How to Fix Broken Shower Bases

Repair the Caulk

• 1

  Check for any missing or cracked caulking around the edges of the shower base.

• 2

  Remove cracked caulking by cutting the cracked area off from the uncracked portion with a utility knife and then using the corner of a putty knife to pry the caulking away from the base.

• 3

  Clean the open caulking areas of the base with a rag dipped in acetone. Wait 15 minutes for the acetone to dry.

• 4

  Place a new bead of silicone caulking into the now-cleared areas using a caulking gun. Smooth the caulking after application with a wet fingertip.

Cover the Crack

• 5

  Locate any cracks in the base and use a drill with a 1/4-inch bit to drill holes at either crack end. Inject insulating foam into the holes, filling the areas beneath up to the surface of the crack. The foam will expand and harden, providing additional support for the base beneath the crack.

• 6

  Cover the crack with the fiberglass epoxy resin from the kit, spreading the resin over the crack with a putty knife. Mix the resin according to the kit manufacturer’s instructions.

• 7

  Place a fiberglass cloth over the spread resin, cut to fit the cracked area with a pair of scissors, making certain that the entire cloth is placed within the layer of resin. Spread an additional layer of resin over the cloth to close off the pores and help bind the cloth to the shower base.

• 8

  Allow the cloth and resin to dry before using the shower.

• 9

  Fill in any chips on your base using the epoxy resin. Mix the resin then spread into the chip until level with the rest of the shower floor with a putty knife. Allow to dry before using the shower.

Replace Broken Tiles

• 10

  Remove the grout from around broken tiles located on the base to remove the broken tiles themselves, if you have a leaky tile base. Cut through the grout with a rotary tool containing a carbide grout blade.

• 11

  Pry up the tiles using the space in the empty joints around the tile to slip the prybar beneath the tiles. Use the grout blade to remove the tile adhesive from beneath the removed tile, then brush out any debris with a nylon brush.

• 12

  Apply a new layer of adhesive to the bottom of the replacement tile using a trowel. Place the tile onto the base of the shower and level it out with the rest of the tiles using a carpenter’s level and a rubber-headed mallet to tap the tile to the level desired.

• 13

  Allow the tiles to dry overnight, and then grout the joints between the replacement tiles and the originals with a grout float. Wipe excess grout away with a sponge damped in water, and allow the tiles to dry in place for seven days before using the shower. Seal the grout with tile and grout sealer, then give the sealer 48 hours to dry before putting the shower to use.

• 14

  Remove any broken or chipped grout using the rotary tool with grout blade. Clean out the joints with the nylon brush then regrout the lines with the grout float, filling them to the level of the shower tiles. Allow seven days drying time, and then seal the grout lines with tile and grout sealer. Wait 48 hours longer drying time for the sealer to use the shower.