How to update the enamel of a cast-iron bath with your own hands. Bath restoration: which method is better, people's reviews and expert opinion

Sooner or later, the enamel of any bath becomes thinner, indelible rusty stains appear on it, and its owner states with chagrin that it is time to change the equipment. This difficult procedure is very laborious, so many are trying to figure out how to update an old cast-iron bathtub and whether it is even possible. Despite the fact that the appearance of such a device leaves much to be desired, the design fully retains all its performance characteristics. Therefore, the restoration should consist only in the application of a new enamel coating. Modern technology makes it possible.

Should old equipment be restored?

The most obvious solution is to replace the plumbing fixtures. Let's try to figure out how much such an event will cost. To the cost of the simplest bath, we add the cost of transporting it, lifting the device to the floor, if necessary. In addition, a certain amount will be required to pay for the dismantling of old equipment and the installation of new ones. At the lowest prices, all this will require about 12,000 rubles. This is only in the case when the wall and floor covering will not be damaged during installation work. Otherwise, you will also have to pay for a partial bathroom renovation.

Dismantling the old and installing a new bath is a troublesome and costly undertaking. If the enamel of the equipment has become thinner or washed off, and the device itself is still in good condition, it is worth considering restoration

Thus, for a fairly large amount, we get a modest result, since the cost of the cheapest bathtub was included in the calculation. If you want a more convenient or high-quality design, you will have to increase the estimated expense item. Not everyone can afford such costs, so they want to restore their cast-iron bath. This is a cheaper and more efficient solution.

However, it is very important to correctly choose the method of restoration. There are only three of them:

acrylic bathtub;
applying a new layer of enamel to the surface of the device;
installation of an acrylic liner.

Let's consider each method in more detail.

What types of restoration are there?

Option #1 - acrylic coating

Restoring a cast-iron bath by pouring acrylic is considered one of the easiest. This is a fairly new method that has managed to gain popularity among consumers. It consists in applying a liquid acrylic solution by pouring onto the surface of the equipment. Its advantages include:

Durability. The coating obtained in this way, provided that it is correctly applied, retains its properties for about 8-15 years. This is due to the fact that acrylic is applied in a fairly thick layer of about 6 mm.
Smooth glossy finish. The composition is quite thick. It spreads well over the surface of the device, filling possible irregularities, forming an almost perfectly even and smooth plane.
Relative simplicity and high speed of applying liquid acrylic.
The absence of an unpleasant odor, which allows you to work even in homes where allergy sufferers, children and the elderly live.

There are also disadvantages of the method. Among them is the drying time of the composition. This usually takes about three days, during which it is not recommended to even approach the device. Since debris, dust particles or water accidentally falling on a drying surface can ruin it.

Despite the apparent simplicity of applying acrylic by pouring, this is a rather complicated method of restoration. Requires certain skills to work with the composition

Another negative point is the relatively high cost. It is higher than that of enamel. However, such a price is fully justified by a longer service life and good quality of the coating.

Option # 2 - self-enamelling

The oldest way of restoration. It remotely resembles painting, but you need to clearly understand that special enamel is applied in this case. It is she who needs to be chosen, wondering how to paint a cast-iron bath. There are two types of such compositions: for professional application and for independent. The first ones are very liquid and require laying in several layers. This is a rather complicated procedure. The second ones are thicker and, accordingly, easier to apply.

Properly selected composition with the help of a roller, and more often a brush, is placed on the prepared surface of the equipment. Advantages of this method:

The cheapest restoration option.
There is no need for dismantling and subsequent installation of the drain and overflow.
Suitable for both cast iron and steel bathtubs.

Enameling has many more disadvantages:

The service life of the new enamel is about 5 years.
The composition applied to the surface of the equipment dries for quite a long time - about 5-7 days.
The coating is hard, respectively, very sensitive to shock. Over time, chips may appear.
The enamel is applied in a fairly thin layer, so it is not able to cover various surface irregularities such as dents, chips, etc.
Over time, the epoxy coating will definitely turn yellow.

You need to understand that the enamel obtained as a result of restoration is seriously different from the one that was originally applied to the equipment.

Cold enameling is the cheapest and easiest way to restore. It resembles painting the surface with a special compound.

In order for the enamel to last as long as possible, simple rules should be followed. For example, to clean an updated cast-iron bathtub, you will need not an abrasive powder, but a mild soapy solution. Otherwise, the enamel will be damaged. The appliance must be protected from impacts, especially with sharp objects, and do not pour too hot water into it. When filling the container, you should first open the tap with cold water and only then with hot water.

