How to Reglaze a Bath Tub

Before and after reglazing

Giving your bathroom a complete makeover can be expensive and very time consuming. And replacing a bathtub can be a great challenge, especially if it is tucked into a tight corner or has walls built around it. Reglazing your tub can give you the feel of a new tub without all the construction that a new one would involve. With a little time and knowledge, you are well on your way to having the look of that new tub.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic garbage bags
• Ventilation system (this can be rented at your local hardware store such as Home Depot)
• Razor blade
• Frog tape
• Body filler
• Palmer sander
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Shop vac
• HVLP sprayer (can be rented)
• Tack cloths

Instructions

Prep Work and Glazing

1. Remove everything from around the tub. Leave nothing at all, including shower racks and soap holders.
   If there is a window in the bathroom, open what you can for ventilation and cover the rest with newspaper or plastic. If there is no window, then a ventilation system must be rented.
   Remove everything that is not in a drawer or cabinet, including pictures, baskets, rugs or anything else that you have out in the open.

2. Take off all plumbing fixtures that are on the tub such as the faucet, shower head, and drain.
   The toilet should also be removed if it is in the way of the tub at all. Put the toilet in another room while the tub is being reglazed. If the toilet is not blocking the tub at all, cover it up with plastic bags or painter's plastic to keep it from getting haze all over it.
   Cover up the vanity, sink, cabinets and doorknobs with plastic garbage bags or painter's plastic.

3. Using a razor blade, scrape off all caulking around the tub area.
   If there is tile around the tub walls, cover it up with plastic, using a durable tape such as Frog tape.
   Cover up the entire floor using plastic. Make sure the plastic is securely taped to floor and there is no visible area.

4. Use an industrial-strength cleaner to cleaner the tub well. Rinse the tub free of any leftover cleaner. Allow to completely dry.
   If there are calcium or hard water stains anywhere on your tub, sand them down using a palm sander and 120-grit sandpaper. Go over the tub with a tack cloth and shop vac to get rid of dust particles. Make sure the tub is well cleaned out.

5. Wear rubber gloves and spray hydrofluoric acid onto the tub and let stand 10 minutes. Still wearing the rubber gloves, scrub the tub with the 120-grit sandpaper. Rinse VERY well and dry the tub completely. Since the faucet has been removed, outside water may need to be brought in.
   Hydrofluoric acid can be purchased at industrial cleaning companies, some pipe companies and some home improvement stores.

6. After the tub is completely cleaned out and is totally dry, fill in all cracks and chips that the tub has with body filler. Apply according to package directions. Allow filler to totally dry and then with a palm sander, smooth out the surface. Using a shop vac and tack cloths, clean out all dust caused by the sander. Wipe the tub clean with a damp cloth and then let it dry.
   Body filler can be purchased at most home improvement stores, auto body shops and some tub specialty stores.

7. Using a ¼-inch nap roller, roll an epoxy product primer onto the tub. Allow to dry according to directions.

8. 

   Using a sprayer, apply the glaze according to the manufacturer's directions. Dry the glaze for at least 48 hours.
   Caulk around the edges of the tub.
   Replace all hardware such as faucet, showerhead, and drain.
   Bathtub glaze is available in a variety of different colors and can be purchased at home improvement stores and bath specialty stores.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you begin to reglaze your tub, have all your plumbing checked so that it will not damage the reglaze if a plumber has to come in later on to do work.