During the renovation, I want to put things in order everywhere, including in the bathroom. A brand new wall covering, a beautiful ceiling, fresh plumbing ... But there is only one important nuance - an old bathtub with a terrible yellowed and cracked coating, on the surface of which there can be rather terrible black chips. It is not so easy to change this element of convenience in the apartment, as it seems, and it is also an expensive pleasure. But there is a way out. A coating that has lost its appearance can be restored, and quite quickly and cheaply. In this case, it will turn out to be easy to cope without the help of professionals. Restoring the enamel coating of the bathroom with your own hands is quite realistic and does not require frenzied cash costs.

Why "save" the bath?

Before you know how to reanimate an old bathroom coating without completely replacing it, you need to figure out why you need to restore it at all. Why isn't it easier to buy and install a new one?

A new bathroom costs a lot of money, and especially a high-quality cast-iron bathroom. Of course, you can buy an ordinary metal one, but it brings some discomfort to the tenants living in the apartment: filling with water is accompanied by a loud sound that even neighbors hear in thin-walled houses.

The new bathtub still needs to be installed, while dismantling the old one. And this is not as easy as it seems. Such work will entail a large amount of waste, moreover, heavy. At the same time, women will not be able to cope with it - in any case, strong male hands are needed and those who dismantle everything will endure. And probably everyone can just apply a new enamel coating.

Fortunately, the factory enamel in the bathtub is quite durable, and some apartment owners do not even face such a procedure as its restoration. This can be achieved thanks to a special technology by which the application takes place. The bath blank is exposed to strong heating and only then is it covered with a protective coating, that is, enamel. In theory, it can last for centuries, but due to the constant cleaning and treatment of the bath, this does not happen. On the contrary, the bath slowly but surely loses its appearance, the enamel turns yellow and becomes not smooth to the touch, but rough.

Yes, enamel is needed not only for beauty - it also protects the bath from the effects of various aggressive factors (for example, cleaning agents, water of different temperatures). Without enamel, the metal loses some of its qualities - for example, in the place of damage, cast iron will begin to rust, and rust will spread further and further, destroying the product.

Attention! If the damage to the enamel is not repaired in a timely manner, then rust can destroy the entire product or radically change the appearance of the bath.

Of course, it is impossible to create factory conditions in an apartment and it is also impossible to perfectly restore the enamel. But it can still be reapplied, which will help restore a beautiful and tidy appearance to the bathtub. And this - without unnecessary financial and physical costs.

Note! applied at home on its own will not be able to serve as long as a factory one, but it is still capable of turning your old bathtub into a new one for a sufficiently long time. But you need to handle it with care - it is less resistant to mechanical / chemical influences and is even able to change color due to contact with certain substances.

In general, there are now the following methods of restoring the appearance of the bathroom.

1. Acrylic coating- the so-called bulk bath. The interior of the structure is filled with liquid acrylic.
2. Acrylic liner- sold in hardware stores or made to order. Fits in the bath.
3. Replacing an old bathtub with a new one.
4. Enamel coating- simply put, the application of special paint on the inner surface of the bowl.

What do you need?

In order to carry out restoration work, you will need certain materials and tools:

• respirator;
• brush, roller for applying enamel;
• old clothes or apron;
• rubber gloves;
• sander or sandpaper;
• old rags;
• primer;
• acetone;
• bath restoration kit - simply put, bath enamel.

Now on the construction market there is a large selection of various enamels for baths, aimed at both professionals and home craftsmen. At the same time, if you are a beginner, then it is better to purchase the simplest option - it does not require special skills when using. Such enamels are sold both in aerosol cans and in cans (applied with a brush or a small roller).

Note! It is best to use the composition that is intended for application with a brush - it perfectly covers the old coating, it is easy to work with it. Aerosol products are chosen when it is necessary to restore a small chip - in this case, the enamel lays down unevenly.

A bathtub restoration kit usually contains two components - a hardener and the enamel itself. There should also be a preparation that will help prepare the bath itself for painting. By the way, replacing the enamel is a great option for choosing a new bath color. The latter can be painted in blue, red, green and other colors using special colors.

Table. Bath restoration kits.