Option #3 - Bath to Bath Method

This is the name of the restoration method, which consists in installing an acrylic liner inside the old structure, completely repeating its contours. The insert is mounted on a special adhesive foam. With competently carried out work, the service life of the bath after restoration is about 15 years. The main advantages of the method:

Durability of the new coating. Acrylic is much stronger than enamel.
A flat surface that hides all the defects of the old design.
The surface will not yellow over time.
A successful combination of the advantages of acrylic and cast iron baths.

The disadvantages of the method can be considered the need to dismantle the drain siphon and the prohibition on installing the insert in thin structures, which are called "light cast iron" or "thin cast iron". This is due to the fact that the equipment can sag and the adhesive layer that secures the liner will be broken. The “bath to bath” method is very demanding on the quality of materials. Using an insert of poor quality or inappropriate glue will not succeed in restoring the bath.

Installing an acrylic liner is a simple and effective restoration method. Particular attention should be paid to the size of the insert. It should fit perfectly in the bath.

All three methods require preparing the equipment for the upgrade. This stage usually includes cleaning the cast iron bath of dirt and grease. Degreasing is done with oxalic acid or baking soda. All defects are carefully cleaned, so that the surface is even. Then grinding is carried out. The result should be a rough surface. When applied to it with the desired composition, adhesion with it will be maximum.

To restore or not - objective conclusions

The decision to restore or replace an old bath, of course, will be made by its owner. However, you need to know that if you correctly carry out restoration work and use only high-quality materials, the updated bathtub will last a long time. It may be worth entrusting this task to experienced professionals with a good reputation. Then for relatively little money you can get an excellent result.

Like any coating, enamel becomes thinner over time, rust spots, stains, and chips appear on it. When the most effective abrasive chemical cleaners fail to fix the problem, most owners decide to change equipment.

But having assessed the laboriousness of installation work with material costs, they begin to look for alternative options related to updating the old cast-iron bath. Despite the aesthetically unsightly appearance, a design that is quite suitable for performing the main function in accordance with all operational characteristics will last another half a century. It's all about the enamel. This means that a new one is required, and thanks to new technologies, this manipulation is carried out as soon as possible.

Restoration or replacement of a cast-iron bath?

A radical method is the replacement of a sanitary container. First of all, you need to calculate how much this procedure will cost. We sum up the cost of an ordinary classic bathtub with the cost of its delivery, including transportation and loading, taking into account the desired floor. Dismantling of old equipment and installation of new equipment are carried out in accordance with the price list of the company. According to the most conservative estimates, you will need at least 13,000 rubles. This does not take into account damage to the wall and floor covering, which is inevitable in any type of installation work. Partial replacement of cracked fragments and cosmetic repairs will be required. The conclusion is that getting rid of the old and installing a new bathroom is quite troublesome and costly.

Isn't it better to think about restoration, with the good functionality of an old bathtub with a thinned or washed off white surface? Moreover, a large amount does not guarantee an excellent result, since the purchase of the least budget capacity was originally implied. When choosing a higher quality convenient or design project, the costs can increase significantly. If this method does not suit the owners, they think about affordable and effective restoration options. It is important to approach this issue competently, choosing the best solution.

Restoring the old surface layer by "pouring" acrylic is the most popular way. Know-how technology was appreciated by most consumers due to its simplicity and low cost. With this method, a liquid synthetic mass is poured onto the inner lining of the bathroom.

Advantages of bulk acrylic:

long wear resistance. With proper application, the service life is calculated for a period of 8-15 years;
Due to the density and plasticity of synthetics, an even, smooth surface structure is formed;
The fluid mass smooths out all sorts of defects and scratches;
Acrylic is applied at high speed, a simple application technology allows you to bring the volumetric surface layer up to 6 mm;
The filling is characterized by the absence of a specific smell, so allergy sufferers, children and the elderly will not need other housing for the duration of the repair.

Significant disadvantages of bulk acrylic are:

long drying of the composition - 3 days;
Coating sensitivity. It is unacceptable for dust, dust to get on the drying plane, otherwise it will deteriorate;
The external apparent simplicity of the technological operation is extremely deceptive. In fact, pouring acrylic requires certain skills in working with a liquid mass;
Relatively high material costs compared to enameling. But the cost pays off taking into account the increased service life and high quality.

Often, the oldest method of restoration is painting, when a special enamel is applied to a worn coating. The owner should think about how to refresh old equipment? There are two types of enamels: for professional use and for domestic purposes. The structure of the first is the thinnest, you will need to apply at least 3-5 layers. This is a labor intensive procedure. The latter are characterized by a thicker structure and, accordingly, a two-layer styling is easier to apply. The liquid coating is applied with a roller or brush, trying to distribute evenly over the cleaned canvas.

Advantages of the enameling method:

is the most economical restoration option;
there is no need to dismantle the drain and the overflow will not require reconstruction;
this method is intended not only for cast iron products, but also for steel containers.

