Gel-coat leaf provides a fiberglass hot tub its shiny look. Over the years, the leaf can dull or develop surface scratches. In most cases, a do-it-yourself homeowner can redo the gel-coat in a couple of days. If the fiberglass is cracked or gouged, enlist an expert to do the repairs until you redo the leaf. Two-part resin that’s specified for roll-on applications can be found at many hot-tub stores and marine supply outlets. Very similar to most painting projects, redoing the leaf on a hot tub demands a little bit of planning to guarantee the quality and look of the end.
Open the drain-valve for the hot tub. Unplug the power cord into the pump in the electrical socket.
Mix a few ounces of mild soap and water at a five-gallon bucket. Remove dirt and accumulation at the rim, bottom and sides of the tub, with a scrub brush. Rinse all surfaces thoroughly, using a garden hose. Permit the tub to dry. Instead, dry all surfaces with clean rags.
Put on a dust mask. Use a 100-grit sanding block to eliminate the thin layer of gel coat in the regions around scrapes. Remove remaining sanding debris with a moist rag, and permit the places to dry also.
Put on latex gloves. Apply paste wax in the rims of the jets as well as hot-tub controls.
Set up a mini-roller with a short-nap roller pad. Install a disposable plastic liner at a roller pan. Refer to the instructions for the proportions of resin and catalyst, and use the provided a wooden rod to mix a batch of resin and catalyst in the pan.
Start at one side of the hot tub. Roll on a uniform coat of leaf at the rim and side of the tub. As the leaf starts to shake, put in a fresh plastic liner in the pan along with a brand new roller pad on the roller, and mix another batch of leaf. Coat three sides as well as the adjoining rims of the tub.
Change the liner and roller pad, as necessary, and mix additional batches of leaf as you coat the bottom of the tub and the remaining side and rim. Permit the resin to cure overnight.
Apply paste wax all surfaces of the tub and rims. Permit the wax to wax and dry all surfaces with a cloth buffing pad. Close the drain valve, and refill the bathroom. Plug in the power cord into the pump, and start the pump. Add the correct parts of chemicals and conditioner, and permit the pump to run for one hour before using the tub.