Asked on Nov 29, 2016

Tub resurfacing: Can we do it ourselves?

Shira
by Shira
Both of the tubs in my home need to be resurfaced and before I call in a pro I would like to give it a try on my own. Is this something that I can attempt on my own (I am a DIYing newbie) and if so, what is the best way to go about resurfacing them?

Here are two photos I took of one of the tubs, TIA!
There a bunch of areas where the "paint" has chipped off.
It looks dirty but really those are just chipped areas.
  20 answers
  • William William on Nov 29, 2016

    Looks like they were resurfaced at one time. The resurface coating is chipping. Probably the prep work was not done right. There are tub and tile paint kits available at Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards. You can do it yourself. You can search this forum and see how other Hometalkers have done it. There are many Youtube videos that show the process.

  • Gin3135943 Gin3135943 on Nov 30, 2016

    Hi, Good Luck with your bath I am going to have to do my bath sometime soon, but mine is in a worst condition as yours. I want to watch how you do it and copy from you hope thats ok? So feel free to pass on any tips you come across, cos I'm hopeless at stuff like this, but cant stand this bath much longer! Good Luck again Gina

  • Ann Ann on Nov 30, 2016

    I resurfaced my laundry room sink. It looked really good and I was super impressed. However, my husband uses Orange to clean his hands and this has eaten the epoxy paint off of the sink. I will eventually replace the sink with not much more expense than it took to resurface. Do a lot of research before you resurface your tub. Good luck!


  • Joann Joann on Nov 30, 2016

    I used a high-end resurfacing kit to do a bathtub ten or twelve years ago. I followed all the directions, to the letter and must say, I was very pleased with the results. Unfortunately, within a year, the new surface had begun to yellow and by two years, it was pretty sad. The experts I consulted all told me the same thing..."Epoxy does that; it's not the same as a baked finish." The only fix is just to keep layering it on.

    • Ann Ann on Dec 01, 2016

      I've got a lot of the epoxy left so that's what I will do. Thanks!

  • Tammy Hawkins Tammy Hawkins on Nov 30, 2016

    I would suggest getting prices and comparing to resurfacing, whether you do it or have someone else do it. As others stated, it usually doesn't last and in the end looking at time, effort, and money, you might be better by just getting new bath tubs.

  • Theresa Smith Theresa Smith on Dec 01, 2016

    These look like fiberglas bathtubs as opposed to cast iron or steel. I'm not sure if they can be refinished (I had one when I lived in a MH). You might research a local company who does fiberglas and see what they say.


  • Patricia Patricia on Dec 01, 2016

    I was planning to resurface my tub, but was concerned that the paint is very toxic. Someone suggested trying car wax first and it worked really well.

  • Sandy Hopper Webster Sandy Hopper Webster on Dec 01, 2016

    Resurfacing wears out over time. We had a tub liner installed years ago. We just replaced it with a shower and we're amazed at how it was installed to last forever. I definitely recommend going that way

  • Nancy Nancy on Dec 01, 2016

    I've seen this done twice saw peeling and brush marks it was awful. I've had it done twice by professionals, they do all the work sand etc. one 30 yrs ago and 10 yrs They still look beautiful

    • Georgia Desimini Georgia Desimini on Dec 04, 2016

      Have it done professionally. As long as you don't use harsh chemicals or scrubs the finish lasts well. I only use dish soap,ie. dawn palmolive etc. for the past 15 years, and it still looks great. P.S. also had the ugly tile sprayed, it still looks great , too.

  • Ginny Ginny on Dec 01, 2016

    se u hoI had professional tub resurfacing done and the smell was so bad we left the

    • Ginny Ginny on Dec 04, 2016
      • had a tub resurfaced yrs. ago
      • smelled awful - had to leave the house for 2 days
      • anything sharp - razor, scissors - dropped into tub cut through finish
      • did not peel but did not last/waste of money
      • replaced with new surround and tub/costly but worth it
      • DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON REFINISH - BUY NEW
  • Brad Glass Brad Glass on Dec 02, 2016