Enameling has the following disadvantages:

short service life, less than 5 years;
drying time is about a week;
at the exit, the coating is non-glossy, uneven, sensitive to deformations;
a thin layer of enamel is not able to mask dents, chips, which may show through over time;
the appearance of a yellow tint during operation, since the original factory epoxy coating is radically different in composition;

Cold enameling is considered the cheapest and easiest way to restore. It can be compared to painting a canvas with a special composition. To prolong the life of the enamel, you need to listen to the following recommendations:

to wash the updated cast-iron coating, it is not necessary to use abrasive cleaners that violate the integrity of the coating, but a solution of washing powder or soap;
a new container must be protected from shock, sharp objects can scratch the acrylic sheet;
enamel does not tolerate boiling water, it can crack. When filling the bath, before opening the tap with hot water, they first let cold water in, and not vice versa.

Acrylic liner

For option 3, additional equipment is required - an acrylic liner, which is mounted using the "bath to bath" method. Such a two-layer construction will last about 15 years. At the same time, a new acrylic liner is installed inside the old structure, which ideally repeats its outlines. The stability of the additional element is carried out by means of technical adhesive foam.

This method has the following advantages:

acrylic is a more durable material than enamel;
due to perfect alignment, all defects and deformations of the cast-iron sheet are smoothed out;
inert material does not turn yellow until the end of the service;
the two-layer design successfully combines all the advantages of acrylic and cast iron.

Disadvantages of acrylic liner:

it will be necessary to dismantle the drain siphon;
it is forbidden to apply the acrylic structure to areas of lightweight or thin cast iron, otherwise the bath will bend and the adhesive layer will move away from the fixing insert;
with the "bath to bath" method, the materials must comply with the standards. Low-quality inserts or a composition not intended for gluing metal will nullify all efforts;
careful measurement of the insert is required, down to the millimeter. The slightest discrepancies with the parameters of the main structure are unacceptable.

All 3 methods of restoration are simple and effective, they provide for preliminary degreasing and removal of dirt and limescale. Grease marks can be removed using oxalic acid or baking soda. Then proceed to a thorough cleaning, eliminating plaque and deformed fragments until a flat plane is obtained. The next stage is grinding, the purpose of which is to obtain a rough surface with the bark. Irregularities of the web in contact with the adhesive will provide the maximum degree of adhesion.

To restore or not - objective conclusions

After weighing all the pros and cons, the owner must decide whether to dismantle or restore much-needed plumbing equipment. But with competent and qualified restoration work using high quality materials, the updated bath will look like new. If possible, you should trust experienced craftsmen who have proven themselves on the good side. Then an excellent result for relatively little money is provided.

Cast iron bath restoration video

Cast iron bathtubs seem to many to be "eternal". In a sense, this is indeed true. These products are durable, not subject to corrosion and can be used for decades. The “weak link” is only the enamel, which, even with proper care, becomes thinner over time.

Zealous owners, who understand that only the appearance has deteriorated, are looking for ways to update an old cast-iron bath. Let's consider a few of them.

We usually send our used product to the landfill without regret. However, a cast-iron bath, which has lost its attractive appearance, may well be used further. But replacing it may seem irrational.

The heavy weight of the equipment makes it very difficult to dismantle and remove it from the apartment, especially if it is located above the first floor. In addition, if tiles were laid or made around the bath, all this will have to be disassembled.

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Cold enamel bath

Another way to restore a cast iron bath is cold enamelling. This is a fairly simple process, which consists in applying a special composition to the bowl, which, after hardening, turns into an enamel coating.

The main advantage of the method is its low cost compared to other methods of restoration. In addition, you can cover the bowl with such enamel an unlimited number of times.

The disadvantages include prolonged drying of the composition. For complete drying, it will take about 4 days. In addition, cold-applied enamel is less durable than factory-coated bowls.

Its service life is a maximum of five years, after which the restoration procedure will have to be repeated. Compared to acrylic, this enamel retains heat worse, so the water in the bath will cool faster.

You can add tinting paste to the composition for coating the bath, so the enamel will acquire the desired shade

How to choose the right enamel?

The properties and durability of the future enameled coating directly depend on the quality of the composition.

Enamel application method. On sale you can find solutions designed for application with a roller, brush or spray. The latter option is especially good because it involves uniform application.
Hardener shade. The composition for cold enameling is a two, less often a three-component agent. One of the components is a hardener. If it is dark yellow, brown or dark red, an undesirable shade may appear on the finished coating.
Enamel tone. If desired, the enamel composition can be painted in any color. For this, special tinting pastes are designed, which can be sold complete with enamel or separately. Masters advise choosing the shade of the coating directly in the room where the equipment is installed.
Restoration set. The fuller it is, the better. Together with enamel, tinting pastes and special products for preparing the bath for restoration can be sold.

