Sprucing Up Your Shower Enclosure

Answer 1

A fiberglass shower enclosure runs into the hundreds of dollars to replace. However, there are several steps you can take to spruce up your old surround and refurbish it at a fraction of the cost.

If the shower enclosure is simply dingy, gather some heavy-duty cleaning gloves, a bucket of hot water, and some bleach. Be sure to open a window to allow for air circulation, and then sponge every inch down carefully. Pay special attention to the grout and any cracks in the joints. As you clean, note any large scratches. You can later fill these in with paraffin wax.

After this intense cleaning, you may still think the enclosure is beyond hope. Thanks to the wonders of science, it is no longer necessary to replace an ugly surround. You can paint it any color you like with the aid of fine-grit sandpaper, some painter's tape, and a can or two of epoxy spray-paint in your preferred color. Sand down the entire enclosure to remove the finish, wipe it down again to remove the dust, and then carefully tape off any surface you don't want to paint.

Starting in a corner, spray the paint very lightly in a sweeping motion. You don't want drips. Don't be afraid to do two coats if there are thin spots, but doing too thick of a coat will cause dripping or wrinkles to appear in the finish. After the paint has dried overnight, you can then cover over it with a clear coat to protect the color from scratches and add a shiny patina. Once this has dried completely, carefully peel away the painter's tape to reveal a like-new shower enclosure for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Now that you've refurbished your shower enclosure, wipe it down weekly or so to maintain the glossy finish. Keep harsh chemicals and gritty cleaners off of it, and it is sure to provide you with many more years of useful service, long after you originally had thought it needed replaced.