Beginner’s Guide to Bathtub Refinishing: 11 Simple Steps
Refresh Your Bathtub Without Hiring a Pro
Bathtub refinishing gives your bathtub a facelift by painting a tough epoxy coating over the existing enamel, acrylic, or fiberglass tub surface. It's not expensive compared to other options like replacing the tub, and it's easy to do with a do-it-yourself kit instead of hiring a professional.
DIY bathtub refinishing kits include epoxy resin with hardener, etching powder, latex gloves, steel wool, brush, cleaning solution, cleaner or thinner, and safety goggles. The epoxy coating comes in white or a few other basic colors.
Read on to learn how to refinish a bathtub on your own and when it's best to call a professional to do it for you.
Cost of Bathtub Refinishing
Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing costs $100 to $200 if you use a kit. To hire a professional to refinish the bathtub costs about $500, with a price range of $330 to $630.
Refinishing a bathtub is significantly cheaper than replacing a tub. Bathtub replacement costs about $6,000, though costs can range as low as $1,565 or as high as $10,420.
When to Refinish a Bathtub
Indicators that you should keep your tub and refinish it include:
- Deep stains
- Rust
- Cracks
- Outdated style
- Peeling refinish coating
- Antique or valuable
- Too cumbersome to move
Bathtub Reglazing vs. Refinishing
The terms bathtub reglazing and bathtub refinishing essentially mean the same thing: to refurbish the surface of a bathtub with a coating.
Technically, though, bathtub reglazing is a subset of the larger bathtub refinishing process. Bathtub reglazing refers to the application of the coating itself. Bathtub refinishing refers to the entire process, including repairing small cracks and holes, applying filler, sanding, glazing, and then buffing the bathtub.
Safety Considerations
Bathtub refinishing kits emit toxic fumes. Run the bathroom exhaust fan. Place a box fan in an open window to remove gasses.
Wear manufacturer-recommended breathing protection such as a respirator when sanding or applying the refinishing product.
Need more help? Talk to a bathtub expert
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Screwdriver
- Putty knife
- Abrasive pad
- Rubber gloves
- Breathing protection
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Paint roller with roller cover
- Sponge paintbrush
- Roller tray
- Caulk gun
Materials
- Bathtub refinishing kit
- Chemical caulk remover
- Bleach
- Abrasive cleanser
- Dropcloth
- Painter's tape
- #400 to #600 wet/dry sandpaper
- Paper towels
- Tack cloth
- Tub-and-tile caulk
Instructions
How to Refinish a Tub
The key to a durable, long-lasting DIY tub refinishing is thorough cleaning and preparation. Protect the surrounding area, including the tile, flooring, and other elements, by masking off and using a dropcloth before, during, and as the resin coating dries.
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Remove Hardware
Remove escutcheons and cover plates from plumbing fixtures. Bathtub spouts can be temporarily unscrewed and removed during refinishing. Using a putty knife, clean dirt or caulk residue from bathtub openings.
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Clean the Bathtub
Clean the tub thoroughly and remove all caulking from the joints around the tub. If necessary, use a chemical caulk remover to remove all traces of caulk from the surfaces.
Use bleach to clean mildew stains, then scrub the entire tub thoroughly with an abrasive cleanser or with LimeAway applied with an abrasive pad. Rinse with clear water.
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Mask Off Areas Around the Tub
Use dropcloths and painter's tape to mask off floors and walls around the tub. The epoxy coating will be hard to remove, so guard against drips and spills.
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Ventilate the Space
To improve ventilation in the space, open windows, turn on the exhaust fan, or set up portable fans. Wear breathing protection, as recommended by the manufacturer.
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Repair Chips and Dings
Use the epoxy putty included with the kit to fill chips and dings on the tub surface. Let the patches fully dry before sanding.
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Sand or Etch the Tub Surfaces
Dull the tub's surface with etching powder or sandpaper (depending on the kit's materials) to help the new coating stick better.
- Etching powder: Apply etching power with water and scrub with an abrasive pad.
- Sandpaper: Sand with #400 or #600 with wet/dry sandpaper while the tub is still wet.
Rinse the tub thoroughly with clean water, then wipe lightly with a tack cloth to remove dust or paper residue.
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Prime the Surfaces
Use a roller and foam brush to apply the primer, and let it dry as directed.
Some refinishers are self-priming and do not require a separate prime coat. Do not prime bathtub surfaces with ordinary commercial paint primer. Use only the primer included in the kit.
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Mix the Epoxy Coating
Blend the hardener or catalyst into the epoxy resin. Work quickly, as epoxy coatings rapidly harden once mixed. The product label usually tells you how much working or open time you have. Be prepared to coat the entire tub in one working session.
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Apply the Coating
Apply the coating to the sides of the tub with a roller. Alternate between vertical and horizontal strokes to prevent drips and roller ridges. Move to the tub deck (horizontal surfaces), then roll the bottom. Finish the edges with a sponge brush.
Apply a second coat. Some products require immediate recoating, while others suggest one or two hours of drying before applying the second coating.
Let the coating dry a full two days of cure time. Keep the area well-ventilated for at least the first day of curing.
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Caulk and Reinstall Hardware
Seal the tub's joints with fresh silicone caulk and let it cure overnight. Reinstall the faucet hardware. Your refinished bathtub is now ready to use.
When to Call a Professional
Hire a professional tub refinisher for a mirror-smooth, durable finish that lasts more than just a few years. Do-it-yourself tub refinishing generally doesn't last as long as professional refinishing.
Pros typically etch the surface with an acidic solution rather than an abrasive powder, and a primer coat is almost always applied before the refinisher applies several coats of epoxy coating.
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Is it worth it to refinish a bathtub?
If you plan on replacing your bathtub within five years, it's probably worth it to refinish your bathtub. The best long-term solution, though, is to replace the bathtub.
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How long will a reglazed tub last?
The lifespan of a reglazed bathtub is typically five to 10 years or possibly longer, depending on use, care, and maintenance.