How To Paint A Fiberglass Shower In 2022? Let’s Do Crazy Stuff!

A dirty fiberglass shower with a nasty buildup and fading finish. It’s like a  nightmare, isn’t it?. This nightmare ruled by the bacterias builds up with time in your shower. And if you decide to give your fiberglass shower a complete new look with paint, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor. You’ll also be saving your fiberglass shower from getting all ugly by giving it a new look. Now, the question is how do you paint a fiberglass shower.

Well, you need to start off by removing the hardware from the surface. Then, you need to observe the surface condition. After that, you need to clean the surface. Do some repair if needed. Next, sand the surface and remove the dust caused by it. Then comes the preparation of the paint and the application of the first coat. Moreover, apply the second coat and apply more if needed. Nevertheless, finish it off with the last hour check.

Sounds promising enough to give us a chance? Then, let’s get you started without any delay-

Get the Essentials First!

To get your painting done on the fiberglass shower, you’ll need the best support that you can get.

By support, we mean the tools and materials that you’re going to use today. And those should be able to give you the outcome that you expect. And these are the things that you need to grab before you start-

Scrub Sponges

Scrub sponges are designed to scrub dirty surfaces. With a little cleanser, it removes the dirt like magic.

Bleach

Bleach is well reputed as the ideal cleaner for any surface. It creates a chemical reaction with the dirt helping you to remove it from the surface.

Abrasive Cleaner

If you have relatively heavy amounts of debris on the surface, you’ll need an abrasive cleaner. They are chemically powerful and work pretty fine.

400/600-Grit Wet-Dry Sandpaper

High grit sandpaper helps you to remove roughness from the surface and ready for applying paint on it.

Two-Part Epoxy Refinishing Paint

Epoxy refinishing paint gives you the smoothest and most beautiful finishing to your surface.

100% Isopropyl Alcohol (if needed)

You can use the isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface and in case if you need paint thinning.

Utility knife

To get into narrow edges, a utility knife is the best option for you. However, you use it for any general activity you want.

Paint Scraper or Putty Knife

Placing new putty and taking it away, you can do both with a putty knife.

Paintbrush (Fine-Bristle Varnish Brush)

A fine-bristle varnish brush is like the best thing to paint with on your surface. Because it causes less scratches than any other paint brush.

Roller with 1/4-inch Roller Cover

Using a roller can be considered if you have a large surface to cover the paint with. It’ll spread the paint evenly on the surface.

11 Steps On How Do You Paint A Fiberglass Shower

Before we even start with the painting on the fiberglass shower, it’s better if we know a little something about the fiberglass itself.

A polyester resin mixed with woven glass fibers and then sprayed or poured into a mold. That is the origin of the fiberglass in your shower.

However, when you’re painting the shower, without any doubt you’ll want the best product and process for the painting.

That’s why we’re going to show you how you’re going to paint with the epoxy paint. It means that you won’t have to worry about the durability and longevity of the painting that you’re going to do.

Step 1: Remove Stuff From The Surface

Start off by getting rid of every hardware stuff that you have on the surface. You can use screwdrivers and plumbing tools whenever you need them.

Remove everything that you have on the surface, except the faucets. It’s not a must remove thing.

Step 2: Observe The Surface

If you’re done removing everything from the surface, take a close look at the surface.

As you’re painting to give the surface a new look, you’ll need to look out for places with serious issues like cracks, discolor and etc.

Step 3: Clean The Surface

If you have an aged surface, you’ll often find the surface with loose paint, rust and etc. But you can’t just paint over that useless stuff on the surface.

Remove every type of debris or unnecessary stuff from the surface and clean it. You should take a wire brush or sandpaper and start scrubbing to clean the surface.

Use a strong cleaner to get rid of dirty molds and debris from the surface. You can use bleach as it’s known as the most famous all-rounder cleaner.

So, sprinkle some bleach on the surface and scrub the surface with a scrubbing sponge.

If you want to remove all the caulk, you can use a utility knife and putty knife to remove them. Then, apply isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface that was caulked.

