Is Refinishing A Bathtub For You?

You can increase the value of your home substantially by keeping up with bathroom repairs and redecorating periodically. One item it’s difficult to replace is an old bathtub which can be a heavy, expensive job. There is a way to make your old tub look new again, and it’s easier than you think. Keep reading if you’d like to learn how you can refinish your bathtub.

Prior to beginning to refinish your bathtub, you need to amass the supplies and safety items you will need to do the job. It’s best if you can do your refinishing in a well-ventilated place where you’ll only need to use a face mask. If there are no windows in your bathroom, you should probably have a respirator to avoid lung damage. In addition you will need:

* Industrial-strength bathtub cleanser

* A palm sander and sandpaper

* Caulking

* Masking Tape

* Newspaper or plastic sheeting

* Spray gun for acrylic paint

* A chemical bonding agent for porcelain

* Epoxy paint or primer

* EP-acrylic top coat

Your next job will be to use the bathtub cleaner to thoroughly clean the tub. This includes removing all of the old caulking and cleaning the areas where it was. A clean surface will help your new surfacing materials adhere to the porcelain better.

You will then need to sand the entire surface and remove any chips, scratches, or nicks if you can. Palm sanders are easy to use and will make your tub smooth so that you’ll have a good surface to refinish. Wear a mask while sanding. Keep in mind that how well you sand the tub is going to have a big impact on what your tub will look like after refinishing.

After sanding, you will need to clean the tub again. Remove all dust, water, chemicals, or other substances from the surface of the tub. Your surface should be completely clean and dry before you start applying any resurfacing materials.

Any time you use a sprayer indoors, you need to take precautions to keep the substance you’re spraying off of other surfaces in the room. Using either newspapers or plastic and masking tape, tape coverings on everything in your bathroom. Use drop cloths to protect the floor. Make sure everything is well covered before you start spraying.

After masking the room, you will need a cloth to apply the bonding agent to the porcelain with. Make sure the area has as much ventilation as possible by opening any windows, and wear your mask or respirator. Apply the bonding agent, and let it drive for about 5 minutes. You’ll then be ready to apply your primer to the tub, also wearing a mask.

If you’re new to using a paint sprayer, you’ll probably want to practice the correct technique on another surface first, such as a large piece of cardboard. You need to establish a slow, even motion to use while spraying. You’ll find that if you move too slowly, however, you will apply too much paint and cause large drips to run down the sides of the tub. Now you’re ready to paint an even coat of primer on your tub.

Overall you’ll be applying two coats of primer and three of acrylic polymer paint. Allow each coat to dry for 30 minutes before applying the next coat.

When you’ve finished painting, allow the tub to dry for at least 48 hours. Then you will reapply the caulking and allow it to cure for a few days. Finally you’ll be able to proudly display your “new” bathtub which definitely isn’t an eyesore any longer.