DIY cast iron bath repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of cast-iron bathtubs from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

A cast-iron bathtub is a thing of long-term use. But over time, even the highest quality coating loses its visual appeal. Changing a cast iron bath is troublesome, so the question arises, how to repair a cast iron bath?

Of course, repairing a bathtub is quite laborious and requires patience. However, many people prefer to carry out a restoration rather than change the bathtub to a new model. There are three main ways to restore the appearance of your bathtub. Consider each of them.

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Preparing a cast iron bath for repair

To complete the work you will need:

  • Drill with attachment for removing old coating.
  • Oxalic acid.
  • Composition for surface degreasing.
  • Enamel.
  • Brush for applying enamel.

The work is performed in the following sequence.

  • The surface of the bath is cleaned from the layer of the old enamel. The easiest way to do this is with a drill with an appropriate attachment.
  • If there is scale on the surface, remove it with oxalic acid.
  • The surface is thoroughly cleaned from dust and degreased.

To make it easier to collect dust, cover all surfaces in the bathroom with old newspapers or sheets.

  • Hot water should be taken into the prepared bath and kept for ten minutes. Then drain the water and wipe the surface thoroughly and let it dry well.
  • Prepare the enamel by mixing the main component with a hardener.
  • Apply the first layer of enamel to a dry bath surface. Let it dry for 20-30 minutes.
  • Apply the second and third layers, remembering to allow time to dry.
  • The last fourth layer is fortifying. After its application, the repair can be considered complete.
Video (click to play).

It will be possible to use the bathroom after applying the enamel no earlier than three days later.

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Sanding the bath and applying new enamel

  • It allows you to change the color of the bath at your discretion, selecting the desired bath enamel shade.
  • The work can be successfully completed independently, even with modest experience in construction.

The disadvantages of this restoration method are much greater:

  • The method is laborious, a lot of dust is formed in the process of cleaning the enamel.
  • The resulting coating cannot be compared in strength to enameling in the factory. The restored bathroom will need to be handled with extreme care, but in this case, the new coating will last no more than 20 months.

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Bath repair using acrylic liner

To complete this work you will need:

  • Sanitary acrylic insert to fit the size of the bathtub.
  • Two-component assembly foam or special mastic.
  • Silicone sealant.

This recovery method is one of the simplest and most effective. To implement it, you should purchase an acrylic bath insert.

A good result can be achieved only if the acrylic liner is of high quality. Therefore, when buying, you should definitely require the presentation of a certificate.

Repair procedure:

  • First, prepare the insert by making drain and overflow holes in it.
  • The space near the holes made are lubricated with a sealant.
  • The liner is secured in place with two-component foam or special mastic.
  • The foam should be applied evenly over the entire surface of the liner, otherwise voids will appear in which the acrylic will bend.
    The consequence of such a flaw will be the imminent appearance of cracks.

The advantages of this method:

  • Bathtub restoration can be carried out easily and quickly enough.
  • Provided that a high quality liner has been used, the bathtub will be able to serve for a long time.
  • The surface of the acrylic liner is smooth and shiny, it is resistant to wear and does not fade during use.

The disadvantages include the need to carry out work before finishing the walls in the room. Otherwise, you will have to beat off the tiles located around the perimeter of the bath.

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Bathroom renovation using liquid acrylic

To carry out the restoration in this way, you will need a special composition - liquid acrylic, which is sold under the brand name "Stakril". In fact, this method is similar to enameling a bath, but the material consumption is an order of magnitude higher, which means that the layer of the new coating will be thicker. Due to the use of a modern hardener, the material spreads evenly over the surface, so there is no need to distribute it manually.

When using this method, as with applying enamel, careful surface preparation will be required. It will be necessary to thoroughly clean the bath from the old coating, degrease, wash and dry it.

Acrylic coating, unlike enamel, is not applied with a brush, but is poured over the surface (hence the name of the method). Pouring begins from the upper sides, then the walls in the lower part are processed and, last of all, the bottom.

When performing this work, it is required to disconnect the bathroom drain and place a container under the drain hole into which excess material will drain. This ensures that the acrylic is applied evenly.

The coating layer will be about 6 mm. It will be possible to use the bathroom 3-4 days after the completion of the work, since the new coating should have time to dry well.

The disadvantages of this method are its laboriousness, but the coating is of higher quality and more durable than when using enamel. This coating is more resistant to mechanical damage, and a wide range of colors of the Stakril material allows you to choose the shade of the bath to your taste.