Short of replacing, is there anything I can do to update my shower?
by
Tracyg
+15
Replacing my shower is not in my budget or skillset. Is there anything that I can do to update it? Its blue...is there a paint that would hold up? Has anyone ever painted or tiled over? It is a very small shower(no tub) one piece fiberglass unit. And, it is blue...ugh...any thoughts?
16 answers
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Rust-o-leum has a tub and tile refinishing kit for fiberglass.
Janet Pizaro
on Feb 04, 2016
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I had mine painted.
Pam
on Feb 04, 2016
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I'm no help with tile advice but I had a similar "ugh" with a Harvest Gold refrigerator. I decided to overlook the color and consider it an accessory for the rest of the room. Maybe if you update the balance of your bathroom and put up a new shower curtain over your stall you can live with it until you can afford to replace it. And close your eyes while you shower :)
MN Mom
on Feb 04, 2016
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Paint will not hold up and using the home refinishing kits are quite toxic and if your bathroom is small and no air you will end up passing out from the fumes. My suggestion is to save up and buy a new unit which for a small shower is under $500 and I have seen for under $200 at my Home Depot and Lowes. Then I would ask any family member who is a plumber for help to install. Then as Barbara suggested- work with the color instead of against it for now. Cover the shower with a pretty shower curtain (or even drape you find) I have the same situation so I just work around my ugly shower until I can afford a new one. I help accent my ugly shower with a pretty valence in the colors of my bathroom
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Feb 04, 2016
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Oh I know your pain ;-) After we got married our first bathroom was blue. No money (college students...sigh) so we worked with the color of the room 'as is'. If you don't mind the actual blue shower stall too much, could you afford to paint the walls in the room? A clean, bright white will brighten up the room. Get pretty towels that have some of the same (or similar) blue of the shower enclosure, a few little items with blue too, and you're set. People will think you planned the room and chose the blue shower :-) You know what they say "Embrace your defects!" LOL! Sometimes what others find 'defects' are what turn out to be the prettiest things. :-D
CK
on Feb 04, 2016
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I haven't done this myself, but I have read several posts from folks who DID paint their showers. The key is to make sure you do proper prep work - depending upon the slickness of your tiles, you may either need to use an etching bond or use a primer that is made to stick to slick surfaces. You could use whatever paint you want; water-based acrylics are probably best. There are epoxies out there that are "water resistant," but that doesn't mean waterproof. I would suggest purchasing a marine epoxy made for boats to put on top.
KatAych
on Feb 04, 2016
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epoxy paints are made specifically for this ... do lots of research, you tube, etc. I know I have seen it. I did it on floor and counter tile with epoxy but some areas needed repainted in a few months from scrubbing the counters and wear and tear but I had mexican blue and yellow tiles that were beautiful and quality, I just hated the splashy colors and bold designs. I painted a soothing ivory and it was a relief from the noisy pattern.Epoxy outdoor paint, custom colored.
Barbara Lowell
on Feb 05, 2016
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do not try to tile over it.
Marlene Haigh
on Feb 05, 2016
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I agree with KatAych. Marine paint!
Brenda P
on Feb 05, 2016
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Rustoleum makes a paint sold at most stores for painting a fiberglass tub/shower. You use a foam roler to put it on - sold in a kit. I read up on it and it got good reviews but we ended up replacing ours instead
Kari Durand
on Feb 05, 2016
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If DIY painting isn't an option for you then perhaps you could try to work the blue into part of your decorating scheme? I'm think you put some fun decals on the fiberglass. If you search "decals for shower" on etsy.com you'll get lots of ideas. Decals in white or black would really pop against the blue. I used decals on a fiberglass shower when my son was little to make the area more cheerful for bath time, and the decals held up great for years.
Patricia
on Feb 05, 2016
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My bathtub was eroded rough old porcelain.I sprayed it with white gloss epoxy paint after scrubbing it and letting it dry.You wouldn't believe how good it looks!No way it is gonna peel.Getting earlier paint splatters from reprinting the bathroom( latex) was a bitch!
Ann callicutt
on Feb 05, 2016
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Invest your time in the prep, read and reread the prep instructions, take a nap, then read them again! Follow them exactly.
Johnchip
on Feb 06, 2016
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We had a plum colored shower and did redo much of our bathroom. however, in order to put in a new shower, we would have needed to take down part of the wall between the division of the room where the shower and toilet are, and the rest of the bathroom. Even though my husband has his own construction company and knows exactly how to do this, it is very labor and cost intensive. Therefore we researched and bought the kit for painting the shower. He did all the prep work of sanding, priming, and than painting with the epoxy paint. He did a beautiful job, but overall we are not happy with the results.First of all, it took 6 cans of the epoxy paint, not two as we were originally told. The finish is not shiny, but a dull flat look. It is smooth, but not like you get with a factory fiberglass shower. Also, we have to be very careful. If you drop the can of shaving cream, it will scratch the shower, and on and on. It is just OK, looks much better white than it did with the outdated plum, but if I had to do over again, I would have just left it the plum color.
Jody Benge
on Feb 06, 2016
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I think I have to agree with Patricia. Get a new shower curtain, rugs, curtains, toilet cover or decal, or a new shelf, and get some decals to dress up the inside of the shower. Much easier than painting, and it would probably look great.
Cindi
on Feb 07, 2016
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Thanks for all the responses and info! Think I will leave well enough alone!
Tracyg
on Feb 07, 2016
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