesthetics, so it is not surprising that the industry is constantly improving bath equipment. Enameled ones replaced the pig-iron ones, they were replaced by plastic and acrylic.
Why do people choose acrylic
This modern material is constantly gaining popularity. It does not make noise when recruiting water, like enamel is its predecessor; it is not heavy like cast iron, so even one person can install a bath. At the same time, acrylic containers hold 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 it into a “pool” of any configuration - even angular, even round, and even of an intricate shape. At the same time, such bathroom equipment allows the installation of additional units, which greatly expands the purchase functions.
Different baths - different repair methods
However, no matter how good the material, careless handling or long and active use will sooner or later lead to the need for repair of the acrylic bath. And before you start it, you must definitely find out how your cup 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 on the surface of gelcoat or forming by vacuum. Note that most of the products sold are of a vacuum origin. You can determine whether this is so already at the time of purchase: such bathtubs are delivered packed in a protective film. Repairing an acrylic bath made in this way requires the use of polymethyl methacrylate, also called liquid acrylic. If the bath you have chosen is made in a different way, gelcoat will be needed for its restoration; most often it is included in the set for the repair of acrylic bathtubs, supplied by the manufacturer complete with plumbing.
Necessary equipment
First of all, you need sandpaper of different grain sizes. If chips or cracks are small, then only fine sanding paper will be sufficient. But if the defects are serious, get sure and rough. 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 have to buy it - it is sold separately, in any hardware 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 bath was subsequently as less noticeable as possible, take care of the selection of paint, which will subsequently tint the former damage. Make no mistake: even white color has a lot of shades, so it is better to be vigilant. In the passport for European baths, color markings are usually indicated - look for just such a tone.
Putty: for minor defects
Repair of an acrylic bath begins with a sweep. Roughnesses are carefully eliminated with an appropriate sandpaper, after which the place to be repaired is degreased with alcohol. Some people make the mistake of using acetone - this is totally wrong. The resin included in the repair kit is diluted with the hardener according to the instructions, and the composition is carefully mixed. A small part of it is embedded in the crack, the applied 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, with fine emery paper, the repair area is smoothed to smoothness. It remains only to paint over it.
Repair tape - fast and convenient
Large chips or cracks can, in principle, be repaired in the same way. However, if your acrylic bathtub has suffered rather seriously, experts recommend cracking with a special tape. This is where a thin drill comes in handy. 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 go somewhere beyond the edges of the defect by a centimeter). The protective film is removed, the adhesive side is applied to the right place and pressed so that all the air bubbles come out. The bath will dry 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 the repair of acrylic baths with your own hands is done using a repair tape, painting will still be necessary. Depending on the manufacturer, the painted product may dry at different times; but on average, your plumbing unit will be unavailable for two days.
That repair was needed soon
The ancient wisdom that prevention is always cheaper and better than treatment applies to your plumbing. Some defects are often formed due to the fact that people do not know or forget the rules for using acrylic. So, in these baths it is categorically not recommended to pour boiling water. Those who are used to cast-iron or steel options neglect this indication and get a lot of cracks at the place of hot water. Negligence is the second reason for the spoiled appearance of an acrylic bathtub. Do not place sharp, heavy, or breakable objects on shelves above it (for example, glass bottles with deodorant). There is always a risk of falling, and the result will be chips. Washing dogs - 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 are exposed to 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 is better to wipe the bottom and walls dry. So if you treat your plumbing with care, you still will not need to repair the acrylic bath.