Cast iron bathroom paint is intended for restoration of old products. It saves it from disposal, because the bathroom is a necessary room in a house or apartment. Many residents of apartment buildings have cast iron products, as they are convenient and practical to use. Cast iron bathtubs are a design in which you can bathe and wash clothes. They have a long service life.
But after mechanical and chemical influences (chips, scratches, detergents), the coating inside becomes unusable over time. It acquires a gray tint, cracks, and yellowness. You can correct defects without calling a specialist by painting the product yourself. Painting a cast iron bathtub at home with your own hands is the ideal solution.
Pros and cons of painting
For painting, you need to choose only a dye for metal structures.
This method has a number of advantages:
- Large selection of paint and varnish tones;
- The price of the dye saves a lot of money;
- Possibility to paint a cast iron bathtub without calling specialists;
- Saving time and effort, fast execution;
- No unpleasant odor after the dye dries;
- Beautiful glossy finish.
However, this method of surface renewal has disadvantages:
- Before applying the composition, the outer coating must be treated with a grinding machine, and then with a primer mixture;
- It is necessary to apply dye to an old cast iron product only after treating the coating with an antifungal compound;
- There are acrylic solutions that take a long time to dry - three days.
How can you paint a cast iron bathtub? First you need to find the appropriate paint, only then begin work on treating the surface of the cast iron.
Types of paints
The dye is divided into four types:
- Epoxy resin (two-component);
- Acrylic (liquid base);
- Epoxy;
- Aerosol – good for long products.
Resin
For painting cast iron bathtubs with severe surface corrosion (chips, deep cracks). Epoxy enamel is applied in a thick layer, even without preliminary primer treatment of the surface.
The resin is diluted with solvents to a thick consistency, applied to chips, and then to the entire surface.
Acrylic dye (enamel)
How to paint or treat the inside of a cast iron bathtub at home? Acrylic. Resurfacing cast iron yourself is a simple, easy method of resurfacing.
Acrylic has a liquid consistency, which simplifies the work with its distribution over the coating. After drying, the acrylic composition becomes glossy, which is why this paint coating is popular today. The service life of acrylic film is from 7 to 20 years with proper care, so painting the product with this composition will be beneficial.
Epoxy dye
Epoxy paint is resistant to mechanical influences. It is a synthetic oligomer produced from a resin. Long-lasting, durable coating for metal and industrial equipment. Paint with a glossy effect, hydrophobic in property. You can paint with any convenient tool: roller, brush, spray gun.
Spray
Cast iron bath paint is an aerosol, namely a dye for cast iron products.
It is applied after treating the surface with grinding equipment and a primer. This is a finishing coating with a large assortment - from a bright, varied palette to the manufacturer. The paint dries quickly and can be used in hard-to-reach areas.
Epoxy enamel
Epoxy bathroom enamel is a coloring substance that consists of several components - a hardener, as well as a base. Before using enamel, these components are combined with each other until a homogeneous, thick mass is obtained.
The cost of liquid epoxy enamels, compared to the same acrylic paints, is low. However, due to the fact that they have a viscous consistency, it is very problematic to apply them to the surface in an even, homogeneous layer. The period of final hardening and drying of epoxy can range from 48 hours to 3 days.
Manufacturers
How to paint a cast iron bathtub at home without knowing what paint to choose? Among dyes and enamels, we can highlight compositions that are in great demand for painting a cast-iron bathtub:
- "Epoksin 51". Enamel.
According to the manufacturer (Russia), products with enamel will last about 9-10 years;
- Liquid acrylic Luxury "Ekovanna". (Manufacturer – Russia).
This is a kit that includes the hardener and the enamel itself. The service life of a product treated with acrylic is 15 years with proper care;
- Lako Colorful Materials Finnish. Price 1000 -1300 Russian rubles;
- Rust Oleum paint (USA). "Specialty Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit." Price 1700-2000 Russian rubles per liter. Painting a cast iron bathtub with this composition will not be difficult;
- Dulux (country – UK). Dulux Realife Kitchen & Bathroom. Dye. Its price is from 1000 to 2,500 Russian rubles per 1.20 l;
- “Svetlana” (produced in Russia). The set includes clearing pastes (white and other colors). The price of such a kit is about 800 rubles;
- "Renaissance" (manufacturer - Russia). Paint for cast iron. The kit includes all the products needed to paint the surface. Price up to 900 rubles per jar, volume 0.8 liters;
- "Kudo" (domestic manufacturer). Spray (enamel). The price of one can differs (from 200 rubles to 500 rubles) depending on the composition and color. This paint can be used to paint the outside of a cast iron bathtub.
You can look at all the variety of things you can use to paint or update a cast-iron bathtub at home or in the country on the Internet or in a hardware store.
What to look for when choosing bath paint? It is better to restore the surface of the bathtub using high-quality materials and paint coatings.
