Can you paint a bathtub?

[RoJoHen]

I just moved into a new place last weekend, and I plan to be here for a while. I'm renting, so I don't want to invest too much money in fixing things, but the bathroom is just so very annoying. The tub is about a billion years old; it's stained and the wall is cracking. It's "clean" and works just fine, but it's gross to look at.

Can you paint (or do something else to) the inside of a bathtub to cover up ancient rust and calcium stains? Can the cracks in the wall be sealed? I'd really just like the whole thing to be white and shiny again and not yellow and faded.

 

[Jetfire]

CLR should clean up the rust and stuff from the tub.

 

[Lindley]

For calcium stains, just pretend they're Slitheen and attack them with vinegar.

 

[RoJoHen]

Yeah, the stains aren't my hugest concern. It's the cracks on the walls that I really want to do something about. That, and the walls are a gross old color. They were probably white about 30 years ago, but now they're yellow.

 

[auntiehill]

You'll need to get the tub professionally sealed.

There are a few types of paint that can be used on a tub, but I would suggest getting a professional to do it. I've seen a few tubs that people have tried to "repaint" themselves and the results are disastrous.

If might be simpler to just replace the thing.

 

[RoJoHen]

But I like giving myself projects.

 

[RoJoHen]

Crap, I just destroyed my wall installing my new towel bar.

Whoever installed the original towel bar did NOT want that thing removed.

 

[Trekker4747]

Be sure and walk around your place, look up, and see if you have any ceiling fans.

 

[RoJoHen]

I have one in the living room!


So...how do you repair plaster? (yes, this house pre-dates drywall)

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

There is ceramic spray paint for repairing the finish on a stove. Most hardware stores carry it.

It should work on a bathtub. You might need to sand the thing down to get it to adhere to the old finish.

 

[Captain Ice]

The tub needs to be professionally taken care of.

For the walls, try going to Home Depot/Lowe's/Ace and asking what can be done to repair the cracks. Make sure you tell them that this is in a bathroom as the moisture in the room may make a difference in what needs to be done.

However, first of all you need to talk to your landlord. He/she may look at it and decide that it needs to be done and make all the arrangements including paying for it. Alternatively, you need to know what they will allow as far as changes to the apartment.

 

[RoJoHen]

However, first of all you need to talk to your landlord. He/she may look at it and decide that it needs to be done and make all the arrangements including paying for it. Alternatively, you need to know what they will allow as far as changes to the apartment.

Fair point. I doubt he'd have a problem with it. His whole career is buying houses and fixing them up, so he would welcome any improvements I make.

BUT, I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something I won't inevitably get to keep.

Truth be told, I just want to gut and replace the entire bathroom, but I'm not spending money to do that!

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Roger, regarding the tub, i'd try some elbow grease and softscrub first. If that doesn't work, i'd do CLR like someone else recommended. Be careful with the fumes though.

There IS a tub refinishing kit available. We bought one years ago (we have a claw foot tub) but we never used it. Here is a link for one:

http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-7861519-Refinishing-2-Part-Almond/dp/B000RTQNIM

I'm clueless in regards to the walls.

 

[Jadzia]

So...how do you repair plaster? (yes, this house pre-dates drywall)

Polyfilla. Apply to hole with palette knife

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Be careful you don't come a cropper like Mr Pooter:

http://www.diaryofanobody.net/diary.php?keyword=bath

 

[Scout101]

Reglazing the tub yourself IS possible, but potentially a disaster as well. I had mine redone using a company called Miracle Method, and it worked out pretty well. Think it was around $400, and looks like brand new, shiny white. Was a lovely shade of blue before, with a few chips missing. Might be the way to go? Could also price out one of those bath-fitter custom molded liners.

Depending on the landlord, they might be willing to pay for it, or at least kick in towards it, if you were doing something that will actually improve the look and value of the place...