Practice shows that fairly thick two-component formulations, such as Epoxin 51C and Epoxin 51, are best suited for application with a roller or brush. They fill small base defects quite well.

The Finnish composition Reaflex 50 or Rust-Oleum Specialty is well suited for working with a spray gun. The Whitest NEWTON spray proved to be quite good. Read a detailed review of bath reductants.

Before painting a cast-iron bathtub, it is necessary to remove the top glossy layer of enamel coating. You can do this with a grinder.

Preparing the bowl for enameling

You should start by removing the top glossy layer of enamel. To do this, the surface will have to be carefully treated with an abrasive to remove about 30-50 microns of gloss. For work, you can take sandpaper, abrasive powders or a grinder with a grinding wheel. Especially quickly you can get the result using a petal wheel in combination with an abrasive paste. The latter can be prepared independently.

To do this, you need to take grated laundry soap and mix it with abrasive powder for sandblasting in a ratio of 1: 3. Knowing how to restore cast-iron baths, the masters recommend taking frayed nickel slags, the fraction is not higher than 0.16-0.18 mm.

The components are well mixed and filled with water. The paste is aged for about a day. The result is a viscous mass that resembles a fairly hard plasticine.

They process the entire bowl with it and immediately pass the petal circle. This is done one or two more times until the base becomes rough and matte. Important note: the enamel should not be completely removed. If the surface becomes noticeably darker, processing stops.

After that, the bowl should be thoroughly washed, the overflow and siphon dismantled, the untreated areas cleaned and the siphon temporarily put in place.

Abrasive paste for working with a grinder can be prepared independently

The next step is to degrease the surface, but it is better to carry out chemical etching. It makes the structure of the coating porous, eliminates deep deposits of limestone and rust spots. As a result, the new coating lays down much better and its service life is significantly extended.

If there are stubborn rust stains on the surface, you should start by removing them. They are lubricated with special rust solvents, such as Tsinkar or FAS.

Upon completion of the reaction, the stain will spread and turn pale. At this point, it must be washed off with water. It is important to do this before the mortar dries, otherwise the rust will remain in the pores of the coating. Etching is carried out in three steps.

First, a 3.5% hydrochloric acid solution is applied to the surface. This operation is performed several times with an interval of 6-7 minutes. After that, the composition is thoroughly washed off and bleach is applied, diluted with water to a slurry.

The solution is left on the base for 20 minutes, after which it is washed off. When working with acid and lime, you should wear a respirator, their vapors are poisonous. The surface of the bowl is dried with a hairdryer. After that, degreasing should be carried out to remove all residues of reagents and organics. To do this, a lint-free cloth is impregnated with trichlorethylene, Kalosh gasoline or acetone. The bowl is carefully processed and then dried.

The bathtub can be painted with a spray gun. Masters say that this method gives the best result.

Apply enamel to the bath

Immediately before painting, wet cleaning should be carried out in the bathroom. This will get rid of dust that can settle on the surface of wet enamel. In this case, unpleasant rough dots will appear on the glossy layer, which is highly undesirable. After that, the door to the bathroom should be kept permanently closed or the opening should be covered with polyethylene.

After that, if necessary, the composition for work is prepared. All manufacturer's instructions must be strictly followed. The finished solution is applied to the surface of the bowl. The easiest way to do this is to work with a spray gun. The paint is sprayed from a distance of about 30 cm. Crossed short strokes are made. The solution should slightly moisten the surface.

You don't need to apply a lot of paint. The bowl is covered with several layers of the composition. This must be done evenly. The second layer is applied to the first in 15-20 minutes, all subsequent ones are applied at intervals of 30 minutes. After finishing work, the bowl should dry completely. To do this, the door to the bathroom is tightly closed and they enter it only after a day. Painting with a brush is done a little differently.

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Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The videos below discuss in detail the different ways to restore a cast-iron bath.

How to properly install an acrylic liner:

Have questions about the topic of the article? Or maybe you have ever restored a cast-iron bath yourself? Please tell our readers which method of restoration you have chosen, are you satisfied with the result? Leave your comments, upload photos, share your experience in the block below.

Over time, even a very high-quality bath coating becomes inappropriate. Unremovable stains, stains, rust, as well as chips, scratches and other damage appear on the surface. And every owner has the idea of replacing equipment. But this process is very complicated and expensive. In addition, often the old bathtubs were made of cast iron, which makes it very heavy, therefore, even the removal process will not be the easiest. Therefore, many are trying to restore old bathtubs.

Fortunately, even a very damaged enamel coating of the bath can be restored, because the bath retains its performance in its entirety. Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to restore the old enamel coating. But is it worth it?

