Painting over gelcoat cracks repair

Adhesion failure in the repair laminate is the most common failure mode for fiberglass repairs. Any heavier than 25 mils and youll run the risk of spider cracks in a few years. Describes in a general way how to accomplish each task, without giving specific instructions. Painting over crazed gel coat leads to crazing in the paint. New life for old gelcoat an inexpensive solution that.

I am thinking of painting over my chalky 17 skiff using the following plan. If you simply sand a regelcoat or paint over it they will come back very. With a bit of work and a fair amount of care, you can achieve your goal. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Gel coat is a very strong and durable paint that acts as a protective layer over the fiberglass as well as paint. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Spider cracks can be avoided by countersinking holes just through the gelcoat, so the load is placed on the structural fiberglass rather than the brittle gelcoat. A professional who has looked at your boat should make this determination. If an area has become dull and cannot be repaired by buffing and chemical cleaninga repainting job is in order. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. How to apply gelcoat the endall guide fiberglass coatings. Includes a range of possibilities, from simple shining to epoxy repair kits.

Ive heard of people painting over their gelcoat with a 2 pack paint that comes out like gelcoat. Wait for this area to dry, then dry sand the bubble down and apply wax to the surface. Not only do you want the paint job to look good, you want to preserve that shiny gelcoatlike surface. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. The boat been completely stripped out inside and i can have it upturned to work on so practicality isnt a problem.

But all boats gradually change color over time, so in most situations getting a good color match means customtinting neutral colored gel which takes experience to do well likewise, blending the repair into the surrounding finish is something of an art form a multistep process of. If you feel like giving this repair a go and have some experience with home improvement techniques, follow a few simple rules to help you complete this job. However, i have not read anywhere when painting over gelcoat, if laying down a coat of epoxy, not epoxy primer or epoxy 2part paint, but actually coating the fiberglass surface with regular clear epoxy. Linear crack caused by flexural strain thermal fatigue cracks when gelcoat repeatedly expands or contracts. In order to prevent stress cracks in the gelcoat, this material needs to be able to move with the boat without delaminating or peeling apart from the substrate. Fine cracks usually form due to severe flexing or impact damage, allowing water to seep into the laminate. Gelcoat repair and refinishing sarasota fiberglass. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently.

Gelcoat continues to cure and shrink through out its life span. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. The resulting finish and the nature of the gelcoat will far exceed a painted surface in terms of longevity and repair ability, but youll see why painting is the less. White gel coat, precolored gel coat, clear gel coat, neutral tintable gelcoats. Here are the symptoms that led me to this restoration approach. Star crazing this effect can occur where the gelcoat is brittle. When the paint on these items fades or wears, the visual value falls. Yes, you can apply gelcoat over a surface thats already covered with gelcoat. Repair involves either widening each crack line in preparation for a new top layer or wet sanding down past the crevice to unweathered gelcoat. Metal flake is commonly used in clear gel coat for that bass boat.

Gelcoat is basically a resin with very high pigmentation content that gives it its color. What wont work is to paint over the crazing with new gelcoat. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Stress cracks should always be dish ground and fiberglass laminated using 2 or 3 strips of biaxial cloth with matt sewed on the back. Mix in catalyst following the recommendations of the gelcoat supplier.

These premium quality isophthalic npg gel coats are. The cracks are about 18 inch and can only be seen when u are close up to the rv. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. May 27, 2009 repair involves either widening each crack line in preparation for a new top layer or wet sanding down past the crevice to unweathered gelcoat. Spraying either gelcoat or paint requires tools that most people do not have access to. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Andy made three samples of single layer 738 biaxial fabric wet out with 105 epoxy resin and either 205, 206 or 207 hardener. Sstv 1 dealing with spider cracksprepping and painting boat. A fresh coat of paint may bring an old fiberglass boat or greenhouse back to life. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. If spraying, a styrene thinner is best to dilute the viscosity for spray application. From talking to the shop that did my boat they said it was not much different than painting a car just a little thicker. Gelcoat repair fillers buttery texture makes it easy to apply with no sag even at high build levels.

Solving it might be as simple as shifting a load from undersized equipment, or installing a larger backing plate to spread the load over a wider area. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. The wax, or sanding aid is an additive that allows the gelcoat to dry tackfree. Shaving fiberglass, new approach to stress cracks and mail call. Gelcoat repair filler is a high quality lightweight polyester body filler designed for trade and handyman use in the repair of chips, scratches and cracks in polyester gelcoats as found on fibreglass boats etc. Feb 23, 2015 from talking to the shop that did my boat they said it was not much different than painting a car just a little thicker. So, i have researched the web, and have read a lot about this subject.

