Bathtub Resurfacing: Doing It Yourself

One of the most frequently used, but often most overlooked items in your home is definitely your bathtub. Thanks to this, your bathtub may start to look old and less than sparkling after many years of use, leaving you with 2 choices: replace it, or resurfacing your tub.

Bathtubs are one of the most used parts of the house. Because of this, bathtubs may look old after long years of using it and you may need to replace it for a better looking one and one with a color that can match the paint in your bathroom. However, purchasing a new bathtub and getting it installed in your home can prove to be very costly. For a more cost effective solution, you can consider resurfacing your bathtub yourself instead of purchasing a new one. By resurfacing it, you will be able to save hundreds of dollars for a bathtub.

Resurfacing a bathtub is quite easy to do. With patience and a few preparations, you will be able to make your old bathtub looking like new. So, here are the simple preparations and step-by-step process that you have to remember when you are going to resurface a bathroom tub.

Safety first. Remember, you will be working with various types of chemicals. The chemicals involved with resurfacing a bathroom tub can be very harmful to you. Its key to remember that you should protect yourself in order for you to avoid injuries from inhalation. Keeping a well ventilated workspace is a key consideration since the fumes from these chemicals are toxic. Exposure to these may cause skin and eye irritation. Not a fun experience. Wear protective clothing that covers all parts of your body, and of course, wear goggles. Protect your eyes: you only have 2 of them for life.

Okay, so now you are fully protected from head to toe. Sure, you may look ridiculous, but you’re safe! Lets start the next step.

Give your tub a good cleaning by removing loose caulking as well as the gaskets. Usually, the bathtub refinishing kit that you purchased will have several chemicals that you will need to effectively resurface your bathroom tub.

As a cleaning solution, the first two chemicals will effectively remove soaps and oils from the bathtub surface. Also, they will get your bathroom tub ready for the primer. Using sandpaper with 220 – 240 grit, thoroughly scrub the bathtub surface. Once you have finished scrubbing the bathroom tub, your next step will be to rinse away the residue with water. Let your bathroom tub dry out thoroughly to prepare it for the second cleaning solution.

The next chemical is still a cleaning solution that will be able to remove any oil and soap residue. After applying and scrubbing the bathtub, you will again rinse it thoroughly with water and dry it with an old towel or paper towels.

The primer reducer is next. Apply this solution to your bathroom tub, which will prepare it for applying the primer. Using paper towels, carefully apply the primer reducer. The deep scratches and other damages to your bathroom tub will become quite apparent after applying it. Repair the bathtub surface as well as the area around the drain, which can be accomplished simply by applying some putty to the area. Remember to let the putty dry for at least 45 minutes. The repaired area will have rough edges, so be sure to use a fine sandpaper. Apply the primer reducer a second time.

The next step is by applying paper and tape to the areas that you don’t need to refinish or resurface. This will protect these areas from getting damaged by the chemicals that you need to use for resurfacing.

Applying the base coat is the next step in resurfacing your bathtub. In this process, it is important that you should use a respirator to protect your lungs from the fumes the base coat emits. You have to mix the primer’s components exactly as what the manufacturer’s directions state and it is recommended that you should use a spray gun when applying the primer for an even finish.

After about 30 minutes you can now apply the top coat. You also need to use the spray gun properly by applying it with even strokes in order to have a great looking finish. As you can see, bathtub resurfacing can be quite simple. It is a cost effective solution than purchasing a new bathtub. By resurfacing your bathtub, you will be able to have a brand new looking bathtub at a very affordable cost.