I'm remodeling a condo with a longtime client. He can do some of the work with my direction and especially can watch the laborers while I do elec. and plumbing. The bathtub has about 1/3 of the finish peeled away. Hard to say what it was originally. The surface under the finish is not a pleasant color, hard to imagine it was the original tub. The boundary tween the finish and peeled away zones is obvious, would show under a new finish. Not sure if sanding will work, as a feathered edge might peel up easily.

I used the 2 part Rust-oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing kit once on some tile I'd replaced on an old back splash a while back. The existing surface was old tile that had been painted over by one of the pro franchise outlets. My job was OK but there's was better.

On the current job, the owner got a quote from a franchise outfit for $1500. He didn't like it. He thinks we can do it for $500. I'm thinking more like $800. A day at least for a laborer to prep it, and that's if sanding will work. If it has to be removed with paint remover, if that would even work, more labor.

This crap could be dicey real easy. I've got an airless sprayer but I'm no magician with it.

Anybody done it?

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I have refinished tubs before.

Sanding will work, but you have to really get the edges feathered. You also have to rough up the surface to get the epoxy to stick.

The trick is doing a few light coats of epoxy. If you glom it on it will peel off in a matter of months. Pay special attention to the holes in the tub for if you do not do a good job there it will start to peel from those areas.

It is about a day's worth of work from sanding, to washing it out with mineral spirits and running a tack cloth over it (very important to treat the tub as if it was a Rolls Royce getting a repaint) then doing the epoxy and letting it dry between coats.

The longer you let it cure before attaching the drains to it and putting water in it the better. It will never be as durable as the factory baked on finish, but it is livable.

Oh and do not use the sprayer. Use the special roller that comes with the kit.


Good luck!

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

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Speaking of tubs, has anyone had one glazed? Mine is an old iron tub and I don't want to put a tub liner in it but would rather have it re-glazed. I have seen liners pop up around the drain.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

If it's a clawfoot, much more approachable to taking it to some shop to have it done. The tub I'm looking at would be a nightmare to remove and replace.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

That's some good feedback. I don't really want to use the sprayer. Damn things can spit out droplets now and then and cleaning it multiple times is something I wasn't looking forward to. The stuff is supposed to be somewhat self-leveling so I'm thinking a roller might work. May do some sample coats on some scrap sheet metal.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I did quite a bit of research on refinishing tubs and came to the conclusion that the end product just isn't up to par. This would be after spending a full day on it (which I have no desire to do).

I have an outfit that arrives with a kit that applies the coating hot and it's about 1/16" thick.

They offer a 7 year guarantee...........it will just about make it seven years in a tenant application.

The cost is reasonable..........$350.........and it takes him about three hours to mask, sand and spray it.

What's the name of the product? Is it a franchise?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm also thinking it would be tough to get a good and durable finish, especially since it'd be the first time doing it. At some point, I need to realize that I'm not going to be able to do every damn thing on a house. I've already ceded carpet laying to the specialists and this one is now in that category also, as my employer called today to tell me he found an outfit, another franchise chain, that will do the job for $500. I told him to take it as it would cost us about that much at least to do it ourselves.

Not sure what difference there his between the $500 product and the outfit that quoted $1500.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I couldn't get many details from the installer. I don't believe it's a franchise, but I'm sure the equipment is sold to many installers doing the same work.