Bathtub refinishing methods to keep your tub squeaky clean

Refinishing a bathtub can make it look good as new for a fraction of the time and cost it will take to buy and install a new tub. Here's how.

Scrub a dub dub, it’s time for a new tub. If your bathroom needs a makeover and you’re on a budget, for just a few hundred dollars you can refinish your old tub instead of spending thousands of dollars buying a new one. Refinishing will also save you the hassle, mess and time of having your old tub removed and a new one installed. It’s a great way to give new life to an old tub that is worn, damaged, hard to clean or simply the wrong colour.

The following types of tubs can be refinished:

• Porcelain
• Fiberglass
• Acrylic
• Cultured marble
• Cast-iron claw-foot tubs

For a standard size bathtub in reasonable condition, it usually takes under five hours to refinish a tub, and it is ready for use in about two to four days. While it is a job you can do yourself, it’s a good idea to hire a professional bathtub refinishing company, as it does require some skill to strip, repair and patch up a tub and properly ventilate a room while the glaze is drying.

When done properly, a refinished tub can last 10 to 15 years, drastically extending the life of an old tub.

• First, the tub must be properly cleaned, stripped of old caulking and repaired where necessary.
• Once prepped and dry, the entire tub must be sanded to remove old paint and film. When completed, the tub must be wiped clean again and allowed to dry completely.
• All surrounding fixtures must be properly covered, including the drain area.
• The room needs to be well-ventilated before glazing begins.
• The bonding agent is sprayed on using an even back-and-forth motion until the whole tub is covered.
• After five to 10 minutes of drying time, the primer is applied over the entire bathtub and must dry for 30 minutes.
• Next, the refinishing paint is applied in light coats using short back-and-forth strokes. For best results and a more polished look, you should wait five minutes between coats.
• The tape and paper is removed from the bathtub.
• Wait two to three days to allow the coating to dry and harden. Once dry, apply new caulking.
• Sit back, relax and enjoy your "new" tub.