Does anyone out there have experience painting or having a porcelain bath tub painted. What I want to know is how did it hold up over time.
I’ve seen painted tub that were peeling but I had no way of knowing if the person who did the job prepared the surface correctly or used the right kind of paint.
I’m planing on using Homax Tough Tile tub & tile one part epoxy paint.
Replies
Be careful with epoxy paint. It's fumes are bad news. I'd wear a painter's respirator and I'd ventilate the bathroom with a fan. Better yet, I'd hire a painter to do the job.
We hire companies that specialize in tub refinishing. They sand out the porcelain apply the epoxy, and then buff it all out. It works pretty well and holds up okay. We haven't had any callbacks after 10-12 tubs but the owner must be cautious when cleaning the tub. The epoxy is really nasty stuff, I vacate the job when this guy starts painting and won't come back until the oder is mostly gone (a day or two).I would never apply the stuff in an occupied residence. As for the guys who apply this stuff, they seem kinda out there mentally. They remind me of those guys who used to spray lacquer w/o masks, kinda goofy. BTW, you may feel some lower back pain after using these products, I've been told by a doctor that it is not muscular, but it is your kidneys trying to process the stuff out of your system. Remember too that breathing is only one was to ingest these substances, your skin and even your eyes absorb the stuff. I've known two lacquer guys who've died of pancreatic cancer. Coincidence?
Thanks for the onfo. The stuff I have is designed for consumers and is applied with a brush so while I don't think it will look as nice as a spray job it will look a lot better than what's there. I'm just hoping it doesn't end up peeling off.
Tha apartment I'm working on is vacant but the building is occupied. Not much I can do about that.
I'll be wearing a mask and gloves. The gloves are not so much to keep the paint off me (I can paint an entire room without getting a drop on myself) as keeping the oils from my hands off the tub.
You can etch the old finish with a strong solution of muriatic acid. That will allow the epoxy to get a good bite. Also, when you're brushing it, you want to spread it as thin as you can, lest it will run and sag on the vertical surfaces. And shake/pull the brush out real well to get rid of any loose bristles.
If you have deep crevices from water leaking, you can use Bondo to fill them. At least, that's what I've seen done. Can't say how long it lasts because I was just on the jobs doing other work.
My rationing about re-coating tubs is that it's a temporary fix so you don't have to replace it right away. By following the instructions and not letting it get wet for 2 weeks after the stuff is applied, you should get several years out of it. But it's not a permanent fix by any means. --------------------------------------------------------
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