Step 4: Wash The Surface

Just use water to clean the surface thoroughly after you’re done cleaning. You should use a water sprayer to make the work easier for you.

Also, applying water forcefully will also make it easier for you to clean the molds.

Step 5: Repair The Surface if Needed

It’s very usual to have any chips and cracks on the fiberglass surface. You might even notice some cracks and chips while cleaning.

But here’s the thing-

You need to take care of those before you go anywhere near the painting. Because it won’t look that much eye pleasing if you paint over the cracks.

So, you should just grab a patching compound and repair the cracks. It might take you some extra time but fixing the defect will be worth it.

Step 6: Sand The Surface

It’s time to grab your 400-grit sandpaper and start scrubbing. You have to make sure that you scrub the whole surface thoroughly.

You might be wondering why you need to sand the surface so bad. Well, sanding makes the surface rough enough to make it possible for paint to sit properly.

This step is important just like any other step you have in the process. Some might even state that it’s the most important step to sand the surface.

Step 7: Remove The Sanding Debris

After the sanding is done, you need to remove the sanding residue from the surface.

The easiest way to get rid of the sanding residue is vacuuming them. Now, grab a vacuum cleaner and clean the surface.

However, if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner it’s fine to use a tack cloth to remove the dust. Make sure that you get the last traces of the dust.

Step 8: Prepare The Paint

Do you want the best outcome from your paint or not? If you do, make sure that the epoxy refinishing paint is applied between 50 to 90 Fahrenheit.

The humidity might also affect the paint so make sure that it’s below 85 percent.

Now, this step is where you need to be very careful. Get the resin container (X) and open it. Then, mix the contents thoroughly. Now, grab a clean paint bucket, mix the contents of pigment base and hardener (Y) containers.

If you notice that the paint seems too thick, you can just add about 10 percent of isopropyl alcohol and help it make it a bit thinner. 6 hours is the limit for the paint being workable for you.

Step 9: Apply The First Coat

Now, grab the paintbrush because it’s time for you to start the painting. You need to apply a complete coat of paint on the surface using a quality paintbrush or varnish brush or a quality ¼ inch nap roller.

If you want to ensure a smooth surface, you need to brush in one certain direction and avoid excessive brushing.

Always remember, your goal is a smoother surface. So, no need to worry about thick coverage when you apply the first coat.

Step 10: Apply The Second Coat

An hour after the first coat is applied, apply the second coat. After you’re done, make sure that you let this coat dry overnight.

And if you’re worried about the brushes with the paint, use some isopropyl alcohol to get the paint off the brush.

Now, have a closer look at the surface after the second layer is set overnight. If you somehow feel that another coat is necessary, don’t hesitate to apply another coat of paint.

Step 11: Finish It Off

You should let the paint cure for at least three days. After three days, reattach all the hardware that you removed before.

Also, don’t forget to add the caulk that you have removed at the beginning. There you have it, a new look for your fiberglass shower.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best paint for a shower?

You should stick with semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Because white flat paint might look a bit minimalist. Those also cure to a harder finish and resist moisture better for you. Can also be scrubbed clean.

Can I use normal paint in a bathroom?

Paints like an acrylic eggshell or satin finish are fine for most bathrooms. These are modern formulated paints. However, it totally depends on how damp your bathroom gets.

How soon can I shower after painting the bathroom?

48 to 72 hours is the time that you need to wait for before showering or taking a bath in a freshly painted bathroom. You must at any cost keep damp laundry or towels off the painted surfaces during this time.

Can you spray paint a shower?

Yes, you can spray paint a shower. There are several paints like the Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub & Tile Spray in the market that will get your job done if you’re down for spray paint.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ve got the answer to the question “ How do you paint a fiberglass shower?” The whole process of the painting is easier than you think.

A word of advice, be careful with the painting and wear safety guards. There are chemicals involved that might be harmful to you. So wear a mask and safety glasses all the time.

Nevertheless, we encourage you to take more matters like this into your hands. Because at the end of the day it’s your home and no one will be taking care of it better than you.