What Kind of Paint Is Used for a Shower Pan?

Epoxy Paints

• You can use epoxy paints to repaint fiberglass, changing colors and covering up flaws. Epoxy paints may not adhere well to glossy coats, so you may need to sand down and clean your shower pan before using them. But they do provide a new waterproof layer. You mix epoxy paints immediately before applying them, and a chemical reaction causes them to harden over time.

Alternative Paints

• Epoxy paints are difficult to apply and require ventilation and ventilators to apply correctly. However, polyester resin paints have similar properties, and oil-based paints can be a low-cost alternative to epoxy.

Waterproofing Layers

• If you have a shower pan that is ready to be tiled but is still just an underlayment, you can coat it with a waterproofing paint before you begin the tile installation. This helps add extra moisture resistance and keeps leaks from damaging the surrounding floors. You may be able to mix waterproofing capabilities with surface adhesion properties if you use a dual-action type of paint designed for tile work.

Ceramic Paints

• If you already have ceramic tiles on your shower pan, you may be able to paint over them with specialized ceramic paints. These paints work only with certain types of tile that are designed to bond with paints. With most ceramic tiles, you may need to sand down the surface and refinish the tile entirely to create a long-lasting new coat.