The shower base is an integral part of the fixture and it needs to be structurally intact.
If the shower base is not stable, it will begin to crack and leak water. This is a real danger and it’s something you have to be aware of with older properties.
A common problem people note when it comes to the shower base is cracks. It becomes important to learn how to fix a hairline crack in the shower base.
To fix a hairline crack in the shower base, start by wiping the surface dry. Once done, apply pure rubbing alcohol and wipe with a clean cloth to remove soap residue instantly. Now, use caulk over top of the crack and let it dry for a few hours.
This is all you are going to need to fix the issue.
Please remember that applying caulk on a hairline crack in the shower base is temporary. It will work for a little while but you might have to replace the base later.
This is why it’s best to look at replacements when these cracks start appearing. If you ignore them, it’s possible the situation can get worse.
This guide is going to provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to fix a hairline crack in the shower base.
Table of Contents
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Steps To Fix Hairline Crack In Shower Base
1. Inspect The Hairline Crack(s)
Before working on repairing a hairline crack in the shower base, you have to pinpoint how many you’re dealing with.
Sometimes, you spot one hairline crack and quickly realize there are more spread throughout the shower base.
The goal is to find all of them before creating a plan to fix everything.
If there is one hairline crack, this is ideal as that will be easier to fix. However, as long as you spot all of them, you will be good to go with the repair.
2. Wipe The Surface Dry
When putting together a shower pan repair kit, you have to begin with a dry cloth.
This cloth is going to be used to remove any moisture that is present on the surface. Since you are working with a shower base, there is likely moisture settled on top that has to be removed.
Look to wipe everything and ensure you don’t have wet spots around the base.
These need to be removed or the caulk is not going to take hold when you begin repairing the hairline crack.
3. Apply Rubbing Alcohol And Wipe The Surface Again
It is also important to think about the soap residue that sits on the surface.
This often gets ignored because you are solely focused on removing moisture from the shower base.
While the moisture is a problem, it is the soap residue that can become a real challenge to navigate around.
The best option is to apply rubbing alcohol to the area and wipe the surface using a clean cloth.
You don’t have to wipe the entire surface while doing this.
Just wipe the area that is going to be repaired. The rubbing alcohol will settle and allow you to wipe off any soap residue that is present.
4. Apply Caulk On Top Of The Crack
You are now going to apply caulk on top of the hairline crack.
The goal here is to make sure you are applying carefully and not damaging the surrounding surface.
You will want to use a caulking tool for this purpose.
Once done, make sure it is spread with your finger or a small tool that will ensure you don’t make a mess in the shower base.
How long do you have to wait once the caulk has been applied?
It is best to wait at least a few hours as that is going to let the caulk take hold. This is important as you don’t want moisture getting through the caulk as that will render it useless.
Final Thoughts
These steps are all you need when learning how to repair a hairline crack in the shower base.
To repair a hairline crack in the shower base, start by wiping the surface with a dry cloth, Now, apply pure rubbing alcohol on top of the hairline crack and wipe again. This will remove soap residue from the surface. Once done, apply caulk on top of the hairline crack, wait a few hours, and the crack should be gone.
This is all you are going to have to do to remove a crack in the shower base.
Take your time with each step and make sure to use a water-resistant caulk for this task. Otherwise, water will get through leading to further damage.
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