Does it make sense to restore old bathtubs?

Before starting the restoration, calculate how much a new bath will cost

To understand whether it makes sense to repair your old bath, you need to estimate how much it will cost to replace old equipment and, accordingly, draw a conclusion about the feasibility. To do this, you will have to add to the cost of the bath the cost of dismantling old equipment and delivering new equipment, as well as going up and down from the floor, in the case of living in an apartment. In addition, installing a new bathtub also costs money, but often, in addition to installing equipment, it is necessary to repair the old wall and floor covering, partially or completely.

Based on the procedures described above, it turns out that the replacement of the bathtub will entail a partial or complete renovation of the bathroom. Therefore, the replacement of the bath makes sense during the renovation of the apartment. Otherwise, it will be much more profitable to reanimate the old bath.

Often, not everyone can afford the impressive replacement costs, so we will consider options for restoring an old bathtub. At the moment, there are only three recovery methods:

renewal of the enamel coating by manual application;
applying liquid acrylic (glass);
installation of the finished acrylic liner.

Before you repair an old bath, you should consider each process separately, because they have their own characteristics. But first you need to understand the cause of enamel wear.

What are the causes of enamel wear?

The cause of enamel wear is considered to be poor water and poor bathroom maintenance.

Over time, the enamel coating is affected by various factors that contribute to premature wear, but the main reasons are:

poor quality of tap water, the content of aggressive substances and untreated abrasive particles in it;
the use of abrasive and chlorine-containing substances and materials during the cleaning of the bath;
if chemical reagents are often used to clean water pipes, this also negatively affects the enamel.

All these conditions, of course, do not act immediately, but over time, the enamel coating becomes thinner, rust appears from under it, and the surface becomes rough and unpleasant to the touch.

From this it is easy to conclude how to delay (alas, inevitable) enamel wear as late as possible.

Restoration methods

When the moment when the bath cover became unusable nevertheless came, and the complete replacement of the font was deemed inappropriate, it's time to choose one of the restoration methods.

Enamel application

Applying enamel to the surface with a brush

Among all the methods of restoration, the application of enamel is the oldest and most used method. This method is very similar to painting, except for the material used, because special enamel is used during the restoration. Among the enamel paints for restoring baths, there are two types:

professional enamels for industrial application - they are very liquid and are most often applied by spraying in several layers;
simple enamels for manual application - are used for independent use and have a thicker structure, which allows it to be applied with a roller or brush in 1-2 layers.

Among the advantages of this method of restoring damaged coatings are:

low cost of application and material;
during repair, dismantling of equipment, drain and overflow hoses is not required;
It doesn’t matter which bath is cast iron or steel, the enamel is suitable for both types.

Enamel in cans is used for local restoration

Unfortunately, in this type of restoration there are more disadvantages than advantages, among them are:

the post-repair period of operation of the renewed coating does not exceed 5-8 years;
due to the increased fragility of the new coating, it does not withstand impacts that can lead to chipping;
the drying time of the updated coating of the old bath is 5-7 days;
over time, yellow spots appear on the coating or the entire surface becomes yellow;
since the enamel is not applied in thick layers, it is impossible to hide defects such as dents, chips, bumps, etc.

Repairing an old bath with your own hands using enamel paint is the cheapest and least quality, since the updated coating is much softer than the factory one. Therefore, surface care must be gentle.

Tip: Instead of using abrasive and chemical cleaners, as well as hard sponges, use a mild soap solution. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to hit the surface with any metal objects and fill the bath with very hot water. A set of water should start with cold and gradually add hot.

Restoration with liquid acrylic

Liquid acrylic has a long service life

Restoring an old bathtub with two-component acrylic is the newest and easiest method.

Reference: Stacryl is used as a restoring liquid, which is a two-component acrylic filler used directly for bathtubs. The composition of the liquid includes acrylic and a special hardener, during mixing of which the polymerization of the material occurs.

The application process is quite simple. Diluted stacryl is gradually poured onto the previously prepared surface in an even layer, which forms a reliable coating on the surface. This recovery method has the following advantages:

Coating durability. If the procedure for applying and operating conditions of a new coating is competent and thorough, then the service life can be 15-20 years;
Elimination of defects. Due to the application of a new coating with a sufficiently thick layer, which is 4-6 mm, the main part of surface defects is eliminated. For example, chips, dents, pores, etc.;
Perfectly smooth glossy finish. Since stacryl is inherently a rather thick material, it fills and eliminates various defects when spreading, an almost perfect glossy coating is formed on the surface;
The speed of the operation. Liquid acrylic is very easily and quickly applied to the surface due to the extreme simplicity of the technology;
Absolute security. Stakryl does not have sharp unpleasant odors, which allows it to be used even in places with poor ventilation. Using this material, you can not be afraid for the health of your relatives, even if there are allergy sufferers, the elderly and children in the house.