Painting right over gelcoat, no sanding necessary i recently took part in a work party on the 25 year old boat i race on, and the owner decided to paint certain areas of the deck. Because of their thick consistency, gelcoats require spray guns during application. Aug 02, 2017 how to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat if the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. It comes in many colors, and in most cases it has additives that make it resistant to ultraviolet rays. As the cracking progresses, however, you will begin to feel it, and the crack will keep expanding. How to use metal flake in gel coat bottom paint store.

Also this process will not repair crazing, cracks or other physical damage, but it will make a dull, chalky gelcoat finish shine beautifully and it will make any underlying repairs less obvious. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. There are various professionals in the industry to assure perfect shower repairs with long lasting results. Not only do you want the paint job to look good, you want to preserve that shiny gelcoat like surface. Gelcoat is a fiberglass form of resin with a particular color pigment added into it. He has talked to 2 repair places in ca and one said that the fiberglass was not fully cured whaen the paint was applied and out gassing occured as it cured and this caused the paint to crack which caused the gelcoat to crack. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. There is no better time to apply an antiosmosis system than when the boat has. Septone marine body filler gelcoat repair filler 400g. It can also contain wax to give it a marblelike finish. You will need to mask this area off with tape and newspaper to keep the paint from being applied unevenly, and the wax will help the masking tape come off without damaging the paint. Although it can be a diy task, it is always better to hire a professional to repair the gel coat if you expect a professional finish. If its a large surface such as a boat or a bathtub, use a gelcoat spray gun to apply a coat over the existing coat. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the.

Sep 05, 2017 if you look at a pool, or even a boat, the gelcoat is the color you see. Its already recorded, i just need to edit it along with a dozen others on this cheoy lee project. Do not use parting fluid over gelcoat that has been mixed with styrene, wax additive or patch booster as the parting fluid would seperate, dry and crinkle your gelcoat. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john gabriel. The epoxy fills and seals the cracks, and the polyurethane restores the color and gloss. These are currently the most used type of singlepart paints, having surpassed siliconealkyds over the years. Jan 21, 2020 yes, you can apply gelcoat over a surface thats already covered with gelcoat. For all your shower refinishing and repair needs, contact specialized refinishing at 9197479800.

Urethanemodified alkyds are easy to use, provide good hide and provide the best durability of a singlepart product. You can get gelcoat with wax or without in certain cases. We tried west marine gel coat scratch patch, and although very careful. It is important to sand as much of the pitting gelcoat off of the boat as you can prior to painting. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer. Surface scratches can be buffed out of gelcoat with polishing compound, but deep scratches must be filled. Over time, however, the gelcoat can potentially become cracked and damaged, which is why you need to know how to repair them. Creating sharp corners when shaping the area to be repaired. Widening is done because most topcoats new gelcoat, primer for paint, epoxy overlay, fairing compound wont wick into the extremely thin cracks, they only bridge them. Of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Over the years ive broken the rules on occasion and to date have not had any issues using gelcoat as my topcoat over epoxy. If you do decide to repair the gelcoat yourself, this is what youll need to do. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking.

Radial cracks spider cracks, star cracks caused by impact or by a fixture bolt that puts strain on a certain area of a boat and cracks occur around the hole. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. This requires identifying and removing all damaged material. My invoice for the work only shows the total material cost which includes the fiberglassgelcoat repair, shop supplies and paint. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat part ii. Once the ezfair is properly shaped i would like to finish off with gelcoat. For large areas like what youre talking about, i almost always suggest using a paint that can be rolled and tipped. The antifoul is definitely coming off as i wont be keeping it in the water and im keen to get that old gelcoat look back. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john. When the gelcoat surrounding a scratch is in good condition, the filler of choice is gelcoat paste, which provides both filler and finish in a single application but not a single step.

Aug 02, 2017 professional applicators know that the preparation and priming stages of any paint job covered in last months issue are the most important and will take 80 percent of the time spent on a paint job. Painting over gelcoat advice thanks denise, at the moment i am only doing above the waterline. Using liquid gelcoat over paste is a much more effective route for the more professional out come if repairing small. But gelcoat is used for another reason, and that is as a mold release agent that helps prevent the fiberglass part from bonding to the mold at the time it is laid up.

Gelcoat is used for a protective layer over the fiberglass but also doubles as paint. Im not saying that its common practice, but in certain circumstances its something that i have done successfully. My invoice for the work only shows the total material cost which includes the fiberglass gelcoat repair, shop supplies and paint. If an area of paint starts to bubble or wrinkles up, stop. How to paint over a gelcoat on a boat gone outdoors. Jul 23, 2012 metal flake is commonly used in clear gel coat for that bass boat. How to paint fiberglass tips for painting fiberglass. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be. Stress cracks first appear as very fine hairline cracks.