Name	Description
"Reaflex-50"	This set is aimed at professional use, it is very fluid, so it will be difficult for a beginner to work with it. To close the old coating, you will need to apply the composition several times. Bathtub restoration will take at least a week, as each layer must be thoroughly dried. But the coverage is excellent.
"Svetlana and Fantasy"	These are enamels of medium thickness, they are easy to apply without too much spreading, which is optimal for an inexperienced restorer. Easy to apply with a brush. The kit also includes a preparation that is used to treat the surface of the bath before starting work. You can use special colors.
"Epoxin-51"	A thick, rather viscous enamel, which is applied with a brush - in the thickness lies the whole complexity of the work. At the same time, the enamel spreads perfectly without leaving streaks. Does not require preliminary filling. Dries for at least 2 days.
	A group of drugs that are essentially not enamel. They cover the surface well, are easy to apply - you just need to water the bath with this product.

Preparing the bath for the procedure

Before you start covering the bath with new enamel, it is imperative to prepare the surface to be treated. It should become smooth and as light as possible.

Step 1. The bath is cleaned of rust. Special preparations based on acids will help with this. Many of them are quite effective. For example, a preparation based on hydrochloric acid will remove reddish spots in just 10 minutes, but it will also destroy all the remaining enamel in whole pieces. It is also important to rinse this product well from the surface of the bath and be sure to follow the instructions for use. There are also more gentle preparations that do not so quickly, but still effectively deal with rust. Oxalic acid-based products work well, acting more accurately than hydrochloric-based products. Preparations of the latter type are washed off with water after 30-40 minutes.

Step 2. Next, you need to make the surface of the bathtub rough from the inside - for this, either sandpaper or a sander is used. The latter will significantly speed up the work. It is important to clean up all chips and cracks well.

Step 3. After working with a sander, it is necessary to wash off all dust and dirt from the surface of the bath. After that, the surface is degreased with acetone.

Step 4. The next step is to apply a primer, for example, GF-020. The layer of this substance should be well dried for about two days.

Advice! A reflector will help speed up the drying process. And by the way, it is not necessary to apply a primer.

Step 5. Now you should warm up the bath well - hot water is drawn into it. But you can also use a building hair dryer - in this case, you will not need to additionally dry the bath.

The bath is now ready to be refurbished.

Bath enamel

We continue restoration work. Now we move on to covering the bath with enamel from the inside.

Step 1. The restoration kit is prepared for use according to the instructions. The enamel should be well mixed until smooth.

Step 2. Using a brush, the enamel is applied with long or short strokes. Long from top to bottom and from bottom to top, and then to the right-left or short from bottom-up-right-left. The corners and areas near the drain holes are carefully painted over.

Step 3. In this way, the enamel is applied several times. Each of the layers must be thoroughly dried in accordance with the instructions.

Bath enamel prices

bath enamel

Video - Bath enamel

Chips and scratches

To restore the former beauty of enamel, it is not always necessary to resort to drastic measures and paint the entire bath. Sometimes it is enough to just repair chips and scratches. This is not so difficult to do.

For example, a mixture of dry white with BF-2 glue will help get rid of small scratches. It is simply applied to areas where there is little damage. In this case, it should be applied in several layers so that the latter does not protrude above the surface of the main enamel coating. It is convenient to apply the substance with a regular brush.

For deeper chips, a preparation based on nitro-enamel is suitable, to which "Supercement", a special construction adhesive, is added. The mixture is prepared in a 1: 1 ratio. The resulting substance is also applied in layers, each of which is given a drying time (approximately 24 hours).

Also, a mixture of white zinc and epoxy (1: 2) will help to cope with severe damage. After mixing the epoxy resin according to the rules, the remaining components are added to it. Zinc white can be easily replaced with shards of porcelain. Such a mixture, applied to the place of the chip, will dry out for at least 5 days, but it will last for many years.

When carrying out these works, it is worth making sure that the color of the enamel and paint, which will be used to restore the scratch, match. Otherwise, the bath will be spotty.

And finally, some valuable and useful advice.

Attention! All chemical preparations with the help of which restoration work is carried out are poisonous and hazardous to health, therefore, personal safety measures cannot be neglected. If the work is carried out incorrectly, there is a high risk of getting to the hospital.

Bathtub restoration with the replacement of the old enamel with a new one is a completely independently feasible way to return the product to its former beauty. At the same time, the new coating will serve for at least 5 years with a careful attitude towards itself. Of course, then you will have to paint the bath again, but considering how much cheaper this type of work is than all the others, it is definitely worth it. By the way, an important factor influencing the long service life of the enamel is the chemical composition of the water. It is advisable to take this into account when choosing a bath restoration method.

