Replies

1. 
   alrush | Jan 12, 2002 07:06am | #1

   *
   Had experience with 3 tubs professionally sprayed with the epoxy paint. It looks good at first but all of them eventually started to peel within a few years. If you have an old cast iron tub with thick glazing that is stained, try sanding stains off to leave fresh porcelain underneath. I have done it. Then you can polish and buff to your heart's content.
   If you have rust spots you are stuck.

1. 
   Tim_Kline | Jan 12, 2002 08:57am | #2

   *Drop the shaving cream can one time and you have a turquoise chip with a white background. I wouldn't recommend it. I'm in the same scenario with a customer who has a Kohler 5' cast iron whirlpool tub in deep royal blue that she wants white. She is now looking into an acrylic insert which is something I am totally unfamiliar with beyond seeing it on late night TV ads.

1. 
   Rich_Beckman | Jan 12, 2002 06:17pm | #3

   *I've seen it done once. In a house I was painting. They had the tub and the sink(!) done. Given how picky they were about all of the other work being done in the house, the result of the tub/sink was laughable. I have to think they only expressed satisfaction because they had spent too much money on it to not be happy.The finish wasn't smooth to the touch and was visibly not an original finish. It had a scratch on the tub long before anyone got to use it.Seeing that job, the acrylic insert idea sounds interesting.Rich Beckman

1. 
   Bob_Covell | Jan 14, 2002 06:38am | #4

   *John-As a home repair contractor, I've seen several 'on site' re-glazing jobs, done by a local professional outfit. None of them have stood the test of time. This can be a cosmetic repair done to help sell a house, but, I wouldn't do it with the idea of a long term fix. Bob

1. 
   Bob_Walker | Jan 14, 2002 07:03am | #5

   *"This can be a cosmetic repair done to help sell a house...., "And a good home inspector will spot it and advise the client that it appears that efforts have been made to hide defects in the tub glazing, but that the degree of damage cannot be determined because of those efforts and there is an unknown degree of risk that the tube will have to be replaced in the near future.

2. 
   Donald_Nichols | Jan 26, 2002 05:48am | #6

   *John, My sister (in Maryland) had a black tub recovered with an acrylic insert. The results were great, it would take a sharp eye to tell that the tub was not always white, plus it feels as substantial as the cast iron tub underneath. I assume that the durability and maintenance are the same as the new acrylic tubs you see for sale. I understand that the insert is molded in a form specific to the old tub in place (that's a lot of molds!). I (here in Houston) recently had a pedestal sink reglazed, not with epoxy, but a with a high quality catalyzed acrylic polymer applied over a bonding agent, the only guy in town who advertises a ten year guarantee. A similar process was described in "This Old House" magazine. It would take a sharp eye to notice that the buffed surface is not porcelain. I haven't put it in service yet, so I can't attest to longevity. I too,hear bad things about epoxy. I recently saw an on-site epoxy job on an old claw-foot tub that only lasted a couple of months before peeling off in places.

3. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jan 26, 2002 08:16am | #7

   *I saw a few that were bad.....made me skeptical....then worked on a house where they had it done almost 10 yrs ago....and it looked perfect. Not sure of the exact method......but it was sprayed on.....not the molded cover......the guy installing it told them it all depends on the installer......and from what I've seen.....I'd say he was right! Has to depend heavily on the prep work. But......like I saw......it can work. Jeff

2. 
   John_Nyman | Jan 26, 2002 08:16am | #8

   *
   Helloo, I've been working on a craftsman bath remodel(new tile floor, wainscotting, trim, inset mirror,tub surround tile, texture and paint). The current challenge is that the customer wants to reglaze her tub from 1950's turquoise to white, so that we can replace the toilet and sink which are also 50's turquoise and pretty beat up. I'm a bit skeptical of the "field reglaze" that would be required. The tub is set in to the wall with a new marble tile surround adjacent. I realize this this scenario is backwards (I kind of saw it coming) but would like try to make it happen as she is a great customer. Has anyone done this? Will the finish last? Any potential problems going up against a relatively porous marble surface? Thanks for any input. J