Refinish Your Tub & Brighten Up Your Bathroom

I have been looking at my yucky tub for a while now, and have finally decided that's it! I have got to do something. some of the finish has been permanently worn off and so some permanent stains developed there.  I 'm working with a tight budget so I did some DIY research on how to proceed with this project. After some searching I found a few great ideas I have come up with that are worth sharing.

1. Purchase a tub refinishing kit; you’ll find them at hardware stores and home improvement centers from about $30 - $80.00. The Rust-Oleom Tub & Tile refinishing kit has good reviews and is only $30.00

2. There is a bit of extensive tub preparation before applying the the tub enamel. First you will need to remove the drain, and trip lever. You will need pliers, a screwdriver and a bit of muscle.

3. Then clean the tub using an abrasive pad and a cleaning product that contains a bleaching agent. Clean twice, thoroughly rinsing after each cleaning. You can use a razor for some scraping if needed. wipe up the razor scrapings and rinse.

* Tip: If there are some rather big nicks you can fill them with automotive body filler. Let it dry then sand to shape.

4. Next sand using 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Rinse, dry with towels, then let dry completely for several more hours. Now your ready to refinish the tub.

5. First however you will want to mask off the area of the tub such as the tile and floor next to the tub that will not be refinished. Use blue masking tape and newspaper for this.

6. Finally apply the tub and tile enamel with a sponge brush and roller.  Cut in using the brush, then place it in a plastic bag to keep it from getting dry as you may need this for a 2nd coat. Then use the roller to apply the enamel to the rest of the tub. Once finished throw the roller away. Apply the enamel rather quickly watching for drips. Do not let the roller dry out, as it is not reusable. Once finished applying the enamel allow the tub to cure for 3 days, make sure to wait at least 48 hrs before removing the tape and paper. FYI, this stuff is pretty toxic, so you’ll need to wear a mask and open up the windows.

Although this project takes some effort and time it is a great money saving DIY project that can change the look of your bathroom from dingy to bright and shiny.