Repairing your stained tub with paint
Long story short, this tub repair was necessary due to smoke damage prior to purchasing the home. While the majority of the home was repaired, repainted, and re-carpeted, I don’t think the owner had any inkling what to do with this tub.
If you look closely, you can see the stain marks in the before picture and the various circular patterns made by previous attempts to sand away the discoloration. The flash lighting in the photo certainly makes it look lighter than in person. This tub almost prevented me from purchasing my humble home! There was absolutely no way I could stand in that shower and begin to feel clean.
Thus, the research began! I searched online for options and went to the home improvement stores to verify costs of replacement. However, I was not ready to have a huge debt so soon after acquiring a mortgage. Thus, I opted to use Rustoleum’s Tub and Tile Refreshing Kit.
Supplies
Rustoleum Tub & Tile Refreshing Kit
1/4″ nap roller brush
Good ventilation
Abrasive Cleaner
Sanding Paper
When you purchase the kit, you will find all the instructions laid out simply on the box. Basically, you will want to make sure that your surface has been cleaned and sanded. Next, if at all possible, you should remove the metal hardware. I skipped this step and simply covered the faucet and handles with painters tape and plastic bags.
You will then mix can A with can B from the kit to create your epoxy paint. I used a 4″ roller brush with 1/4″ nap. The paint has a heavy odor and sticks quickly. You will want to apply a generous coat over your project in sections so that you don’t have an area dry before you are ready to move on.
I had a few areas where the 4″ roller did not curve will to the surface. Thus, I used a foam brush to fine tune those areas. You may want to try a smaller roller to avoid this. However, it may take longer to cover the entire project.
Although the paint dries quickly, you MUST let it cure for 3 days before using the bathtub.
My tub was painted almost 2 years ago today and still sparkles! This project was so easy I might just paint the spare shower as well.
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