Wednesday, January 6, 2016

How To Restore Faded Fiberglass: Care And Maintenance

By Jennifer Cook


Unlike decades ago when the boats were made of wood and metals, almost all pleasure boats are made of fiberglass today. They give better final products, are easier to make, and weighs less in comparison to wood and metal. They are also known to last for a very long time, and it is no surprise that all boat owners prefer them over any other material. In order to maintain the beauty and elegance of your pleasure boat, you need the tips on how to restore faded fiberglass using waxes, polishes, and the sealers.

The process starts with cleaning. This should be done thoroughly to make sure that the surface is ready for the next step. In order to clean, just add one cup of a cleaning detergent to a gallon of warm water for better results. Stir to form a solution. A sponge is then used to wash the surface. Should the surface have mildew, the household bleach added to the solution is used to remove tough stains.

Gelcoat is widely available is several assortments of colors. It is very durable but will eventually weather and become dull. Processes like waxing may slow the rate at which it weathers. The dull surface is as a result of oxidation effects of the sunlight and air. The result is a rusted surface, and the solution is waxing, and use of the sealers.

After this, consider waxing the fiberglass. Normally, a new surface is waxed. The best way to maintain it is to always have it waxed. This is the sure way of prolonging the life of the gelcoat. Regular waxing can help keep it gloss for up to fifteen years or more. The wax also comes with the added benefit of restorative property, particularly if the gelcoat is not badly weathered.

This is followed with polishing and waxing comes as the last step. The two steps are likely to restore the shine, but this may not last for two or more months, in fact, it may be difficult to get the same finish as the new one in the showroom. The gelcoat surface normally has several microscopic pits, and these trap air, therefore, enabling oxidation to continue underneath even after polishing and waxing.

Fiberglass sealers offer the best results, unlike wax, they are able to penetrate into the gelcoat surface. This makes it possible to seal the microscopic crevices and holes, therefore, preventing any further oxidation. Generally, sealers offer a brighter surface as compared to the wax, offer a harder surface and last for a much longer time.

However, sometimes, the fiberglass is so faded that the normal polishing and waxing may not restore its shiny look. In this case, a stronger abrasive rubbing compound is required. The rubbing compounds are available in many varieties, from mild compounds to heavy-duty.

There is no magic in restoring your beautiful boat or bathtub to its former condition, all you need to know is how to maintain the surface of gelcoat. The sealers, wax, polish and cleaning reagents used must be bought from trusted and well-known manufacturers to avoid fake and ineffective products.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment