How to Repair a Chipped Porcelain Tub

You can repair chips in your porcelain tub.

A chip in a porcelain bathtub can ruin the tub's look. If you have a porcelain enamel tub, as the chipped areas wear away, they reveal the darker material underneath. With tubs made from porcelain laid over another surface, the edges show a lighter color. Unless you take proper care, the chip may worsen and create cracks in the tub. While resurfacing the tub is expensive and difficult to do yourself, repairing the chipped areas is an easier option.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grade sandpaper
• Paper towels
• Resin filler
• Old newspaper
• Paintbrush
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton swab
• Oil paint

Instructions

1. Sand the chipped area with fine-grade sandpaper until any sharp edges are removed. The surface of the chip should also be rough. Wipe away any excess porcelain dust with a dry paper towel, then dry the area with more paper towels.

2. Place a small amount of resin filler onto a piece of old newspaper. Dip your paintbrush into the resin and paint over the surface of the chip. Add a thin layer of resin only to the chipped areas. Wait at least 30 minutes for the resin to dry completely.

3. Touch the surface, tapping it to ensure that the resin is dry. Paint a second layer of resin on top of the existing resin. Continue painting more resin onto the tub and letting it dry until the resin is the same size and height as the surrounding porcelain.

4. Use a cotton swab covered with nail polish remover to move the resin around. Smooth the resin into any gaps between the surrounding tub and the resin layers. Wait for the resin to dry again and add an additional layer, if needed.

5. Paint the surface of the resin layers a shade that matches the porcelain bathtub. Use an oil paint, which dries hard and won't wear off or wash away when you use the tub. Wait 24 hours, or until both the resin layers and paint dry completely, before using the bathtub.

Tips & Warnings

• Porcelain repair kits contain almost everything you need to repair the tub. You'll still need to apply paint to the surface that matches the tub.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Repairing Porcelain Enamel
• This Old House: Refinish Your Cast-Iron Tub