    I am in the home repair business. Sometimes I am asked to do a remodeling job. One bathroom that I did was a complete to the studs, wall and ceiling, rip out. The only thing left in the room was the steel tub. Improved plumbing, counter and cabinets, sheetrock, and tile floor and walls. The last thing done was the tub. This was subed out to another company. The process was simple but the chemicals were tough. First the tub was cleaned with a caustic type of cleaner. Then scrapped with a razor blade and wiped clean. Next the tub was etched with a low grit sandpaper and chemical and cleaned again. The final step was the painting. A fan was placed in the window. The worker suited up in a chemical suit, done a respirator mask and sprayed the tub like he was spraying a car. The whole process took only a couple of hours. I could not touch the tub for a couple of days. Tub looked great. Finished bathroom looked good. Did have a repair though. Thought I had the water off good, but one drop hit the drain and had to be reworked. This was not as difficult as the first time, but could not use the tub fohoursr a couple of days. That was three years ago and no call back. To clean the tub, you cannot use any abrasive type of cleaner and harsh type. In my opinion, the professional route is the way to go. The other option that my parents did to two bathrooms was the slip over type and they look great. Again a professional job. Can DIY do this type of remodeling? Yes. But do your research and homework. Practice on the tub, following all steps to the letter. Be prepared to do it over. I hope this helps.

  • Mary Mary on Dec 02, 2016

    Been there and done that without good effect. A professional job still requires an enourmous amount of care to maintain - no soap scum ever! Best to get a company to put in an over the tub fitting. It may cost more, or maybe there is a DIY kit. However, you will get something you will like that will last.

  • Ellen Henry Ellen Henry on Dec 03, 2016

    We bought a 1940s bungalow last summer but had limited money for the rehab..the kitchen was desperate to be redone so the bath got pushed to the last..the tub was gray even after repeated scrubbing and bleaching. We bought a brush-on kit and followed all the insturctions..bear in mind you cannot use the tub for 72 hours... It came out OK... better than it was anyway. Negative..comments The stuff is really toxic and no matter how hard we tried you can still see brush strokes Would we do it again? ...yes..this will last a couple years till we can re-do the bathroom

  • Marian Marian on Dec 03, 2016

    Several years ago I bought a can of tub resurfacing prep. I chose ivory color and painted over a medium blue 1960's iron tub. It takes just a little work but its worth it. First, sand lightly, then paint first coat , then shortly after that, paint second coat. The tub still looks as good as when I did it originally. My tub is that old iron one, so I don't know how it would work on any other type. I found the product at Menard's. Good luck, and I hope it works for you. Marian K.

  • Sandra.hochberg32 Sandra.hochberg32 on Dec 04, 2016

    I had a bath tub resurfaced more than 15 years ago and it lasted. At the time I was told 5 yrs was the warrantee. That process was completely different than what they use today. The same tub was resurfaced in June, 2016, with a different process, less toxic. Also had the tile done.

    Expensive, but less than a replacement tub. The next day the tub had a rough surface and I called the vendor and he came out to "polish." Be aware, as he wanted to charge me extra for the "polish" but I told he that he did not tell me this when I called. So he didn't charge for it.

    Also, these refinished tubs cannot use a rubber mat nor any kind of abrasive cleaning material.

    I had to purchase a place mat that was pricey. Six of one and a half dozen of the other!

  • Lin12195594 Lin12195594 on Dec 04, 2016

    Call in a pro, had my tub done 3yrs ago, looks great. Just DON"T put any bar soap on edge of tub or in painted soap dish. Bar soap has lye in it and will bubble the surface. Use a separate soap dish or liquid bath soap. No abrasive cleanser either !

  • Sandra Sandra on Dec 04, 2016

    We bought a claw foot tub that was in terrible shape,.. I bought a refinishing kit at Lowes and now the tub is beautiful,..

  • Ima13138347 Ima13138347 on Dec 04, 2016

    TRUST ME.....it won't last!! I had mine resurfaced TWICE by a professional (two different people). Mine was guaranteed for a year but only lasted 7-8 months before it started to bubble. They resurfaced the tub but it did it AGAIN within the same amount of time. My father was a professional painter, he told me it wouldn't last but no, I wouldn't listen. All I could think of was, how much I would be saving but ended up paying more. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY........IT DOESN'T HOLD UP!!!!

  • Teresa Teresa on Dec 04, 2016

    Quite a few years ago I resurfaced a tub with an outdoor product called sealcrete, the tub was horrid and rough enough to remove skin! I only needed it to last a year because the bathroom was going to be torn out and rebuilt.. we didn’t get around to it for 7 years and the tub still looked good. Of course we did not use that tub more than once a week or so

  • Sharon Henry Sharon Henry on Dec 09, 2016

    I had to refinish 2 tubs to sell my house. I found it fast and efficient to have it done by a professional. Just 2 separate days and it was done. Think about time-you need a bathtub~