Fiber Glass cracks around shower drain

[Gerda Imke]

My shower drain in my one piece fiber glass shower on 2nd floor developed tiny cracks which caused leakage into lighting fixture in half bathroom on first floor
directly below the fiber glass shower.
Is there anyway to repair these cracks by cutting out the damaged section
and replacing a new section around the drain? OR is the only solution replacing the entire fiber glass enclosure?

 

[Terry]

Sometimes a new drain can be siliconed in place.
Assuming the cracks don't go all the way through.

Some drains were put in with plumbers putty, which can leak later on.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Leejosepho]

... tiny cracks which caused leakage ...
Is there anyway to repair these cracks by cutting out the damaged section
and replacing a new section around the drain? OR is the only solution replacing the entire fiber glass enclosure?

It is quite possible those "tiny cracks" are not the actual reason for the leaking. Rather, they are likely only evidence of some flexing in the bottom of the tub, and with that flexing then being the cause of the drain basket losing its seal and leaking.

Along with re-sealing that drain basket, the bottom of that tub needs to be fully supported with some kind of grout to stop the flexing before a large crack begins to show up along the entire length of the bottom.

Yes, a cracked bottom can be cut out and replaced, but you would have to do that yourself and settle for something other than an original finish to end up spending less than it would take to have the tub replaced. But if you get the bottom supported *now* and have the drain re-sealed, your tub might be just fine for quite a few more years.

 

[GrumpyPlumber]

On new vinyl/lucite/acrylic tubs it's generally a good idea to support the bottom with either spray in foam insulation or better yet, plaster or concrete to support the weight and prevent cracks.
However you wind up repairing it...try to do one of those things to keep it from happening again.