Restoration is a great chance to change the color of the bath

Over time, the bathtub loses its attractive appearance. Smears and traces of rust appear, the gloss disappears, and it becomes rough to the touch. Everything suggests that it is time to change the old bathtub. And these are not small expenses. In addition, when replacing a bathtub, you cannot do without repairing the entire bathroom, and small costs will turn into medium, if not large. But there is an alternative - do-it-yourself bathroom restoration. There are a large number of materials on the market with which you can independently update your bath with proper quality.

Bath restoration methods

There are now three methods for restoring old bathtubs:

1. Restoration of the enamelled bath surface.

2. Restoration with liquid acrylic.

3. Restoration by installing an insert.

Method 1: ordinary enamel

Cast iron and steel enameled baths are the most common types of baths in our apartments. They are produced in accordance with GOST 18297-96, which has been in effect since 1997. According to this GOST, the baths are guaranteed for 2 years. But as practice shows, the enamel on them lasts no more than 10 years of use.

Enamel on baths in the factory is applied quite simply. First, the outer surface is red-hot, then enamel powder is sieved onto the inner surface and kept for some time to sinter the powder with the metal. Heat the outer surface again until the powder is melted. The result is a smooth, glossy enamel finish. It is clear that at home this method of restoring a cast-iron bathtub, as well as a steel one, is not suitable.

Why does enamel usually wear out?

The wear of the enamelled surface occurs as a result of the influence of two factors:

• Use of cleaning agents containing abrasive powders or substances with chlorine impurities.
• The use of chemicals when cleaning water supply networks.

As a result of many years of exposure to these factors, the enamelled surface of the bath becomes thinner, becomes rough and begins to rust.

Restoration of the enamelled surface

Do-it-yourself enamel restoration is a fairly simple process. It consists of two stages: surface preparation and applying a new layer of enamel.

What do you need to work?

You will need the following tools and materials:

• electric drill with a nozzle in the form of a grinding wheel;
• abrasive powder;
• sandpaper;
• rust converter (for example, "Tsinkar");
• degreaser (for example, "Nefras");
• lint-free napkin;
• natural bristle brushes or spray;
• respirator and gloves;
• enamel, preferably two-component (enamel plus hardener).

Preliminary stage: surface preparation

A very important stage. The more thoroughly the bath surface is cleaned, the better the new enamel layer will be.

1. sprinkle the old enamel with abrasive powder and clean it off with sandpaper or a grinding wheel mounted on an electric drill;
2. treat the areas affected by corrosion with a rust converter, let it stand for half an hour, then sand it with sandpaper;
3. wash off enamel and crumbs with water;
4. thoroughly treat the bath with a degreaser with a lint-free cloth;
5. fill the tub with hot water and let it warm up for 10 minutes;
6. drain and wipe dry with a lint-free cloth; make sure that there are no fluff or other foreign elements on the surface.

Main stage: applying the enamel

1. according to the manufacturer's instructions, mix enamel and hardener in a certain proportion and mix thoroughly;
2. apply the first layer of enamel with a brush or spray;
3. withstand a certain period of time according to the instructions;
4. apply a second layer of enamel.

This concludes the process of restoring an enamel bathtub with your own hands. It is advisable to withstand at least a week before using the bath. This is how much time it takes for the full polymerization of the enamel.

The service life of the new enamel will be about 6-8 years.

Method 2: restoration of the bath with liquid acrylic

This method of bath restoration appeared relatively recently, thanks to the emergence of a special material - glass.

How do we restore?

Stacril is a two-component acrylic material specially developed for bath restoration. It is acrylic itself and a separately supplied hardener. When acrylic and hardener are combined, the polymerization process begins, and when applied to the surface, the composition turns into a high-quality acrylic film with a thickness of 4 to 6 mm.

Stackril benefits

Stacril has three remarkable properties that help it quickly and effectively restore a bathtub:

1. Viscosity

The optimally selected viscosity coefficient of the glass helps to effortlessly make an acrylic coating 4 mm thick on the walls of the bath and 6 mm on its bottom.

2. Fluidity

The flowing effect allows the glass to envelop the surface of the bathtub on its own and lay down evenly.

3. Delayed polymerization

Thanks to this quality, you can calmly and relatively comfortably carry out work on the restoration of the bathtub, without fear that the acrylic will harden too quickly.

