How to Remodel a Bathroom Bathtub
Old bathtubs, including clawfoot tubs, are generally cast iron with a porcelain coating. The porcelain coating will wear out long before the iron frame does. Refurbishing porcelain tubs can be done with actual porcelain, but that's not generally a project for a do-it-yourselfer. Another, easier option is to coat the porcelain with specialized polyurethane paint that mimics the look and feel of real porcelain. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Plastic tarp
- Plastic painter's tape
- Respirator & face mask
- Rubber gloves & protective clothing
- Porcelain etching compound
- Paintbrush
- Airless paint sprayer
- Dark primer for porcelain
- Paint-polyurethane topcoat for porcelain
Instructions
-
-
1
Cover the walls and floor around the tub with plastic tarps. Remove or tape over all non-porcelain surfaces of the tub. Put on long-sleeved clothing rubber gloves, a facemask and a respirator.
-
2
Brush acid etching compound over all porcelain surfaces of the tub, covering the porcelain completely. Let the compound work for about 15 minutes, dulling the tub surface. Rinse thoroughly. Let the tub dry for at least 24 hours.
-
-
3
Load the paint sprayer with primer for porcelain. Spray a thin, even coat of it over the whole tub, covering all the porcelain and making sure there are no drips or streaks. Let it dry for an hour, then apply a second coat in the same fashion. Let it set overnight.
-
4
Re-load the sprayer with paint-polyurethane topcoat. Apply four to six coats, making each coat thin and even and letting each coat set for an hour before applying the next coat.
-
5
Let the topcoat cure for 48 hours, then re-install the fixtures.
-
1
