Resurface Fiberglass Tub/Shower 1-piece shell

One of the bathrooms in my apartment building
has a one piece fiberglass shell tub and shower shell. BEFORE I bought the property
a prior owner =painted= the entire inside of the tub/shower shell! Looks like they didn't
prep the surface well enough and they used maybe "Marine Paint". Well it's flaking off in BIG chunks now. What is the best way to get the marine paint off. Prep the surface and what to use to re-surface the tub/shower enclosure the correct way? Was thinking that a Marine supply store would have the knowledge and the materials I would need. I have used that tub / shower re-surfacer you can buy at HD or Lowe's and it just isn't high enough quality for my liking.

The proper material for resurfacing fiberglass is called Gel Coat. It is mixed with a hardener and sprayed on. A one quart kit is under $30.This is the stuff they use on boats. The best way to prepare the surface would be with a D/A sander and some hand sanding. While I have painted cars, I have never sprayed Gel Coat, so I don't know the degree of difficulty involved. There are commercial outfits that do this. I don't know what they charge. Good luck.

Thank you for your input. Most appreciated!

Gel coat is sprayed into a mold as the first step in manufacturing fiberglass articles. Don't think it is a DIY refinish material.

First step is to get the old stuff off. What is on there may be a tough epoxy resistant to ordinary paint strippers. Try brake fluid. Any cheap stuff should do. Just wipe a coat on and wait a few hours. Even the toughest paint should wrinkle and peel. It produces no fumes and is much less toxic than most paint strippers. Just don't let kids or pets lick it off the shower. Maybe one of the plastic putty knives will be the best thing to remove the residue. Duct tape over the drain before you start. Much softened paint down the drain, and you will asking Tom in plumbing for help.

Once the old paint is off, wash the walls down with soap and water. Then sand every last bit of gloss off. You should then be able to apply any high quality paint.

I might mention I have a degree in chemistry and have worked in both the paint and fiberglass molding industries.

I agree that Gel Coat is not a good medium for DIY, but it can be sprayed on to refinish broken Corvettes. Boats, and shower enclosures. My son specializes in Gel Coat repair and color matching on all types of watercraft. I have seen him make repairs on high dollar boats that are undetectable. I have also seen a shower that has been re-Gel Coated and it looked much better than epoxy paint.

I am loving all the input! Thank you! I want to go into this repair with confidense and do the repair once and correctly. This is my goal.
I do have experience with auto paint and body work. I haven't done any painting of fiberglass though. Just body work on fiberglass. I can do a mean candy apple red. I have done several black lacquer paint jobs that are so deep looking you think you can submerge your fingers into the paint. Fiberglass / gel coat nope never done it.

It is with the greatest humility that I would like to retract my earlier advice on the use of Gel Coat. A call from my son (the boat expert) informed me that Labman is 100% correct. The Gel Coat sprayed into the smooth mold results in the flawless finish. When sprayed on a boat etc, the Gel Coat must be sanded and color sanded to achieve the same finish as the mold. The extra labor is not worth it for a shower. My friend who showed me his shower and said that it was Gel Coat is without a doubt a lying scoundrel. I shall wear ashes and sack-cloth for the next three day, and I have a Crow cooking on the BBQ.

Hey it's all right. Everyone is mislead at some time or another. Does your Son have any added words of wisdom of a product to use to achieve what I am after? You can't use a resin I don't think like you can for wood products? Astro turf? LOL Dip it plastic/rubber tool handle
Stuff? LOL harder...

In my effort to atone for past sins (I feel like My Name Is Earl), I have done further research. My son recommended some type of epoxy paint. Try this site for more info www.paintstore.com If you can't find that, try PWC Magazine Virtual Paint Store. They have a bunch of products including Klenk's Aqua Tech that I used some years back with fair success. I brushed it on, but I think spraying would be better. Cars are much more fun to paint than shower enclosures.

I have to agree with you there! Cars are much more fun to paint than shower/tub enclosures!

Then again you don't pick up a date in your shower. If you have? I want pictures!


Thank you so much for your effort in helping to find a solution to this repair/resurface challenge. I'll get her done.

*blink* *blink*...

Have I found the solution? With my luck this company is in New York or something with me in CA! I submitted my info. We shall see. I like the idea of the additional flooring/patch? Put in the tub. What is your take on this possible solution?

Bathtub refinishing, fiberglass bathtub repair, fiberglass tub repair
http://oldbathtubs.com/fiberglassbathtubs.htm

A friend just sent me this link. Looks Good!

http://www.refinishingonline.com/fiberglass_repairs.htm

http://www.refinishingonline.com/diy.htm

Resurface Fiberglass Tub/Shower 1-piece shell

One of the bathrooms in my apartment building
has a one piece fiberglass shell tub and shower shell. BEFORE I bought the property
a prior owner =painted= the entire inside of the tub/shower shell! Looks like they didn't
prep the surface well enough and they used maybe "Marine Paint". Well it's flaking off in BIG chunks now. What is the best way to get the marine paint off. Prep the surface and what to use to re-surface the tub/shower enclosure the correct way? Was thinking that a Marine supply store would have the knowledge and the materials I would need. I have used that tub / shower re-surfacer you can buy at HD or Lowes and it just isn't high enough quality for my liking.
The only way I can say is to completely sand the surface and have it refinished by a company. Paint strippers may damage the surface unless there's a product that won't harm fiberglass.

My shower unit is leaking down in my kitchen ceiling.How can stop the leak?