After polymerization, the acrylic surface has mechanical and impact resistance far superior to the acrylic liner or enamel layer.

Work technology

The technology of restoration of baths with liquid acrylic is even simpler than the enameling process and consists in the following:

1: Surface preparation

This stage does not differ from the variant of restoration of the enamelled surface. Repeat the same steps. Then disconnect the siphon and place a container under the bath drain where excess acrylic will drain.

2: Applying liquid acrylic

• we prepare the acrylic mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions;
• slowly pour the finished mixture onto the upper edge of the bath, as soon as the stream reaches the middle, we begin to smoothly move the stream of glass around the perimeter of the bath;
• when the circle is closed, we repeat the procedure, starting from the middle.

The pouring restoration process must take place continuously, for this you need to take a glass container of a suitable size. It is not worth saving - it is better to pour out a little more acrylic than it will lack, the excess will go into the container under the drain hole.

Acrylic polymerizes, depending on the type, from one to four days. Choose a glass glass with a longer drying time, in which case the acrylic surface will be of higher quality.

The restored bath will have a service life of about 20 years.

Method 3: restore the bath with an insert

The easiest, but also the most expensive way of restoration is the insertion of an insert. In addition, it is impossible to completely restore the bathtub with your own hands with this method, since the insert is made at the factory.

There is an option to order the manufacture of an insert for a specific bath at the enterprise, and install it yourself.

The insert installation technology is as follows:

1. thoroughly clean and degrease the surface of the bath;
2. insert the made insert into the bath;
3. check the correctness of the docking of the drain holes;
4. trim the liner along the wall tile line;
5. apply special glue to the inner surface of the bath and the outer side of the liner and dock them;
6. the joints are additionally sealed with silicone.

After installing the liner, cold water is poured into the bath and kept for a day. After that, the restored bath is ready for use.

The insert will serve you up to 10 years.

How much will it cost to restore a bathtub?

In conclusion, we will conduct a comparative analysis of the cost of bath restoration, based on the methods discussed above.

Bath enamel

The cost of high-quality enamel "Reaflex 50" produced by the Finnish company "Tikkurila" is 550 rubles per 1 kg. The Russian restoration kit "Svetlana" costs 750 rubles. As a result, you will have to pay 1,300 rubles.

Bulk restoration

If you buy a set for the restoration of a bath with liquid acrylic, for example Plastall, it will cost about 2,000 rubles. By the way, it contains everything you need for independent work, even a CD with a video lesson.

Acrylic liner

The cost of the liner itself and polymer glue ranges from 2800 to 3000 rubles.

The best option is the method of self-leveling restoration, in which you get a beautiful and durable coating for little money. Moreover, any of these methods are several times cheaper than buying and installing a new bath.

This is an additional condition for you to feel more comfortable contacting us. If something does not suit you during or after the restoration of the bathtub, just call our dispatch office on the round-the-clock phone, and I will return all the money to you to the last penny! By the way, in 2018 we received only 9 requests for a refund (out of 38,990 requests!).

🔧 After the guarantee, you will receive a LIFETIME SERVICE

No need to worry about what will happen to your bathroom after the warranty. I give every customer a lifetime service in Lenremont. This means that if this bathtub needs restoration again after the warranty period, bathtub restoration will cost 2 times cheaper! Thus, you get a 25% discount on post-warranty repairs.

✅ 1 year guarantee (subject to standards) for bathroom restoration

Yes! I am so confident in the skill of my masters that I boldly give you 1 year warranty (subject to standards) for the restoration of the bath. This is the biggest guarantee in all of Russia.

And one more surprise - you will receive 4 months warranty for all parts because Lenremont orders parts from a direct supplier.

This warranty means that, if suddenly Your bathtub will need restoration again, the master will come free of charge and carry out the restoration of the bath. Even if the master who performed the restoration of your bath gets sick or no longer works with us, you do not need to worry that you will be left without warranty service: we have more than 100 bath restorers on our staff. We take full responsibility for making you, our dear client, satisfied.

relevant because a cast-iron bathtub is a very durable thing, if not eternal. What can not be said about its coating, which wears out over time and spoils the look of the entire bathroom. What is the way out? Dismantling a cast-iron bathtub is a rather laborious and expensive task, which includes not only the cost of buying a new bathtub, but also the cost of updating the tile, which is likely to suffer in the process. In addition, most people know that a cast iron bathtub has a lot of advantages and it is simply a pity to throw it away.