When choosing a paint coating (this is what can be painted), the characteristics of each product are taken into account. How to choose paint:
- The purpose of the composition is indicated on the paint can - for metal work;
- Bath paint has a shelf life of one year. The paint kit includes tinting pastes and special hardeners.
Painting a cast iron bathtub with an aerosol spray (with your own hands) will not work, since the coating will not form a dense layer.
What color should I paint the battery?
White radiator
- classic. In our country, batteries are usually placed under the windows, and they are almost always white. A radiator in the color of the window sill and frames is the most common and absolutely organic solution. However, it is far from the only one.
Black batteries are very popular today
. There is an opinion that a radiator painted black heats a little better than a white one. However, experts say that the difference, if any, does not exceed 1-2%. The black color of the battery is more of a design tribute than a concern for heat. Such radiators can often be found in modern interiors, especially those decorated.
Battery to match the wall color
- a less common solution, but certainly successful. Of course, this does not disguise the battery or make it invisible. However, thanks to this technique, the radiator does not stand out from the general space and does not look like something alien.
Photo from the project of designer Galina Yurieva
Not many people would dare to paint the radiator in a bright color that contrasts with the walls. Making the battery a focal point is a bold move. And very effective. This design option is suitable for a modern minimalist interior.
An interesting idea is to paint the battery using the ombre (or gradient) technique. The outer section is painted, for example, white. The second has a subtle color, and each subsequent section becomes more saturated.
Photo source: the-village.ru
Colored batteries are especially appropriate in children's rooms. Here you can safely get creative. For example, decorate the radiator with patterns, drawings, and thematic painting. Or paint the battery in the form of colored pencils, rainbows, etc.
Sky-high prices for good quality cast iron bathtubs force us to look for a real alternative to purchasing new items made of cast iron. The easiest way to solve the problem is to restore the enamel coating, for example, paint the bathtub. The method for solving the problem is not particularly difficult. All that remains is to choose what to paint the inside of the cast iron bathtub with. To be honest, the range of materials is extremely limited; any polymer coating is inferior in its characteristics to the mineral enamels used to cover the bathtub. But it’s still worth trying to repair a cast-iron bathtub with paint, since if you’re lucky, you can solve a serious problem at minimal cost.
Coverage Requirements
There are many types of paint and varnish coatings on the market and there is something you can use to paint your bathtub. There are restrictions that prohibit painting the bathtub:
- The paintwork materials should not contain toxic substances that can interact with water, detergents and oxygen;
- The texture of the paint should be dense and hard, with a glossy effect. This paint fits perfectly on the surface of old cast iron.
A paint coating is what you can use to paint a bathtub. But you need to test it in advance for color. To do this, you should apply one coat of paint, before painting the cast iron bowl, onto the clear glass and let it dry. You can evaluate the tone quality like this: look at the back of the glass.
Mechanical stripping of NOT factory paint - detailed instructions
In order to carry out mechanical cleaning of non-factory paint, we will need an angle grinder, which is popularly called an angle grinder, or a drill, if you do not have an angle grinder and there is no financial sense in purchasing one for the sole purpose of restoring your bathtub.
You will also need a drill or angle grinder pad attachment and a 3M Scotch-Brite blue coral sanding disc or similar, commonly available at most auto parts stores.
There are other types of cleaning discs, but they are very ineffective; cleaning will be very difficult and time consuming. In addition, these stripping discs will be absolutely useless at the next stage - during mechanical stripping of the factory coating. Watch the video for an overview of the different cleaning discs.
Mechanical cleaning of non-factory paint is carried out using a drill or angle grinder using simple smooth circular movements. The procedure is very dusty, so we recommend that you remove or cover with film all items and personal hygiene products in advance if possible.
You need to work in safety glasses and a respirator, while observing all safety requirements and precautions when working with angle grinders.
Removal of non-factory paint can also be done using an industrial hair dryer and a metal spatula. Using a hairdryer, the old non-factory coating applied to the surface of the bathtub is heated to a temperature of 700*C.
As a result, the old paint melts and can be easily removed with a metal spatula. But this process is not so dusty, but takes longer to complete the work.
For cleaning you will need:
• drill or grinder; • nozzle in the form of a support plate; • 3M Scotch-Brite cleaning disc; • or an industrial hair dryer and a metal spatula.
Bath liner
How can you paint a bathtub? This question need not be asked, because this restoration method is called “bath in bath.” In an old cast-iron bathtub, a liner is placed on glue, which completely follows the shape of the bathtub.
This method has advantages:
- The new coating consists of acrylic, which is able to withstand impacts and is resistant to chemical influences from detergents;
- The surface does not change color over time;
- The bathtub is like new – smooth and shiny.
