Cast Iron Tub Refinishing Options

One of the features that many people enjoy in their bathroom, especially if they have extra room and a little imagination is the old cast iron tub. These are a feature from days gone by whenever taking a bath was considered to be something that should be savored and these tubs were over sized and often very ornate.

Most people that have these types of tubs in their bathrooms, could not possibly imagine ever tearing them out and replacing them with a new style fiberglass tub and shower. Even if the tub is in disrepair, there are some cash iron tub refinishing processes that can be done which can make them look as if they were new.

One of the biggest problems with cast iron tubs, especially those that are approaching the century mark is that they may have been exposed to water and abuse for so long that the iron is beginning to show through the porcelain. Perhaps the porcelain has just worn extremely thin or it may also be that it is cracked and chipped away. Regardless of what the problem is, however, you have several different choices that are available to you in order to achieve the cast iron or clawfoot tub refinishing that you desire.

The first option is just going to basically be that you will have the cast iron bath tub resurfacing done as the tub is sitting in place. Many times, any type of bathtub refinishing that is accomplished professionally is nothing more than preparing the old tub and putting a fresh coat of paint over top of it. Of course, it is a specialty paint that is going to be used which is typically a mixture of high gloss paint and polyurethane which will give the tub a durable and beautiful finish.

Another cast iron tub refinishing option that you have available to you is to have the old tub removed from your home and taken to the shop in order to be refinished. This is often done whatever the tub needs to be refinished overall and perhaps has quite an extensive amount of rust and pitting that has shone through. In these cases, the tub itself may actually be sandblasted in order to remove the old finish entirely and to clean up any rust that may exist when you refinish a bathtub. From that point, the surface will be prepared and repainted. The result is, you will have a finished tub that not only looks brand-new, it will continue to look brand-new for many years.

One word of caution that I could give to you about cast iron bath tub resurfacing is the fact that this is not a job that should ever be tackled on your own. Even though they do sell kits that claim to be able to help you to refinished the tub by yourself, you are never going to be able to get that professional finish that you can whatever it is done with the right tools.

In many cases, the finish that you do end up with will only last for several months before it begins to peel or crack away. Having the tub refinished by a professional is an inexpensive option and it is certainly one that is worth every penny.