ANYTHING YOU NEED:

Fortunately, modern repair technologies make it possible to restore a cast iron bath beyond recognition. To do this, you can use one of three options:

• Surface coating with enamel;
• Coating the surface with acrylic;

Restoration of a cast-iron bath with enamel

This method allows you to return the whiteness and shine to the bath, while saving the owners a considerable amount. All work can be done independently, no special skills are required. The main thing is thoroughness and accuracy.

The preparatory stage is very important, the purpose of which is to remove the old coating, cleaning up small cracks and rust. This is done using abrasive powder and sandpaper by hand, or the process is accelerated with a drill with an abrasive wheel. After cleaning, the bath is well cleaned of all particles and dust, degreased and dried.

The enamel is applied to the prepared surface with a thin layer using a brush or roller. It is recommended to apply 2 to 4 coats. After complete drying, which requires at least 7 days, the bath will be ready for use.

The main and, perhaps, the only advantage of this method is its low cost. Homemade enamel lasts no more than 5 years.

Restoration of a cast-iron bath with liquid acrylic

The preparation of the bathtub for coating with acrylic follows the same scheme as for coating with enamel. The surface should be matt, dry, grease-free and heated. The mixer is preliminarily removed and the drain and overflow holes are sealed. Acrylic is applied without the use of brushes or rollers, pouring a thin stream onto the sides of the bathtub and letting it flow freely along the walls. At the bottom, the material can be leveled with a spatula.

The advantages of acrylic over enamel are undeniable. Acrylic is more flexible, strong and durable. Its brilliance and whiteness delight residents for years. It is easy to clean even without any special tools. Bulk acrylic dries several times faster than enamel, so the bathroom can be used in 1-2 days. You can add a color scheme to acrylic that matches the interior of the bathroom and make the bath a full-fledged part of the interior.

Additional services

This method allows you to get an almost new acrylic bathtub, which will cost several times less. Its essence is that an acrylic insert made according to the same dimensions is installed in an existing cast-iron bath. Many ready-made inserts are sold in stores, but it is still better to use the services of professionals who will make accurate measurements of your bathtub and make a high-quality installation in compliance with the technology.

The most important thing is to ensure high-quality adhesion of surfaces to each other and tightness. Otherwise, fungus may develop under the liner. An experienced craftsman will complete the job within 2-3 hours. After that, the bath must be filled with water for a day so that the liner is securely fixed.

Acrylic has established itself as a durable, strong, safe and beautiful material. A liner or acrylic coating will allow the bathtub to last more than one year, provided it is properly cared for. Enameling as a restoration method can be used in cases where the budget is very limited.

Cast iron bath restoration: which is better?

It is much easier and cheaper to restore a cast iron bathtub than to replace it with a new one. Applying a new top coat will delay the purchase of a new product and complete renovation of the bathroom. How long this period will be depends on the correct choice of material.

Enamel

Enamel attracts with its low cost, but this is exactly the case when momentary savings can turn into even greater expenses in the future. The very modest service life of the enamel coating makes it very unprofitable financially.

To some it seems logical that it is better to re-enamel a cast-iron, once enameled bathtub. If we were talking about powder enamel, which is applied to a surface in an industrial environment, perhaps this would be so. However, at home, baths are covered with a completely different enamel composition, the service life of which cannot be compared with the industrial one.

Enamel paint cannot create a sufficiently dense and strong layer for the coating to be durable. Even minor household damage to the surface leads to chips and cracks, and rust and hard water salts will only contribute to its further destruction.

One of the features of enamel is its porous structure. No matter how diligently the owners take care of the bathroom, the pollution will gradually fill the micropores of the surface, making it gray and dirty in appearance.

The fresh enamel coating looks very elegant: a snow-white bath with a bright glossy shine. Be careful, such beauty may be unsafe, because this surface is very slippery, especially when wet. When planning the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub with enamel, you should think about all the residents. If among them there are those who, due to age or health reasons, find it difficult to coordinate their movements, it is better to refuse enameling.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a versatile material that is suitable for the restoration of any bathtub, including cast iron. Proper surface preparation provides excellent adhesion and a strong, durable finish.

The most important feature and main advantage of acrylic is its plasticity, which not only ensures ideal distribution of the material over the surface, but also makes it resistant to impacts, falling of heavy blunt objects and other possible damage. Thanks to this strength, the acrylic coating can extend the life of the cast-iron bath for a period of 10 years, and during all this time the product will have a presentable appearance.

