Can You Paint Acrylic Shower Pans?

Preparing the Pan

• The trick to painting acrylic surfaces is prepping the surface with sandpaper. Acrylic is naturally shiny and glossy and thus paint cannot stick to it. Fine-grit sandpaper, such as 600-grit, is strong enough to remove the shine. Buff the sandpaper over the surface to give it a rough finish. Keep sanding until the surface develops a dull and faded look. A Scotchbrite pad is a suitable replacement for the sandpaper. You can also use a lower grit sandpaper, but dip the sandpaper in water before rubbing it on the pan.

Acrylic Primer

• Before painting the shower pan, apply a coat of primer specifically designed for acrylic or plastic surfaces. Simply roughening up the acrylic is not enough because the paint may not adhere to the surface. Clean the shower pan with mild dish soap and warm water and rinse with fresh water. After the pan dries, apply a coat of primer. Let the primer dry and apply a second coat. After each coat dries, hold the pan up to the light and look for any color that shines through. You may need up to four coats of primer or more.

Painting the Shower Pan

• After the final coat of primer dries, lightly buff the surface with sandpaper. Rinse the shower pan under running water, until the water runs clear. Use a paint specifically designed for plastic or acrylic surfaces. Paint the first coat and apply the second coat, while the first coat still feels sticky or tacky. Apply up to five coats of paint, until the paint completely covers the primer.

Waterproof Sealant

• Add a waterproof sealant to the shower pan before placing it in the shower. The clear protective coating glides on smoothly and completely covers the paint without changing the paint color. A clear coat protects the paint against the water in the shower, which keeps the paint from peeling off the acrylic. Use a minimum of three coats on the shower pan and sand each coat. Once the sealant dries, sand the surface, wipe off any dust, and add the next coat.