Restoring a metal drain

[Vanessa09]

 

Hi there, 

I have a metal cover over a drain in the shower recess that has corrosion damage which I think may have been caused by cat urine. I have tried vinegar and bi-carb to improve it but I think it’s too far gone. 
Is there anyway to repair it or paint it to look like stainless steel again ? 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Vanessa09. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about restoring a metal drain.

It sounds like the metal drain cover may be chrome-plated, which can be tricky to restore once corrosion has set in. While sanding the surface and spraying it with a metal paint might help improve its appearance temporarily, it will likely not last long in the wet conditions of a shower. The paint may start to wear off over time due to moisture exposure.

If you’re aiming for a stainless steel look, there are chrome spray paints available, but achieving the exact stainless steel appearance can be challenging, and these paints may not hold up well in the high-moisture environment of a shower.

The best long-term solution would likely be to replace the drain cover. A new one would provide better durability and a more lasting finish, especially if you choose one made from stainless steel or another corrosion-resistant material.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Vanessa09]

Thanks Mitchell,

I will take a look at your suggestions!

My main concern with replacing it is being able to remove the drain cover without damaging the tiles. 
I don’t know if there’s any simple way to do this or if I am better off letting a professional do it. Any thoughts? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Vanessa09,

Your concerns are understandable, but once you gain access to the underside of the drain cover, it shouldn't be too hard to get out without damaging the tiles, but you could damage the waterproofing membrane which is potentially worse. I'll explain the process I would use, and you can decide whether you'd like to give it a try or whether you'd be more comfortable getting someone to do it for you.

Start by using a QEP Professional Grout Saw to remove the grout on the outside of the drain. The bottom edge in your photo may not have enough room, so just remove as much grout as you can.

Once the grout has been removed, you may be able to pop the central piece of the drain out with a flathead screwdriver. Put the tip of the screwdriver into the drain and lever it up to pop the central piece out.

If this central piece pops out, you should be able to fit the same screwdriver under the main body of the drain and lever it upwards. You may need to use a hammer to gently tap it under the drain so you get more purchase to lever the drain up. It is going to be set in place with an adhesive, so you'll need to break the bond between the adhesive and the drain which can require a bit of force.

If you can't get the central piece out, you'll have to use the same approach, but through the grout lines around the drain. You can use a block of timber, or a hard-covered book to protect the tiles and lever off.

Once the bond starts to break, it should be fairly easy to pop out, but you should use your judgement to decide whether you are comfortable doing this yourself.

Jacob

[Vanessa09]

Thanks for the advice Jacob, 

The central cover unscrews normally but in this case I was unable to remove it. 

Is it a simple process to install a new cover? What would be involved?

[JacobZ]

Hi @Vanessa09,

After the current drain cover is removed, you'll have to tidy up the substrate. Depending on what was used to glue the drain cover in place, this will mean removing either silicone or tile adhesive.

Tile adhesive is a cement-based product that can be chipped out with a bolster or masonry chisel. If it is silicone, you can use a similar process, but a wood chisel will work slightly better as they are sharper.

You'll need to purchase a suitable replacement for the space. Check out our range of square floor grates as some options for potential replacements. Make sure they are the same dimension and roughly the same thickness as your existing one.

You can then use Dunlop 310ml Tile-All Plus Premixed Tile Adhesive to set the drain cover in place ensuring it sits level just below the height of the surrounding tiles.

Once the adhesive has set, you can grout around it to finish up.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob