Acrylic Slide Repair

[guzmanense]

My acrylic slide has developed a crack right on the bottom end near the pool...it is a line almost in the middle perpendicular to the length of the slide (I will post a picture this afternoon)...but just to get started with the conversation, has anyone been able to repair one? I know that SR Smith, makers of slides sells a kit. UPDATE: added pictures

 

[jimmythegreek]

You can fix them with fiberglass repair methods. Depends on how expensive a replacement is you may be better off. You could also DIY repair it. Watch some YouTube videos of fiberglass work to see what your up against

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

@jonlee did a slide repair recently.

Pool slide repair

So this is the second year of us having a pool. I want to say the pool was installed in 1990 so I assume this slide has had lots of sun and not enough sunscreen. Either way I bit the bullet and decided this year we would repair it. So far this is where we are at. This is after one coat. The...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[jonlee]

If you can work with fiberglass on acrylic, it's not too bad. I just dont know how all that works.

 

[guzmanense]

Thank you all. I have seen lots of repairs using the fiberglass method, seems like its viable. SR Smith the maker sells a repair KIT but I haven't seen a video or even instructions from them on their website for using it. I like how @jonlee screenshots show how great it can turn out.
The slide is only 8 yrs old and replacing it would be around $3K. So if I can't fix it cheaply, we will not have a slide for the kids in the near-future, no big deal. But I'm really trying to figure out a way. I have reached out to SR Smith for info. If not I may give the fiberglass suggestion a try.
Thank you all

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I think your biggest challenge is going to be color and texture matching. This is probably why the repair kits are $150+. I've done lot of repairs with JB Weld on plastic, glass, metal and ceramics and all have help up, but JB Weld is black. It would probably stop further cracking, but it won't look too good. Good luck!

 

[guzmanense]

I think your biggest challenge is going to be color and texture matching. This is probably why the repair kits are $150+. I've done lot of repairs with JB Weld on plastic, glass, metal and ceramics and all have help up, but JB Weld is black. It would probably stop further cracking, but it won't look too good. Good luck!

I read about JB, at this point I don't care the color if it stops the crack from expanding. I know there are many varieties of JB Weld, any recommended in particular?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

THIS is the only JB Weld I've used.

Not sure how it would hold up on a crack that wide...

 

[jimmythegreek]

can you physically remove the stairs and transport it in a pickup truck or on a trailer? If so take some pics of it and head down to a few local body shops and see if they let their guys do sidework or will take the work. it wouldnt be much work for a bodyman to glass it and then coat it. its a few hour job for a pro. even a marina that does glass work would be able to make it new again

 

[guzmanense]

can you physically remove the stairs and transport it in a pickup truck or on a trailer? If so take some pics of it and head down to a few local body shops and see if they let their guys do sidework or will take the work. it wouldnt be much work for a bodyman to glass it and then coat it. its a few hour job for a pro. even a marina that does glass work would be able to make it new again

Yes another good idea. I'll give it a shot taking it apart. Thanks

 

[Aquaman7]

If you can work with fiberglass on acrylic, it's not too bad. I just dont know how all that works.

Jonlee that slide looks fantastic. What kind of paint did you use to paint it?