DIY Bathtub Refinishing?

Has anyone here tried one of the kits to clean up and add a new epoxy type finish to a old enameled metal bathtub?

Ours is so bad. Much of it is pitted, and dirt seems to have been ground into it. It's as old as the house (1938), and built into a pretty serious mortar bed. Replacement is not an option I'm considering at this time.

Since most folks here end up fixing more than just cars, I'm curious to hear if any of these products are worth a damn.

Of little help here... I did one about 18 or 20 years ago. Looked good at first. Started peeling within 1 or 2 years. Have you looked at those tub inserts that are sold that cover your existing tub? (never tried one, might be an option...)

SWMBO's step father did it to their tub and it looked good for a bit but then the finish started to give way after about 6 months and began to come apart.

Line-X would be nonslip.

What about that epoxy for garage floors?

The kits for tubs last less than a year. I did mine 100% to the instructions (takes almost a week) and it still started to chip and peel in 6 months. Just scraped it all off last weekend.

An old girlfriend had her tub refinished by a professional outfit, and it held up quite well. I think the tough part is preparation - you need to get 70 years' worth of soap film removed from the surface and that takes some nasty chemicals to do so.

I use the Home Depot spray kits on the apartment tubs. They look great when you do them but 6 mos. to a year they do yellow and chip. But it only takes about $25 to refinish it again.

I redid mine a few months ago with the two-can epoxy. Looks fantastic. I don't know how long it will last, but for now its great. If you go that route, expect MASSIVE overspray. Mask everything. Fortunately I did mine during a remodel so the stuff that got overspray was replaced, but don't wimp out on the tape and plastic sheeting.

I'm in a similar situation. My house was built in 37 and the tubs are all cast iron and they were put in during framing. The only way to get them out is to sledge them into pieces.

Those bathfitter guys charge as much if not more than what you would pay a plumber to replace it. Replace it yourself and you can get it done for well under $1000. Tub with walls-500, new valve-100, waste and overflow-50, misc piping-100, drywall and floor repairs?

"Pros" did our old apartment. In a year it was chipping leaving sharp edges.

Same boat here. House built in 41. Looking to sell this spring. Maybe I'll do the DIY so it looks good for selling.

I just had a footed tub refinished professionally. Cost me $250. Looks gorgeous- like new.

I wouldn't dream of trying to do it myself.

i used to work with a guy whose business was refinishing stuff like tubs and tiles. they did several tubs for me, and the product was durable and the ones i've been back to still look good 5 years later. i did chip one that was a couple days old by dropping my channel locks on it, but they came out and repaired it and i couldn't find where the damage was.

my vote is have a pro do it.

I'm in this same boat- house built in 1942, and I want to refinish my tub, as it is a a color of pink usually associated with beef entrails.

The kit says to wash with TSP at least three times to remove all of the scum and not to use any sandpaper or else the finish won't be smooth.

What? The finish isn't smooth now. In my case, I had already hit the tub with sandpaper before I got the kit and it is smoother after sanding than it was before. Just to be safe, I'm going to wash with TSP three times and then wipe with acetone to clear up any chemicals, let sit for 24 hours and then try this epoxy.

I figure if this doesn't work, marine epoxy will.

My vote would be for professionsal. I did the shower floor and walls in my old house. It was chipping and pealing within 6 months. I was a little light headed by the end of the project in the shower.

Chris

I have never seen a DIYer version that did not look like a really bad paint job. Within months they usually look like a really bad paint job that's peeling off. Orange peel, too thick, clumpy, dull finish, sloppy edges, just plain terrible.

I have never seen a pro job look bad.

At least get a quote from a pro before you make your decision.