A crack in a shower tray is alarming — it looks serious, raises concerns about water damage and immediately makes you think “new shower tray.” But in most cases, a cracked shower tray can be repaired professionally, without removing the tray, for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Here’s what you need to know.

Types of Shower Tray Cracks

Not all cracks are the same, and understanding the type affects both repairability and urgency:

• Surface hairline cracks — fine cracks in the tray’s surface layer (gel coat on fibreglass/acrylic) that haven’t penetrated fully. Often caused by the tray flexing under weight. Repairable and not immediately dangerous, but should be addressed to prevent water ingress.
• Through-cracks — cracks that go all the way through the tray material. These need prompt attention as they allow water to escape beneath the tray. Still repairable in most cases, but more complex.
• Star cracks or spider cracks — radiating crack patterns often caused by impact. These are common on older acrylic or fibreglass trays and are very repairable.

Why Do Shower Trays Crack?

The most common causes are inadequate support beneath the tray (allowing it to flex underfoot), impact damage from dropped objects, and age-related degradation of the acrylic or fibreglass. Addressing the underlying support issue is important — if the tray is still flexing after repair, the crack will reopen.

How Professional Shower Tray Repair Works

A professional technician will:

1. Clean and dry the cracked area thoroughly
2. If a through-crack, check and address any support issues beneath the tray
3. Apply fibreglass repair resin or colour-matched acrylic filler to the crack in layers
4. Allow to cure fully, then sand and polish the repair to blend with the surrounding surface

Most shower tray crack repairs are completed in 2–3 hours. The tray should be left for 24 hours before use to allow full cure.

How Much Does Shower Tray Crack Repair Cost?

Professional shower tray crack repair in the UK typically costs a competitive pricea competitive price for a standard repair. Compare that with a new shower tray and installation: even a basic replacement, including removing the old tray (which often requires removing tiles and surrounding panels), supply of a new tray, fitting and re-tiling, typically runs to a competitive pricea competitive price or more. Repair is nearly always the right financial decision.

When Is Replacement the Right Answer?

Replacement makes sense when the tray has multiple severe cracks across a large area, when the material has degraded significantly (very old acrylic that’s soft or crumbling), or when a through-crack has caused significant water damage to the subfloor that needs addressing anyway. A professional technician will tell you honestly which situation you’re in.

Get a Quote for Shower Tray Repair

Shazam Repairs repairs cracked shower trays across London and the UK. Send us photos of the crack and we’ll come back with a clear, no-obligation quote — usually the same day.