However, there are a couple of nuances when installing the liner in the bathroom. If the bathtub is made of thin cast iron, then in the future it is impossible to avoid deflection of the structure, as a result of which the liner is deformed. Also, before laying the acrylic surface, the siphon is dismantled. From the above, we can conclude what and how to properly paint a cast-iron bathtub inside and out.
Why is it profitable to restore a product?
The bathtub coating gradually becomes thin; rust and limescale deposits give the product an unaesthetic appearance. It is important to carry out restoration work in time, while the plumbing can be saved without replacing it.
If your plans do not include renovating the entire room, replacing tiles and floors, then it is more profitable to update only the bathtub.
Buying a cast iron bathtub is expensive; its transportation, delivery and installation will require additional costs, because it is impossible to do it alone due to its weight.
At the same time, replacing it will ruin the appearance of the finish; you will have to change the entire tile.
If the bathtub bowl does not have large cracks with chips, then you can carry out the restoration with your own hands easily and quickly.
Attention! Restoration work on old plumbing does not require large expenses; even a beginner can easily handle the job.
Old-style bathtubs made of cast iron are much higher quality than their modern counterparts, so it is better to restore the product than to install a new one. Modern plumbing has a service life of only fifteen years.
Required Tools
Painting an old cast-iron bathtub in an apartment by a specialist or with your own hands will not be effective without the following tools:
- Sandpaper with various grits;
- Paint thinner (No. 646) or alcohol (White);
- The putty is waterproof;
- A rubber spatula to carefully distribute the composition over the surface with your own hands;
- Roller for applying emulsion;
- Painting a cast iron bathtub with a spray gun;
- Grinding machine for processing the outside of the bathtub;
- A paint brush to paint the bath yourself;
- Drill;
- DIY nozzle for stirring enamel;
- Separate container for cast iron paint (bucket or basin);
- Container for diluting the primer;
- Bathroom paint.
Bowl resurfacing methods
The following update methods are considered the most popular:
1.painting with enamel.
2.applying liquid acrylic.
3.liner insert, made of acrylic material.
All types of coating have positive and negative properties. Painting using enamel or acrylic is considered a non-labor-intensive job and can be done with your own hands. The most important thing is to determine the correct composition and follow the instructions strictly.
Installing the liner requires skill, which is why it is worth inviting specialists.
Preparing the bathtub for painting
After the question of what paint to paint the bathtub has been sorted out and the final conclusion has been made, it is necessary to begin work on preparing the surface of the cast iron for applying the painting composition:
- First of all, the drain and pipes are removed from the cast iron bathtub;
- All grease and limescale deposits are removed from the inner surface using special detergents that contain alkali (oxalic acid or baking soda). The cast iron bathtub is polished from the outside;
- Peeling paint and enamel are removed with a grinding wheel or electric drill with abrasive attachments to smooth the surface;
- Cracks and log frames are sanded separately with sandpaper;
- The primer is distributed throughout the bathtub, a thick layer is applied to chips and to the edges of the sides of the bathtub;
- We prepare the mixture and dilute it. You need to know that the diluted composition should not sit for more than half an hour - this is the time to paint the bathtub, as it begins to harden.
- Next, a coloring composition is applied to the dried surface and evenly distributed over the surface of the cast-iron bath by hand;
- The second layer of paint for a cast iron or metal bathroom (quick-drying option) is applied only after the first layer has dried;
- After application, allow to dry for at least a day with doors and windows closed.
The grinding attachment is selected in accordance with the material being processed - metal; you can also use sandpaper or a steel brush.
Check the cleaned surface for paint and enamel residues, and check the quality of degreasing using a stream of water. If there are smudges and drops left, the surface has been poorly processed, but if it is smooth, then the work has been done properly.
What is an unusual way to paint a cast-iron bathtub on the outside? You can use bright paint, and after it dries, apply a design.
The pattern can be found on the Internet and printed on a printer. Typically, the outside of the bathtub is covered with plastic frames or ceramic tiles. You can use a cast iron bath after painting no earlier than seven days after applying the pigment.
Best answers
Irima:
buy a bath liner. or install a new one, minus all costs from the rent.
Evgenia Voldkova:
The main thing is that the hostess is pretty and doesn’t mind showering with the swami, but lying with her is not the main thing! ;-))
Bolshevik cats:
Well, degrease and paint with alkyd enamel.
Sergey Vasiliev:
We painted the shower tray with white enamel 3 times, several years passed, nothing happened, not even yellowed from the water...
647 acc:
It’s not worth the candle, don’t even think about it, especially in a rented apartment!! ! We hired bathtub enamel painters, the paint literally peeled off within a week, we called them to redo it, and history repeated itself. So we bought a new bathtub...
ENLIGHTENED:
To prevent the enamel from peeling off, you must first clean it well (sand the bathtub), then apply a layer of primer, sand it again and then apply the enamel. Moreover, you also need to know which enamel to cover. In short, hemorrhoids, but if you do everything correctly, the coverage will last for a long time
