Painting a bathtub is often thought to be super difficult or something that can only be done by professional painters. The idea that painting a bathtub is too difficult for the average homeowner is ludicrous. You can do this job if you prepare properly, take your time, and use the right paints and tools.
To make sure that our readers would understand everything involved in painting their bathtubs we enlisted the help of several home renovation specialists. We quizzed them on how to paint the bathtub, how to paint trim near the carpet, and expert tricks that can help the amateur get professional results.
Guides to Paint Your Bathtub Easily
Start at the Beginning
Before you paint the bathtub take the time to paint the bathroom walls, ceiling, trim, door, and cabinetry. You want to eliminate the chances that any paint from any other project will come into contact with your newly painted bathtub.
Pre-packaged Kits
One way to make sure that your tub turns out with an excellent finish is for you to purchase a pre-packaged tub and tile kit. These kits include the epoxies you will need to do this kind of painting and get professional results.
Preparation is the Secret Key to Success
The professionals we talked to all had one word of advice, prepare the tub flawlessly. If you make sure the surface is properly prepared to accept the paint then you will get finished results that look better.
Sanding the tub surface is a MUST. You have to sand the tub enough to create a rough texture that the epoxy can adhere to. Before sanding the texture of the tub is slick and when you try to paint it the new paint will not stick to the old surface.
You cannot get proper adhesion with plenty of sanding work being done. You can use a small handheld sander or you can do the sanding using the old-fashioned block of wood with sandpaper attached. Just make sure that your surface feels rough to the touch.
Cleaning away the dust produced by sanding will be necessary. You have to remove every speck of dust in order for the paint to go on smoothly and look professional. If the dust is still present the paint will clump and look unsightly.
Prepare Your Family
You need to establish another location for the family to bathe for at least one full week. Your family will not be able to use the tub for bathing while you are painting or while you are waiting for the paint and clear coats to harden to a complete finish.
Prepare The Room
If you are painting your tub in place then you have to prepare the room. This work takes a lot of ventilation because of the substances you will be using. Ventilate, open windows, bring in fans to suck the old air from the room and open any exhaust fans the room may have.
Prepare the Faucets and Hardware
You need to remove the faucets, showerheads, and drain covers prior to painting. The paint will damage the aesthetics of these pieces of the tub. You cannot tape over them and get perfect results so the best thing to do is to totally remove these pieces and protect them completely.
Respirators are not optional
You have to wear a respirator while you are working with epoxy. Let me say that again. Your life depends on you wearing a respirator while you are applying the epoxy. This is true if you are applying the epoxy in the bathroom and it is true if you move the tub out to the garage to work. Respirators are required.
Get the Right Tools
Normally you can apply paint using brushes, rags, rollers, spray guns, and more. When you are painting a tub your application method needs to be a spray gun. The spray gun is the only paint application that can apply the paint in a smooth finish with no lines and no markings.
The spray paint gun is the only applicator that can get the paint into every nook and cranny. The spray gun can be used to apply thin layers of paint that will have no visible marks or lines in it.
Things to Avoid When Painting Your Tub
When painting your tub there are some things you simply should not do. They have been tried before and they just do not work.
- Do not use spray paint from a can. This kind of paint is not right for this project and you will not get a smooth and flawless finish.
- NEVER try to use water-based paint on your tub. Water-based paints are soluble in water and a tub is filled with water in order for you to bathe. Water-based paint will disintegrate very quickly and leave you with a tub that is less than aesthetically pleasing.
- Never rush the curing process. It is very tempting to skip some of the wait time and climb into a tub filled with hot water. The curing time is established so the paint has time to harden to the point that it cannot be easily washed away. If you rush this time and fill the tub with water then all of your hard work and preparations will literally go down the drain.
Final Thoughts
Painting your tub is not a quick fix. It is a way to save a lot of money on bathroom remodeling, but it is a time-consuming process that requires patience in order to do it right.