Mix the 23 portion of matched gelcoat to desired consistency. The topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. Fine edge bonding is important when finishing off a gelcoat repair. And gelcoat over large areas is a ton of sanding not fun if you havent seen this video series yet, it might be helpful. Over or under catalyzation may prevent the product from reaching a proper cure. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. When the paint on these items fades or wears, the visual value. The key to the best longevity here is to maintain the surface frequently depending on the atmospheric conditions in your location and how the boat is protected from those conditions. Mar 26, 2019 if the cracks radiate from the base of loadbearing equipment like a cleat or stanchion, there is probably a problem with the installation that deserves attention before repairing the gelcoat. For smaller surface areas, like a chair, apply the gelcoat using a paintbrush using short, vertical strokes.

How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration. A professional should check stress cracks below a waterline. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. Do i need to prime it if the under original coat is pretty good. Easy fixes for acrylic and fiberglass tubs and showers. The correct fix is to remove all the crazed gel coat down to the glass and rebuild. Fiberglass laminating and gelcoat repair video, tips and repair methods to avoid, spraying gelcoat with styrene, wax additive or patch booster are out of date. Gelcoat repair and refinishing sarasota fiberglass repair. It is possible to fix a crack in gelcoat easily, as it can be sanded over. If you dont want to use paint, you can grind away most of the crazed gelcoat and replace it with a fresh application of colormatching gelcoat paste. Gives an overview of the options for fixing cracks, holes, and general wear and tear on an acrylic or fiberglass tub and shower. If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help achieve adequate repair. I have painted numerous old boats including two whalers with very bad gelcoat before the paint job, including the 1971 outrage i own now. Nov 26, 2014 also this process will not repair crazing, cracks or other physical damage, but it will make a dull, chalky gelcoat finish shine beautifully and it will make any underlying repairs less obvious.

On newer boats, its sometimes possible to order gelcoat in an exact match from the factory. To ensure good adhesion it is critical that the repair patch is adhered to undamaged laminate. Over time, the cracks get larger and the structure may begin to delaminate andor blistering starts to occur. Gelcoat or paint which one should i use boatworks today. Properly applying gelcoat is the key to a good finish. Applying polyester resin like gelcoat over epoxy is very tricky and must be done extremely carefully. The larger the area, the polyester will be more difficult to work with and more likely to malfunction not cure. The smaller the repair, the easier it is to coat epoxy with gelcoat. How to refinish a gel coat on fiberglass gone outdoors. This premium marine grade gel coat may be as gecloat for boats, gelcoat for pools or many other applications. How to paint over a gelcoat on a boat gone outdoors your. Properly prepare the gelcoat this includes getting all of the antifouling paint off and removing as much gelcoat as necessary to get the hull dry i. I would like to use the petitt ezfair over the fiberglass repair.

Often it is used as a finish, although it can add a protective layer on top of the fiberglass itself. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. Gelcoat used to patch existing gelcoat, fiberglass repairs, and for new construction and projects. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. So, we are here to provide a stepbystep guide on how. As the gelcoat is sanded down and feathered into the surrounding area, the perimeter of the patch becomes very thin, almost translucent depending on the color youre working with. Gelcoat also oxidizes at a much faster rate than topcoat paint systems and will require more compounding and polishing over the years.

Before you get on with the job of painting your fiberglass, prepping it up with sand paper for a shiny luster may help. Most boats still use gelcoat for the exterior finish. Fiberglass is light and often used for construction of such items as hot tubs, boats and greenhouses. This can be applied over the colored gel coat and the metal flake is usually coated with clear gelcoat for. Gelcoat paste will shrink more than liquid gelcoat because the filler to make paste and will eventually crack around the repair due to excess shrinking and may have pin holes that will show up after polishing, also getting your repair 100% flat without a wave or ripple is nearly impossible and in most cases your paste will not match even with. Easiest way to apply a perfect nonskid on your boat using alexseal paint. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. By the book repair is to sand the gel coat and cracks away or open up. But they also know that what they get paid for is the finish.

Gelcoat is the preferred material for painting fiberglass since it offers good protection. Just like with scratches and gouges, we can make your stress cracks disappear but grinding away the damaged gelcoat, colormatching gelcoat for the repair, and then blending the new gelcoat into the surrounding finish. Like any painting project, preparation is the key and, in this case you will be painting over the slick, shiny surface of gelcoat. Shaving fiberglass, new approach to stress cracks and mail. Many of our customers are hesitant to use it, thinking its too complicated or they think they cant end up with a good finish. All we did was basically scrub it down well, then rub in wilbond, then went directly to rolling on primer i think 545 was the primer not sure though. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail magazine. Once you have completed the preparation and priming stages, the next step is the application of the paint itself. Just sand enough to remove the loose dead gel, fill and sand holes with an epoxy like marine tex, and you are ready to apply primer and paint. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Quantum leap is a bit over 30 years old now and in our case the prior owners had.