Bath enamelling

[essence]

Hi Forumites

Can anyone tell me whether they have had bath enamelling professionally applied? If so, how successful has it been and what $ cost?

Tried searching out google and it came out with propertytalk.co.nz/postt1294. If anyone can link that here, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks heaps.

[muppet]

Hi Essence

Try this:

Repainting An Enamel Bathtub
Chris Bennett for Mitre 10
Can you repaint an old enamel bathtub? Home handyman Chris Bennett looks at the options...

The general rule is that you can repair and repaint small areas of an enamel bath but if the whole bath is to be done, then it's best left to professionals.

The reason for this is that baths are "enamelled", a specialist process that cannot be done successfully at home (although there are bath-enamelling kits which can produce an acceptable result if they're used with care. With most kits it's longer than a week before you can re-use the tub.)

Small surface chips and scratches can be repaired using epoxy resin filler. Here's how:

Clean the area to be repaired making sure that all soap residue and grease are removed.

Fill the damaged area with resin and leave to dry.

Go over the area with fine wet and dry paper to make sure that the surface is smooth and level.

Paint with touch up enamel paint to match the existing surface.

I have seen bathtubs that have been painted using high quality enamel spray paint but they have only worn well for a short period of time and then started to peel. So the message is: if it's only for stop-gap measure you can apply paint to your old enamel bathtub, but if you're looking for a lasting usable finish, you should really get the job done professionally.

Link is: http://www.propertytalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1320

Regards

[Stevegoodey]

I it's only a couple of chips twink will look good at least until the open home has finished.

Steve

[artemis]

I had a bath re-enamelled professionally though it was more than 15 years ago and might be different now. It was a pain waiting a week for it to cure. It looked great, but not for long. Something got dropped in it and the tiniest crack appeared. Water got underneath and the crack got bigger ... I ended up over time peeling it all off and going back to the original surface, which was by then better than the new surface.

Unless the product has changed significantly I would not do this in a rental.

[Fritz]

Hi Forumites

Can anyone tell me whether they have had bath enamelling professionally applied? If so, how successful has it been and what $ cost?
Thanks heaps.

We had 1 bath repainted, cost about $189 5 years ago. Waste of time. Looks good for while but then starts to chip. Toss it out and buy a new one. If it is just chips, get some instant stuff from Mitre 10, patches OK for a while.

Fritz.

[essence]

Thanks

Thanks for the responses. Think the best option is to just get a new one.

[reno-chick]

My ex would say, buy a new bath

Hi there,

My ex used to enamel baths for a living in Australia for a company, and he always said to me that he would NEVER get a bath re-surfaced because they don't last even though the enamel is baked on, and this is an expensive exercise.

A cheaper route is to get the bath re-painted (spray-painted) but you cannot run hot water straight into the bath without putting cold water in first as the paint cracks.

There are some pretty cheap acrylic baths around I know Mitre 10 Mega has some good ones.

All the best
B

[David_W]

I enameled a bath 2 and half years ago - cost me $300. Great job, but probably should have gone to Placemakers and got a Clearlite bath for $150. Although iron bath enameled lasts way longer than plastic...

[Mojo]

So I'm confused - are you all basically saying that a claw foot bath for instance is not worth re-finishing? If this is true, then lots and lots of people are making a 'dishonest' living.... A resurfaced claw foot bath costs a fortune, why would anyone go to the bother of buying one (and many many people do) if it's not going to last even a few years, and why I wonder is this not common knowledge?? I certainly had intended to buy one for my villa - now I don't know WHAT to think!

[RonHoyFong]

So I'm confused - are you all basically saying that a claw foot bath for instance is not worth re-finishing? If this is true, then lots and lots of people are making a 'dishonest' living.... A resurfaced claw foot bath costs a fortune, why would anyone go to the bother of buying one (and many many people do) if it's not going to last even a few years, and why I wonder is this not common knowledge?? I certainly had intended to buy one for my villa - now I don't know WHAT to think!

If you are stripping the bathroom anyway, you are probably better to go for the new plastic bathtub and have it all fit to size with new vanity shower boxes etc.

The reason to best re-enamel an old Tub is because of it character versus the cost for plumbing everything with new taps and pipes should you change the bath tub.

Cheers Ron
.

[AnneH]

Hi Forumites

Can anyone tell me whether they have had bath enamelling professionally applied? If so, how successful has it been and what $ cost?

Tried searching out google and it came out with propertytalk.co.nz/postt1294. If anyone can link that here, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks heaps.

Hi I had prof do a bath for me 12 months ago. Would not recommend it.
It cost me $400 and within the 12 months the enamal wore off. Going back to the company who did it, they said it was only a warrentee of 30 days and if I would like it done again it would cost an extra $200

[Monid]

When I worked in the plumbing supplies business I never heard of this having a much better level of success than AnneH's... So I would say buyer beware.

Cheers
David

[Traff]

Baths

IMHO unless its an old and antique claw foot for a villa worth heaps buy a new one , buyers and tennants will appreciate it and they dont cost much , look in your local paper for specials.

Mark

[PropertyMaintenance]

We priced up having our bath resurfaced, and due to no guarantee of how long it would last, and the big cost, it was best to just either live with the current bath or get a new one....