How to Reline a Tub
Cast iron tubs are full of character, adding both a decorative and practical element to any bathroom. Because of the age of many cast iron bathtubs they often have stains, wear, chips and spots where the cast iron is peeking through the porcelain. Often shoddy workmanship, such as painting over the stains and other issues with latex paint, just makes things worse. Rather than throwing out the tub and gutting the bathroom to install a new one, relining the tub saves time, energy and a piece of history. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Craft knife
- Masking tape
- Drop cloth
- Bathroom cleaner
- Stripping agent
- Acid based cleanser
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Denatured alcohol
- Bonding agent
- Paint sprayer
- Acrylic urethane enamel
- Sand paper
- Buffing machine
Instructions
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Preparing the Tub
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Ready the tub for refinishing by removing caulking, sealers, and plug surround. On an older tub the caulking usually comes away with a little manual labor. Carefully remove tougher sealers around faucets and plug holes with a craft knife. Once the seal is removed it will be easier to pull up the plug surround.
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2
Wrap masking tape or painter's tape around the faucets of the bathtub to prevent sealer splashing onto the hardware. Make sure that the area where the tub and faucet meet is well covered. It's a good idea to place a plastic drop cloth on the floor next to the tub in the event of spillage.
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3
Clean the bath thoroughly with bathroom cleaner and warm water and use a stripping agent to ensure a truly clean surface. Ask your local hardware store which stripping agent would be best for your needs.
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Neutralize the chemicals in the stripping agent of the previous step by applying an acid-based cleanser to the tub. Always check with the hardware store professional that you are buying the right cleaning agent for your particular bath type. Always wear goggles and gloves when dealing with chemicals.
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Ensure a perfectly clean bath surface by wiping the entire inside of the tub with denatured alcohol and allowing it to air dry.
Treating the Tub
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Coat the entire surface of the tub with a bonding agent, which is an adhesive that facilitates the bonding of the new tub lining to the surface of the old tub. Follow the directions on the bonding agent label and allow to set.
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Pour lining solution into a paint sprayer in preparation for lining the bathtub. Use acrylic urethane enamel specifically designed for this type of treatment. The enamel comes in a variety of colors. Always review label instructions before proceeding.
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Spray the tub evenly with a single coat, allow to dry and repeat twice. Wait approximately 15 minutes between coats to allow for fixing time. The enamel label may indicate a shorter or longer time and those instructions should be followed. Allow to dry for a few hours before proceeding.
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Smooth the tub relining by gentle hand sanding with a 1000-grit super fine sandpaper. This smooths out any bumps and lumps caused by the refinishing process. Be sure not to over sand any particular area, inadvertently creating an uneven finish.
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Use a polishing machine or buffer (like for waxing cars) to bring the new lining of the bath tub up to a full shine. At this point, the bathtub is ready for use.
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Tips & Warnings
If the bathtub is severely chipped professional assistance may be required. Fiberglass fillers, sanders and putty could be required during the surface preparation stage. Consult with a professional on how to proceed.
The process of refinishing a bath tub involves the use of chemicals and there will be a strong odor during and after the work is complete. Exhaust fans and open windows will help ventilate the area until the smell is gone completely, about 24 hours.
Spraying the refinishing agent onto the bath tub releases solvent particles into the air. A paint mask with a ventilator is recommended.
References
Resources
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