The disadvantages of this method of restoration include:

Finishing an old bath in this way has a long drying time, which is about 3 days. During this period, it is forbidden to touch the bath and, in general, come close so as not to bring various debris to the surface in the form of dust, water, hair, etc .;
Another disadvantage is the high cost of finishing compared to enamelling. Although these costs are justified by a long service life and a more wear-resistant coating.

Installing the acrylic repair liner

Acrylic liner is stronger than liquid acrylic

Old bathtubs are also repaired according to the “bath to bath” method using a special acrylic insert, which is glued inside the old equipment. For the operation, a special adhesive foam is used, it is applied to the surface of the old bath, after which the liner is installed. If all the preparatory and repair procedures are performed correctly, then the service life can be 15 years.

Among the positive qualities of this restoration method are:

the strength of the acrylic liner is much higher than that of the enamel coating;
the new surface completely hides all possible coating defects;
yellow spots do not appear on the acrylic liner over time;
this method of restoration allows you to combine all the positive qualities of cast iron and acrylic bathtubs.

Despite all the advantages of this method, there are also disadvantages:

before installing the acrylic insert, you need to disconnect the bathtub from the siphon, which is quite difficult to do with old products;
in the case when the bath is made of “thin cast iron”, which can bend, the installation of the liner is prohibited, since during the bending of the equipment the integrity of the adhesive composition may be violated and the liner may fall off;

A few words about preparations

In all restoration options, a preliminary cleaning of the surface is necessary.

Although all restoration methods differ from each other, the preliminary preparation of surfaces is almost the same. So how to make an old bath new and what is required for this:

First of all, before starting the restoration, a complete cleaning of the surface of the bath is carried out, that is, all complex contaminants are removed;
Then all surface defects are smoothed out, namely scratches, tubercles of the fossa, and the entire surface is polished. This procedure is performed using fine-grained sandpaper;
Immediately before application, the resulting dust and debris is cleaned, and then everything is degreased.

Important! Grinding and degreasing increases the adhesion of the material to the surface, and, consequently, the quality and durability of the finish.

How to care for the restored surface?

Use non-abrasive detergents

During the care of the bathroom, the use of various materials is strictly prohibited, which include:

Use of any abrasive substances, such as cleaning powders. After all, scratches form on the surface, and the coating quickly loses its original appearance;
The ban includes household chemicals, which include: industrial alcohol, ammonia, acetone, formaldehydes, solvents and strong acids;
Cigarette stains and small scratches (up to 2 mm) are removed using “zero” sandpaper, that is, the smallest;
Cleaning with metal brushes and dry cleaning is also prohibited.
It is highly undesirable in restored baths to wash pets, dye hair and get mousses and varnishes on the surface.

To the question "How to make a bath new?" we can responsibly say that everything depends on care, restoration is already a consequence of improper cleaning that has been going on for many years. Therefore, in order for the bath to be like new, you need:

The bath is cleaned only with a soft cloth or sponge, which will help keep the glossy surface perfect for as long as possible;
Rust stains are removed with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice;
For cleaning, a mild cleaning agent is used, which is applied for 7-10 minutes, after which it is removed with a soft cloth and a stream of water;
In hydromassage systems, cleaning is a little different. The bath is filled with water with the addition of a cleaning agent and turned on for 5-10 minutes, after which it is left with liquid for another 10-15 minutes. Then the liquid is drained and everything is washed with a jet of water and with a soft cloth.

We draw conclusions: restoration or replacement?

Use a soft cloth or sponge to clean the tub

If you still have doubts about how best to cover the old bath, then you should seek the advice of specialists or study their reports. Of course, the choice is up to the owner. If the repair is required as a cosmetic and for a short period of time in order to make a replacement during the repair, then you should choose the cheapest option, that is, manual enameling. But when you need a budget, but durable coating, it is best to use stacryl. The latter method is the most expensive and is not suitable for temporary repairs.

So that the question of how to restore an old bathtub does not arise for a very long time, only high-quality and proven materials must be used for repairs and strictly adhere to the processing technology. You can see the nuances of technology in the video.

Replacing a bathtub is a very expensive and troublesome undertaking, associated with great difficulties, but quite tangible financial costs. That is why most of those who started a repair (especially not a major one, but a cosmetic one) are looking for alternative ways to give this plumbing product a neat look again. How to restore an old cast-iron bath - know, of course, the masters of this field. But it is quite possible to do most of the work yourself.

When is it time to refurbish a bath?

