How to update a cast-iron bath?

Over time, any bathtub loses its original appearance, somewhere its snow-whiteness and smoothness disappears. Streaks of yellow color appear on its surface, rust, it becomes rough, and even worse - enamel is cracked and chipped. If you are the owner of a cast-iron bathtub, it will be useful to know that it keeps the water warm longer than others, and accordingly, it increases the time for taking bath procedures. Therefore, if your bath at first glance became worthless, do not rush to say goodbye to it, especially if repairing the bathroom as a whole suits you. There are several ways to update the cast-iron bathtub, we will familiarize ourselves with them.

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What are cast-iron bathtubs?

Cast-iron baths were designed to serve about 10-15 years, however, given that they were actively installed during the Soviet era, it is not surprising that many of them today have a deplorable appearance.

Important! The design of the cast-iron bathtub is incredibly heavy, and depending on its size, it weighs from 80 to 100 kg.

It was made of high quality cast iron, enamel was applied according to certain high standards. Today, cast-iron bathtubs of modern production are very inferior in quality to domestic bathtubs. Therefore, their dismantling is not always convenient and expedient. As a rule, under the spoiled enamel, the strong design which has not undergone deformations is ideally preserved.

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How to update a cast-iron bath?

How to update the old bath and how to cover it? Today, the restoration of the bath is an affordable and easy solution, since in construction stores a wide range of bath enamels is presented, and the market for services is filled with specialists who are happy to restore it.

This procedure consists in updating the enamel, more precisely applying a new layer of protective coating.

There are two main ways to renew enamel:

1. Enameling - applying a new layer of enamel paint.
2. Liquid coating using liquid acrylic.

Important! For enameling, not ordinary enamel is used, but special, on which the purpose will be indicated. As a rule, such enamels are sold complete with a hardener. On the shelves of building stores enamel is presented both for home use and for use by professionals.

If you plan to carry out this procedure yourself, do not purchase professional paint, since the technology for applying it is more complex, it is applied in several layers and has a more fluid consistency. As a result, you may not get the result you expect at all. Its application requires certain skills.

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Liquid Acrylic Coating

This method of updating the bath is also called bulk. In this case, acrylic is not applied by brush and roller, but in the literal sense is evenly poured onto the surface of the bath.

Important! Acrylic is more durable than enameled coating, tactilely warmer, which creates additional comfort. However, the cost of this procedure is significantly higher than enameling.

In the application of acrylic is much more convenient, you definitely will not have any stains or streaks from the brush, or sagging from the roller. Acrylic has the property of spreading evenly, so not even a professional can handle this procedure.

If you decide to update the bath with acrylic yourself, you will need to purchase liquid acrylic and a hardener, which is included in the kit. In the instructions for it you will always find a step-by-step detailed description of the entire procedure.

Let's look at a universal liquid acrylic bath renewal algorithm:

1. Thoroughly wash the surface of all contaminants.
2. Sand the bath with sandpaper or a grinding wheel.
3. Wash all debris off the surface.
4. Treat rust with a special solution.
5. Close the existing chips with a car putty.
6. Degrease the entire surface with solvent.
7. Remove the drain hole and overflow, substitute a container under it where excess acrylic will drain.
8. Cover the areas to be protected from contamination with masking tape and lay a newspaper or cardboard on the floor.
9. Dilute acrylic with hardener according to the manufacturer's instructions.
10. Start pouring the liquid on the sides of the bathroom until you have made a full circle.
11. Gently push the acrylic liquid with a spatula to the junction with the tile.
12. Now continue pouring acrylic again in a circle, from the border of full filling (approximately the middle of the height of the walls).
13. After the entire surface is covered with liquid acrylic, let it dry according to the instructions - as a rule, it takes from 1 to 4 days.

Important! After mixing acrylic with hardener, it is suitable for use for about 1 hour. Therefore, act clearly, confidently and quickly.

As you can see, updating the cast-iron bathtub with acrylic at home was not so difficult. In a couple of days you can enjoy bathing procedures in a snow-white and updated bathroom.

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Cast iron bath enamel

This method is the most affordable and not expensive, especially if you decide to do it by your own efforts. Unlike the procedure for pouring a bathtub with acrylic, this method does not require dismantling the drain hole and overflow.

Enamel bath is a special enamel paint with a natural brush. Preparing a bath for applying paint is no different from preparing before applying acrylic. When the entire surface is completely cleaned, putty and degreased, then it is time to renew the bath enamel.

The process of applying new enamel:

1. Mix the base and hardener, mix them thoroughly.
2. Use a hard, flat brush with a minimum width of 7 cm to apply.
3. Move from the sides to the walls, from the walls to the bottom.
4. Alternate movements when applying paint, making them in different directions.
5. After applying the first layer, immediately proceed to the second, since the hardener in the composition very limits the working time.
6. When you have thoroughly painted the bath, pour a little paint on the bottom and evenly distribute it on the surface.
7. Make sure there are no smudges left. If they appeared after 15 minutes, then pull them out with a brush, moving from the sides to the bottom.
8. Leave the bath to dry for at least 5 days, or even a week.

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Stock footage

Now you know how to restore a cast-iron bath, you can safely choose a method for yourself and start updating.