How to Repair Drywall Around a Fiberglass Shower Enclosure

Crumbling drywall around a fiberglass shower enclosure can be patched and painted to hide the damage. Drywall joint compound, sold at hardware and home improvement stores, goes into the hole or cracked area, where it dries to a hard surface. You may need to insert wire mesh into the hole, depending on the extent of the damage, to support the joint compound and prevent it from falling into the wall. A bit of touch-up paint blends the repair to match the rest of the wall in your bathroom.

Duct tape
Flexible wire mesh for drywall repairs
Scissors
Drywall joint compound
Putty knife
Fine-grit sandpaper
Paper towels
Paint
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Attach a strip of duct tape along the edge of the fiberglass shower stall to create a protective barrier that prevents the repair compound from smearing on the shower.
- 2
  Cut a piece of wire mesh with scissors to fit the damaged area in the drywall.
- 3
  Insert the wire mesh in the damaged area, pushing the material so the edges flex into the hole or split in the wall.
- 4
  Apply the drywall patching compound over the wire mesh and hole, using a putty knife to work the material smooth across the surface. Leave the patching material to dry for at least eight hours if the repair is deep, and then work more of the compound onto the hole until it is flat with the rest of the wall surface.
- 5
  Sand the repaired area, using a piece of sandpaper. Wipe the repair with a folded paper towel dampened in water to clean any off residue and prepare the surface for painting.
- 6
  Paint the restored section in a color that matches the bathroom walls, using a paintbrush with long strokes.
- 7
  Peel off the duct tape from the fiberglass shower stall after the paint dries.

How to Repair a Broken Drainage Crock

How to Install Bullnose Bead on a Sheetrock Wall

Interior Home Repair