Inspired by the Screwfix repair guide. This walk-through is based on the approach shown in "Bathtub repair with CRAMER Repair-Kit | Screwfix" - a clear four-step demonstration from Screwfix, the UK trade retailer, showing how to repair chipping and impact damage on ceramic, enamel, and acrylic surfaces. The process is the same whether you are dealing with a bath, basin, or shower tray.
1. Identify the material and damage type
Most UK baths are acrylic, but older ones are often enamelled cast iron or steel. The repair process is similar, but the filler compound and the colour range in the kit differ. Tap the bath firmly - a hollow thud is acrylic, a solid ring is cast iron or steel. It matters when you buy your repair kit.
Look at the chip or crack closely. Surface chips in the glaze are straightforward. A crack that goes all the way through the material means the bath is flexing - perhaps because the support legs have dropped - and that needs sorting before you attempt a cosmetic repair.
2. Clean and degrease the damaged area
Any oil, soap residue, or mould will stop the repair compound bonding properly. Wipe the area with isopropyl alcohol or the cleaning cloth that comes in most repair kits. Avoid household bathroom cleaners for this step - they often leave a film.
Let it dry completely. Do not rush this. A repair done onto a surface that is even slightly damp will lift within weeks.
3. Key the surface lightly
Use fine wet-and-dry paper - 400 grit or finer - to very lightly scuff the area around the chip. You are not trying to remove material, just give the repair compound something to grip onto. Two or three passes is usually enough.
Wipe away the dust with a clean cloth and then clean with alcohol again. That said, be careful not to scratch outside the repair area, or you will have a visible ring of matt surface around the patch once it is done.
4. Mix or prepare the repair compound
Most kits sold in the UK, including the well-known CRAMER range available from Screwfix and other trade suppliers, come with a two-part system: a filler and a hardener. Mix them on a clean surface in the exact ratio stated - usually equal volumes. Too much hardener and the compound becomes brittle; too little and it stays soft.
Work quickly once mixed, as the pot life is typically 10–15 minutes. In a cold bathroom, the reaction slows slightly, which gives you a little more time.
5. Apply the filler in thin layers
Use a small spatula or the flat edge of a mixing stick to apply the compound. Fill just proud of the surface - a small mound above the surrounding area - rather than trying to fill exactly flush on the first coat.
For deeper chips, build up in two or three thin coats rather than one thick one. Thick applications can sink as they cure, leaving a shallow dip. Let each coat go firm to the touch before adding the next.
6. Sand flush once cured
Once the repair is fully cured - typically 30–60 minutes depending on temperature - use wet-and-dry paper to sand it flush with the surrounding surface. Start with 400 grit, then work progressively through to 1200 or even 1500 grit for a smooth, shiny finish on an acrylic or enamelled surface.
Keep the paper wet and check frequently. You want to remove the raised filler without taking material off the surrounding bath surface. Feel with your fingertip rather than looking - touch is more reliable here.
7. Apply colour and finish coat
Most repair kits include a colour-matched finishing coat or a range of tints you can mix to match the bath. Apply it sparingly with a fine brush or the applicator provided. A light touch gives a better result than flooding the area.
Once dry, buff gently with a soft cloth. A perfect colour match on a well-used bath is near-impossible, but a good repair on a chip that is below the water line will be invisible in normal use. On white or off-white baths, the match is typically very close.
When to call a handyman
Call Richard if the crack is structural, the bath is heavily discoloured across a wide area, or the chip is in a very visible position and you want a professional finish. Surface refinishing - spraying or re-enamelling - is a specialist service for larger repairs, but small chips are well within a handyman's kit.
Need bathroom repair work?
The Sandwich Handyman can carry out small bathroom repairs - chips, cracks, silicone replacement, and general maintenance work - in Sandwich and across the surrounding area of Kent.
Contact Richard