A cast-iron bath is a standard of quality, strength, and reliability in the plumbing world. No wonder it is advised to install products from this alloy in apartments. In many houses built back in the Soviet Union, just such bathtubs were installed. And such baths are used to this day. Also, a cast-iron product is comfortable to use: it does not create noise, unlike, for example, a thin-walled iron bath. Yes, and it is pleasant to wash in it - the bath retains the heat of the water poured into it much longer than others.

Unfortunately, even seemingly eternal things wear out over time. And a cast-iron bath is no exception. At the same time, it is not she herself that deteriorates, but the coating - enamel, with which the structure was covered at the factory. And now this special paint, applied using a special technology, begins to lose its appearance, and its performance is deteriorating.

On a note! Cast iron bathtubs are enameled during production after strong heating. It is due to this that it is possible to obtain a high-quality coupling of the base with the coating.

Here are some signs that it's time to upgrade your bathtub.

Roughness of the inner surface. It is much more pleasant to step on smooth enamel than on a pumice stone resembling the touch.
Bathtub cleaning is getting harder. The reason is the very rough surface on which an ordinary sponge no longer slides easily and pleasantly. Cleaning a bathtub takes a lot of work.
Dirt and rust quickly and strongly eat into the enamel due to the loss of smoothness.. In some cases, contamination cannot be removed at all.
The appearance of chips and cracks on the enamel surface.

Attention! Enamel chips are dangerous for the entire structure. The fact is that the enamel paint protects the cast iron from the effects of water and aggressive chemicals for cleaning plumbing. In places of chips, rust forms quite quickly and gradually begins to spread throughout the structure right under the enamel.

It is these signs that inform the owner of the bath that it is time for her to “rest”. But do not rush to dismantle it and throw it away - the bath can be reanimated! And for this, there are three fairly simple and, moreover, relatively inexpensive ways - this is the use of an acrylic liner, the “filling bath” technique and enamel renewal.

Three ways to update your bath

All these methods differ from each other in price, quality, speed of work and complexity of implementation. But it is worth considering them all to choose the one that suits you best. Each of the methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are important to know in order to make the right choice.

We paint the bath

Self-enamelling or, more simply, painting the inside of the bathtub with special coloring compositions in order to renew the coating is one of the oldest restoration methods that has already been tested by time.

The work is carried out with a brush and special restoration kits, which include directly and a hardener for it, also in the kit there can be colors of various colors that will allow you to change the color of the bath and make it as harmonious as possible in a certain color scheme of the interior. By the way, such coloring pigments can be bought independently, and then simply added to the coloring composition diluted according to all the rules.

The paint is applied to the surface of the bath, previously cleaned of dirt and rust. Before starting work, it is advisable to grind the walls with a grinder, wash, and then degrease with any means (for example, acetone).

Important! Before the enamel is applied, the bath is well warmed up. This can be done with a hair dryer or by typing hot water into it. However, after using the second method, the surface of the structure will have to be well dried. Otherwise, the paint will not lay down as it should.

It is most convenient to work with a brush, but there are also those compositions that are perfectly applied to the surface of cast iron with a small paint roller. There are restorative compositions for enameling bathtubs and in aerosol cans, but they are not recommended for use on large areas, since the paint coming out of them often lies unevenly on the surface, therefore streaks may remain. By the way, some formulations, especially professional ones, may have increased or decreased fluidity, which can complicate the work of a beginner. Therefore, it is worth buying non-professional sets.

Attention! All compounds used for enameling baths are very toxic, and therefore it is important to work with a respirator and rubberized gloves. You should also ensure good ventilation in the apartment and remove children and animals from the house.

It will take about a week to completely restore the bath in this way. The fact is that the enamel is applied in several layers, and each of them should be well dried before applying the next. TO , you can read in our article.

Advantages	Flaws
A cheap and affordable way to restore bathtubs.	Enamel is sensitive to impact and breaks easily. Over time (and rather quickly) chips can appear.
Bath enameling work can be done independently, and the means for this are sold at any hardware store. You do not need to have special skills for applying enamel.	Enamel does not cover large irregularities - they need to be pre-finished.
During the work, the dismantling of plumbing is not carried out.	After a while, the white paint will begin to turn yellow.
This is a fairly quick way to restore the bath.	You need to take care of such a bathroom very carefully - do not use aggressive chemical and abrasive products for cleaning. Also, do not pour boiling water into the bath with such a coating.

The average service life of enamel is about 5 years. Therefore, if this method was chosen, one should be prepared for the fact that after this period of time the enameling will have to be repeated.

Bath enamel prices

bath enamel

Acrylic liner

This method of bathtub restoration is actively used for cast iron products and is otherwise called “bath to bath”. A custom-made or purchased ready-made acrylic liner is inserted inside the old structure, which follows the contours of the plumbing structure. It is fixed inside with foam or special mastic, which is applied to the inner surface of the bath. In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the plumbing parts for draining.

