What if I have a crack or chip in my tub and don’t need a full resurfacing?
Short Answer:
We routinely repair and restore cracks, chips, and dents in porcelain, fiberglass, Vikrell® tubs, and shower pans. We are the crack and chip repair experts! Get A Grip® is also one of the few certified Kohler© Authorized Service Representatives, and our partnership with both Kohler© and American Standard™ offers you the best services possible and match the color of your tub!
Deep Dive:
Crack and chip repair in bathtubs is a targeted, professional process that fixes only the damaged area—rather than the entire surface—by stabilizing the crack, rebuilding the missing material, and precisely color‑matching the finish so the repair blends in and stops further damage. This approach is ideal when the rest of the tub is in good shape and you simply need to fix a crack in a fiberglass tub, repair a chip in a porcelain bathtub, or address damage in a Vikrell® shower pan without investing in a full resurfacing or replacement.
Get A Grip® is one of the few certified Kohler® Authorized Service Representatives, and through partnerships with Kohler® and American Standard™, uses professional‑grade materials and color systems designed for those fixtures to restore chips, cracks, and dents in porcelain, fiberglass, cast iron, and Vikrell® tubs and shower bases.
Bathtub crack repair: what’s involved and when is it enough?
Professional bathtub crack repair generally follows a structured sequence and is best for isolated damage rather than a worn‑out tub overall.
- Assess the tub and damage
- Identify the material (porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, or Vikrell®) and whether the issue is a chip, hairline crack, or deeper structural crack.
- Check for flexing or soft spots, especially on tub and shower floors, to see if reinforcement is needed. For examples of DIY vs. professional assessment, see First American’s guide.
- Prep, fill, and finish the area
- Clean and lightly sand the damaged spot, then stabilize, fill, and smooth it with professional repair compounds (this is often integrated with the process described on Get A Grip’s bathtub and shower resurfacing page.
- Prime, color‑match, and topcoat so the repair blends with the original finish and is hard to see in normal use, following manufacturer‑grade standards similar to those outlined in Get A Grip’s FAQs
- Decide if repair is enough
- Spot repair is ideal for a single crack, chip, or dent when the rest of the surface looks good and you
like the color. - If the tub is stained, worn, or dated everywhere, full bathtub and shower resurfacing usually the better long‑term value, giving a like‑new finish without full demolition
- Spot repair is ideal for a single crack, chip, or dent when the rest of the surface looks good and you
You can learn more about how full resurfacing works and when it makes sense on Get A Grip’s FAQ article: “What exactly is resurfacing?”.
Chip repair vs. DIY kits vs. full resurfacing
| Option | What it involves | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY bathtub chip repair kit |
Light sanding, filler, and touch‑up coating from a store‑bought kit; search “DIY bathtub chip repair” or see homeowner guides. |
Tiny, non‑structural chips in low‑visibility spots. |
Lowest cost and quick for minor blemishes. |
Often poor color match, shorter life, and visible patch lines; not suitable for floor cracks or flexing areas. |
| Professional crack and chip repair (Get A Grip®) |
Technician cleans, stabilizes, fills, and color‑matches only the damaged area using pro systems; ideal for “fix a cracked bathtub” or “repair chipped tub” scenarios. Learn more at Get A Grip’s Service page for bathtub-shower resurfacing. | Isolated cracks, chips, and dents on otherwise good tubs or shower pans. | Durable, structurally sound, and visually blended; fast service, no demolition, and compatible with Kohler®/American Standard™ fixtures. |
Does not change the overall color; if the finish is worn everywhere, resurfacing is more transformative. |
| Full bathtub resurfacing |
Repairs defects first, then applies a new coating over the entire tub or tub‑and‑tile surround; see Bathtub-Shower Resurfacing, and Get A Grip FAQ’s page for process and benefits. | Older, stained, or heavily worn tubs; outdated colors you want to modernize. | Creates a like‑new surface, often with a one‑day turnaround and 10–15 years of life with proper care, at a fraction of replacement cost. |
Higher cost than a single spot repair and requires cure time before use. |
If you “just have a crack or chip and don’t need a full resurfacing,” a professional repair service like Get A Grip® offers a focused, cost‑effective solution that protects the tub structurally and restores its appearance, while still leaving the door open for a future full resurfacing if you later decide to update the entire bathroom.