Bathtub Resurfacing: Doing It Yourself

One of the most frequently used, but often most overlooked items in your home is definitely your bathtub. Thanks to this, your bathtub may start to look old and less than sparkling after many years of use, leaving you with 2 choices: replace it, or resurfacing your tub.

Resurfacing a bathtub is quite easy to do. With patience and a few preparations, you will be able to make your old bathroom tub looking like new. So, here are the simple preparations and step-by-step process that you have to remember when you are going to resurface a bath tub.

Safety first. Remember, you will be working with various types of chemicals. The chemicals involved with resurfacing a bath tub can be very harmful to you. Its key to remember that you should protect yourself in order for you to avoid injuries from inhalation. Keeping a well ventilated workspace is a key consideration since the fumes from these chemicals are toxic. Exposure to these may cause skin and eye irritation. Not a fun experience. Wear protective clothing that covers all parts of your body, and of course, wear goggles. Protect your eyes: you only have 2 of them for life.

Give your bathroom tub a good cleaning by removing loose caulking as well as the gaskets. Usually, the bathtub refinishing kit that you purchased will have several chemicals that you will need to effectively resurface your bathroom tub.

As a cleaning solution, the first two chemicals will effectively remove soaps and oils from the bathroom tub surface. Also, they will get your bath tub ready for the primer. Using sandpaper with 220 - 240 grit, thoroughly scrub the bathroom tub surface. Once you have finished scrubbing the bath tub, your next step will be to rinse away the residue with water. Let your bath tub dry out thoroughly to prepare it for the second cleaning solution.

Your next step is to use the second chemical as a cleaning solution to remove any soap and oil residue. Rinse it again thoroughly with water, and using an old towel or paper towels, dry your bath tub.

The primer reducer is next. Apply this solution to your bath tub, which will prepare it for applying the primer. Using paper towels, carefully apply the primer reducer. The deep scratches and other damages to your bath tub will become quite apparent after applying it. Repair the bathroom tub surface as well as the area around the drain, which can be accomplished simply by applying some putty to the area. Remember to let the putty dry for at least 45 minutes. The repaired area will have rough edges, so be sure to use a fine sandpaper. Apply the primer reducer a second time.

You're almost ready for the resurfacing stage. However, you'll need to apply paper and tape to the areas that you don't need to resurface. This will protect those areas from being damaged by the chemicals you are using.

Now you are ready to apply the base coat. A handy tip is to use a respirator to protect your lungs from the fumes of the base coat. The fumes that are emitted are toxic, so be safe. Following the manufacturer's instructions to mix the primers components exactly as directed, use a spray gun to apply an even finish.

After about 30 minutes you can now apply the top coat. You also need to use the spray gun properly by applying it with even strokes in order to have a great looking finish. As you can see, bathtub resurfacing can be quite simple. It is a cost effective solution than purchasing a new bathtub. By resurfacing your bathtub, you will be able to have a brand new looking bathtub at a very affordable cost.

Learn more about how to improve your bathtub with tips on walk in bathtub, bath tub liner and bath tub refinishing at BathTubTherapy