Advice! For high-quality adhesion of the adhesive substance to the surface of the bath, it is best to clean and degrease it (surface).

The acrylic liner is one-piece, therefore, to begin with, it is inserted into the bath without glue, holes for the drain are marked, and then these holes are removed and cut. Then, having applied the adhesive composition to the inner surface of the bath itself, the liner is lowered there and glued.

Table. Advantages and disadvantages of the method.

Advantages	Flaws
Acrylic is a very durable substance, such a bath coating will be stronger than enamel.	The need to dismantle plumbing equipment.
The liner does an excellent job of hiding all the bumps and damage to the bath, making it smooth and beautiful.	Cannot be installed on structures made of thin metal. Such a metal can bend under the weight of water and a person, which is why the adhesive adhesion of the liner to the surface is easily broken.
Acrylic does not yellow over time.	Fairly high price.
Ease of installation.	The method has high requirements for the quality of materials - poor glue or a poor-quality liner can spoil the whole work.

The service life of the acrylic liner is approximately 15 years. However, this method of restoration is much more expensive than the previous one.

Video - Installation of an acrylic liner

acrylic coating

This method is also called "filling bath", because it is performed using a special technology using liquid acrylic. The substance is poured onto the prepared surface of the old bath. This is a fairly durable coating that resists daily exposure well, but still requires gentle cleaning without the use of abrasives.

On a note! With liquid acrylic, due to its relative density and viscosity, it is quite possible to mask irregularities during the restoration of the bathtub.

"Pouring bath" is a fairly new method of restoration, but it has already managed to fall in love with many, as it does not force plumbing owners to replace the cast-iron bath completely, but is easily done even with their own hands.

Hot tub - before and after

The advantages of the method lie in the durability of the coating, since acrylic is applied in a rather thick layer - about 5-6 mm. By the way, despite the density, it spreads well over the surface of the bath. It is also very pleasant to the touch and smooth.

How to restore the bath in this way? It's simple - follow our instructions.

Step 1. First you need to prepare a bath for work. Using a grinder, the old enamel coating is polished to a rough state.

Step 2 The bathtub is cleaned with a powder and a sponge, and then rinsed with clean water.

Step 3 The drain system is dismantled both at the top and at the bottom of the bath.

Step 4 The surface of the bath is degreased with any degreasing agent. Acetone will do, as well as any other solvent. After that, liquid acrylic is prepared according to the instructions indicated on the package. The mixture must be very thoroughly mixed.

Step 5 It's time to start filling the bath. For the convenience of work, a little acrylic can be poured into a small container. In order not to stain the floors, the container is placed in the bath.

Step 6 Acrylic is poured onto the surface of the bath in a thin stream, starting from the corners and edges of the bath in a circle.

Step 7 The substance is poured in several layers. It should flow down the sides of the tub, evenly covering the sides and top.

Step 8 Using a spatula, the acrylic layer, starting from the middle of the bath to its bottom, is leveled. All "gaps" are covered. Acrylic is lifted with a spatula from the bottom of the tub. Thus, all the side walls and the bottom are worked out.

Step 9 The bath is left to dry - this period is at least 36 hours. All this time it is better not to touch it at all, otherwise you can spoil all the work.

Step 10 Lastly, when the acrylic dries, a drain system is installed.

Now you can use the product to your heart's content. The service life of the "bulk bath" varies from 8 to 15 years.

Video - Technique "Pouring bath"

Compositions for the "bulk bath"

A "bulk bath" can be made using two types of products - glass and liquid acrylic. They are different from each other, and a common mistake for beginners is to mistake them for the same substance.

Stakryl began to be used about 10-15 years ago. It is relatively inexpensive and has a fairly high strength. After applying it to the bath, it should be dried for at least 4 days - and already here you can see a clear difference between the substance and ordinary liquid acrylic, which has a shorter drying time. Stakryl is also afraid of mechanical damage, so it is important to handle the bathtub covered with it carefully and carefully.

Liquid acrylic, on the other hand, has recently appeared on the building products market. It has higher strength and resistance to various mechanical influences. The coating made from it retains a glossy sheen for a long period of time. By the way, the smell from it is much less sharp than from glass. Acrylic dries in just 36 hours.

In general, both materials can be used for the restoration of bathtubs and other plumbing. But you should definitely know the difference between them.

Summing up what has been said, it can be noted with confidence that it is quite possible for everyone to restore the bath with their own hands, restore its former grandeur and neat appearance without the use of drastic measures to replace the bath itself. But the service life of such updated products (or rather, their coatings), of course, is not so great.

Acrylic bath liner - installation steps

Hot tub - before and after