Caring for the acrylic coating is not difficult. The most important thing is no exposure to abrasive materials and aggressive household chemicals. Gentle cleaning with a soft cloth or sponge and regular soap will be sufficient. Acrylic itself is hygienic, since it is not a medium for the development of potentially dangerous microorganisms. With such a coating, you can forget about disinfecting treatment - the bath will be clean and safe.

Coating a cast-iron bathtub with acrylic is a business that can be scheduled for the weekend and use the updated product after 2 days. This is possible due to the quick drying of the material and the uncomplicated application process.

When choosing a coating for a cast-iron bath, masters who own modern repair techniques recommend still focusing on restoration with liquid acrylic. Thanks to him, the cast-iron bath will last at least another 10 years, while remaining the same white and shiny. Enameling is a method that has outlived its usefulness and does not meet modern safety, durability and quality requirements.

Cast iron bath restoration reviews

Over time, yellow spots, a network of cracks, chips appear on the enamel coating. All this spoils the look of the bowl, becomes a problem for the hostess. Unfortunately, none of them will help here. The restoration of the bath enamel or the replacement of the plumbing fixture is required. It seems to many that the latter is the only correct decision. However, it is troublesome and associated with significant costs.

The cast iron container is very heavy. It will not work to dismantle and take this out of the house alone. The task becomes many times more complicated if the plumbing is tiled or the apartment is on one of the last floors. Subsequently, you will still need to bring in a new device, install it in place. Therefore, they try to dismantle and replace them before repairs in order to immediately put the room in order.

If the repair is not planned, there is no free funds for the purchase of new plumbing, its installation, you can try to restore the damaged coating. There are three effective recovery techniques. All of them are available for independent implementation, do not require significant costs, and are relatively easy to implement. Even if you have to invite specialists, all the same, the costs of replacement and restoration differ significantly.

Preparing to cover the bath

1. ... We start with treatment with a solution or citric acid. Lubricate the area with plenty of liquid, leave for 30-40 minutes, rinse with water. If traces of rust remain, it will have to be cleaned mechanically.
2. We clean the old enamel. We clean it with sandpaper, or better with a grinder with a grinding wheel. There will be a lot of dust during the cleaning process. Therefore, we protect the respiratory organs with special means, put on overalls. At the end of the sanding process, remove the dust.
3. Deep chips, cracks are repaired for the car. Apply a layer, carefully distribute it over the defective area. After complete drying, we grind the processed fragment.
4. Before covering the bath with enamel, degrease it. To do this, prepare gruel from water and carefully process the surface with it. You can take a special drug. In any case, after processing, we wash everything well with hot water and dry it.

The dried container is once again cleaned of the remaining dirt particles. The best way to do this is with a vacuum cleaner. Then remove the drain, overflow, if any. Sections of the junction of the side and the wall are sealed with masking tape to protect the finish.

3 ways to restore enamel on a cast iron bath

Each of them gives a good result, provided that the work technology is not violated. Let's take a look at all three options.

Enamelling

It is easiest to do the so-called enameling with your own hands, in other words, the surface with a special compound. Most often it is enamel based, but there may be another remedy. The application method may vary depending on the composition. sprayed, the emulsion is spread with a roller or brush. The advantages of the technique are the ease of application, the low price of the necessary materials.

Of the shortcomings, you need to know about the fragility of the updated coating. It will last no more than five years. Poor quality formulations turn yellow after a while. Careful surface preparation is required before enameling. The liquid will not cover chips or other imperfections. It will take a week for the preparation to dry completely. All this time, you cannot use the plumbing. The work is carried out in the following sequence:

1. We prime the base with a suitable one, let it dry. Sometimes you need to warm up the bowl. In this case, fill it with hot water, wait 15-20 minutes, drain the liquid. Wipe the walls dry with a lint-free rag, only then remove the drain and overflow.
2. We substitute small containers under the holes of the plumbing fixture so as not to stain the floor. We are preparing a coloring preparation. Mix the two-component product thoroughly.
3. Apply the first layer. We start with the sides and gradually move to the bottom of the container. We carefully distribute the paint, watch the layer thickness. It shouldn't be too big, especially at the bottom where paint builds up. If this happens, we correct this defect with a brush.
4. Apply two more layers in the same way. We wait 15 minutes, after which we check if there are sags or streaks. If necessary, we correct the shortcomings.

