Tips To Refinish Old Bathtubs

Bathtubs are the centerpiece of all bathrooms, especially freestanding ones. They help in having a relaxed bathing experience after spending a long day working in the office, taking care of the house, or even a vacation. People who do not have bathtubs have to take a shower while standing. They cannot sit back, amidst bubbles and hot water to let their stress and tiredness wear away. To understand the pleasure of hot water bubble baths, one must have this luxury in their bathroom.

Bathtubs once bought and installed, can last for decades if taken care of well. They do not require much maintenance, unlike your other bathroom fixtures. Just make sure to keep them clean, dry (when not in use), and free from mold and leakage. However, even after good care, some of the bathtubs start looking dull and old due to the weariness of the color or finish. They will start developing a tarnished look making them unappealing. If you have a tarnished old bathtub in your house, you can make it look like a new one by refinishing it with simple tips.

However, before thinking about refinishing, you must think about the cost involved. Removing the old bathtub, getting it refinished, and reinstalling it can be very expensive. This is why it is very important to choose the most ideal one for your lifestyle before purchasing and/or installing it. If you are unable to spend much, it is better to invest in a new bathtub altogether. It will cost much more than removing the old one, but buying a new one will last you longer. However, if you love your old one, follow these simple tips for refinishing.

• Clean the tub: Before starting the refinishing work, you must clean your bathtub properly. Removing any anti-slip coverage, mineral deposit, mold, or grease of any kind. You can use special cleaners that available locally to clean the bathtub properly before refinishing. If there is any kind of residue left on the surface of the tub, it will affect the bonding agents in adhering.

 • Sand the tub: Now using a good quality industrial sanding paper or machine sander, you must sand the tub to remove any tarnished areas on the surface (start with coarse sandpaper and gradually increase to finer sandpaper for a smooth touch). It will help in removing the entire layer of the old finish. Moreover, sanding the surface will create a good surface and porous surface for the bonding agents to adhere to well. Wipe down the bathtub thoroughly to remove all residues.

• Apply bonding agent: After sanding and cleaning it well, you can spray the bonding agent to the surface of the bathtub. It will help keep the paint for a long period of time.

 • Paint it (Skip this step if you like the color the way it is after applying the bonding agent): Apply the paint of your desired color. Try to brush in one direction using thin smooth coats. Do not leave any type of lumps anywhere on the surface of the tub. Keep at least one hour of a gap between each coat. It will give enough time to dry before applying the new coat. You can also use a spray paint gun to spray paint in even coats.

After all this, you must leave the bathtub for at least 2 days to dry well. Protect it from any kind of moisture or grime during its drying period. In case you do not want to do it yourself, you should take help from a professional refinisher.