Painting a Bathtub

Remodeling the bathroom can quickly become expensive depending on how extensively you decide to change things up. In many cases, costs can be brought down while simultaneously making your bathroom very personalized by taking advantage of creative compromises.

One of the bigger aspects of a bathroom remodel is the tub, and it can certainly make a big difference in your bathrooms overall look, but perhaps your tub works perfectly fine. In cases like these, painting a bathtub can have the intended effect of a fresh new look without the added cost and labor of completely replacing your tub.

With a project like this, it is important to keep in mind that simply painting your tub will not increase your home’s resale value. Painting a bathtub can be advantageous in the short term though.

Get professional help

Going this route is, of course, the safer option and will probably save you a headache or a few, but it will cost you more. A professional tub refinisher will be able to tell whether your tub is in a good enough condition to justify refinishing it. Typically refinishing a tub costs about $1000, but varies depending on the amount of surface area being refinished and any needed repairs.

With a professional on the job, you can expect many advantages over a DIY job including:

• Faster project completion
• Better results
• Safer process
• More colors to choose from

A professional will be highly trained for this job, and they will have better equipment and materials than you will be able to acquire from a home improvement retailer. This will result in a tub that is refinished in high-quality acrylic resin as opposed to epoxy for example. Epoxy takes longer to dry and turn yellow over time, whereas an acrylic resin will avoid these issues and last much longer. A professional will also be able to provide a full range of colors to choose from. They also have the tools necessary to keep your bathroom ventilated from harmful chemicals.

DIY route

If hiring a professional is cost-prohibitive, or you are just wanting a fun challenge, then painting the tub yourself might be your preferred approach. Attention to detail is a must though and patience is key when it comes to letting the paint cure and ventilating the room.

If you are still feeling up to the challenge then here are some tips to help get you started:

• Be safe! A respirator mask and proper ventilation are absolutely necessary when performing this job. The chemicals involved in this task can be very harmful to your health if not handled with care.
• There are prepackaged kits for tub and tile refinishing. It is highly recommended that you complete the job with one of these and follow the instructions to a T.
• Be thorough in your sanding and cleaning of the surfaces you will be refinishing. Inadequate sanding and cleaning will lead to your epoxy not sticking very strongly and will mean the refinishing won’t stand the test of time.
• A spray gun is the best choice for this job. A paintbrush or roller could work, but it won’t provide the best finish.

Finally, make sure to give the epoxy ample time to cure. A hot bath before the curing has finished will lead to a wrinkled, distorted tub.

If after reading this you still feel unsure about painting a bathtub, replacing it might be the best option for you. In that case, take a look at these Kingston tubs to help get your bathroom remodel ideas flowing.