It remains to wait for the complete hardening of the enamel layers. Depending on the type of paint, this takes about five days or more. The dried surface must be polished. This is done with a drop of polishing paste on a soft cloth.

Liquid acrylic treatment

A good result is obtained by applying acrylic paste. After drying, it forms a durable coating that will last up to 10 years, subject to the rules of operation. does not turn yellow over time, but spots on it may appear. This happens when dyes, aggressive chemicals get in. There are traces of abrasive detergents, strong impacts with sharp objects. The restored surface must be protected from this.

There is no acrylic preparation, so you can work without a respirator. It dries no longer than 36 hours. During this time, the bathroom must be closed so that dust or debris does not get onto the wet solution. Another plus of the material is the absence of drips, bubbles during application. The result is a perfectly smooth surface.

The disadvantage of the method is the need to acquire skills at work. If they are not there, it is better to first try your hand at something suitable. Without experience, there is a great risk of hopelessly ruining a plumbing fixture.

Stages of restoration

1. Preparing a two-component solution for work. Add the solvent in small portions to the bucket with the preparation. Mix the liquid thoroughly each time. The result should be a homogeneous paste. If this is not the case, the peeling process will quickly begin after application, which will ruin the new coating.
2. If planned, we add color to it. Its amount will determine the saturation of the future color. When tinting the preparation, it should be taken into account that after drying it will become a little lighter. After mixing and tinting, the solution is left for 10-15 minutes, mixed again.
3. We close the drain hole of the bath from above with a disposable glass, put a bucket under it for the dripping pasta. We collect a small amount of liquid acrylic in a bucket. Starting from the edge, carefully pour it onto the side. We move evenly along the entire bowl until we reach the place where we started.
4. After the liquid is glass to about the middle of the side, we repeat our actions. Pour the pasta from the middle of the side.
5. We remove the plastic cup. The acrylic that has accumulated at the bottom is carefully distributed with a spatula, directing the excess into the drain hole. We do this carefully, but quickly, without letting the mass grab.

It remains to wait for the acrylic paste to harden. Under normal conditions, this takes about a day, but it may take more. The exact time is specified on the packaging of the product.

Liner installation

Sometimes it is impossible to restore the enamel in the bathroom or you don’t want to mess with the paint, then the installation of an acrylic insert would be a good solution. To do this, you need to purchase a plastic bowl that will exactly repeat the shape and size of the old one. It is placed inside a cast-iron container, fixed with glue. The advantages of this method are obvious. Complex preparatory work is not always required, you can use the bathroom the next day.

The result is guaranteed to be good, which is not always the case with painting. The insert can be not only white, but any other color. He serves for a long time, at least 15 years. Provided that the requirements for operation are met. There will be one difficulty in execution: to purchase an insert of a suitable size. This is not always possible, especially for non-standard bowls.

Step-by-step installation process

1. We release the edges of the bowl along its entire perimeter. If necessary, dismantle the adjacent cladding or panels.
2. We examine the surface of the plumbing. If the enamel is smooth, you will need to sand it to improve the adhesion of the adhesive. To do this, we fix the sandpaper on a convenient holder, evenly clean the coating. After that, we wash off the dust, dismantle the drain and overflow.
3. We adjust the liner. Rub the edges of the drain and overflow holes with a stylus. We put the acrylic element in the bowl, press it lightly. The lead mark will mark the locations of the holes. We draw a line along the side, if you need to remove part of the acrylic sheet. Cut off the excess around the perimeter with an electric jigsaw. Cut holes with a drill with a crown.
4. We apply. We generously process the edges of the overflow and drain with a sealant. We do the same with the edges of the sides along the entire perimeter. Fill the remaining space with special foam. We apply it evenly, without empty areas.
5. We put the insert in place, press it with effort. At the edges we fix it with clamps with plates placed under them so as not to damage the acrylic. We install the drain, we collect water in the bowl. It should not reach 20-30 mm before overflow. The liquid will press down on the liner, which will ensure the normal polymerization of the foam, uniform fixation of the part. After a day, the water is drained. You can see the process in more detail on the video on the Internet.

We have analyzed three effective methods of how to restore the enamel coating on the bathtub at home. The most short-lived result will be obtained by self-enameling, but this is also the easiest way to restore. When the renewed enamel becomes unusable, it can be painted again. It is much cheaper and easier.

• Prepared by: Inna Yasinovskaya