According to reviews, the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub is a great way to renew the surface and do without major repairs. There are several methods and technologies, each of which has its own characteristics. If your bath has lost its shine, turned yellow, has become rough and unpleasant to the touch, and the enamel is covered with cracks, do not rush to change it. Be sure to consider that when replacing the bath, it is also necessary to change the old siphons and pipes, the design of which is probably already outdated, and the condition leaves much to be desired. In addition, the dimensions of the new bath are likely to differ from the old, so additional redecoration of the entire room will be required.
Positive reviews about the restoration of cast-iron baths leave no doubt - this is a great alternative to an expensive replacement. The restored surface has reliably served for several years, it looks beautiful and neat.
What is a bath restoration
Bath restoration is a process in which the upper enamel layer is refreshed in one way or another, and the old body is not affected. By the way, you can restore both the cast-iron bathtub and simpler substitutes - steel and acrylic. All repair work related to the restoration process takes place directly in the customer’s apartment, it is not necessary to remove the bathtub and spoil the repair in the room. Depending on the selected method, the duration of the work is from 1 to 5 hours, and then it is necessary to wait until the composition has completely dried. This may require quite a lot of time: from several hours to several days.
Then the bath can be used as usual, but you should communicate with the coating with particular care: clean it with mild detergents, do not use powders with large abrasive particles, try not to drop anything heavy in the bath, do not put metal basins inside. Such precautions are necessary because the coating is more fragile than the original. However, according to reviews, the restoration of an old cast-iron bath allows you to use the product for several years, and all the inconvenience is minor.
Methods of restoration
There are several popular methods. Before making the final choice, it is advisable to find out all the ways and reviews on the restoration of cast-iron bathtubs and really appreciate the advantages and disadvantages.
The most popular method is restoration using liquid acrylic. In this case, acrylic, which has the consistency of condensed milk, is carefully poured into the bowl of the bath. The coating is durable, even and beautiful, does not turn yellow with time. Another good method is to use an acrylic liner. If the bathtub is badly damaged, then experts recommend using this particular method, since the liner hides dents and bumps. The cheapest, affordable and easiest method is enameling. According to reviews, the restoration of cast-iron baths in this way is notable for its low price and quite acceptable quality of the finish. The enameled surface is smooth and can last another 1-5 years.
Next, we consider these methods in more detail.
Liquid acrylic
This recovery method is also often called acrylic enamel or a bulk bath. The material is applied to the edge of the bath by pouring, the composition flows down the walls and forms a perfectly even, smooth surface. The coating is durable, even and beautiful, does not turn yellow with time. The exact volume of the source material depends on the size of the bowl, the density of the substance, as well as the brand of the manufacturer. Before applying, the bath must be thoroughly washed, it is advisable to remove the drain siphons and grids.
If enameling is repeated or if the work surface is severely damaged, additional cleaning may be required. After hardening, acrylic becomes solid and durable, you can use the product after about 36 hours. According to reviews, the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub with liquid acrylic is a relatively inexpensive and durable way to renew damaged enamel.
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid acrylic
This method of enamel restoration has many advantages, but it is not without several serious drawbacks. The advantages of the method include:
- short drying period: the bath can be used for its intended purpose after 36 hours;
- possesses excellent characteristics: it does not turn yellow, is resistant to scratches, retains heat well, is durable;
- the cost is relatively low.
The disadvantages of liquid acrylic are:
- the need to remove the drain siphon, which entails additional costs;
- liquid acrylic completely repeats all the bends of the surface of the bath, so factory defects, chips, deep scratches will be noticeable.
Acrylic liner
Reviews about the restoration of the cast-iron bathtub with acrylic are mostly positive. Customer dissatisfaction is usually caused by the quality of the work, rather than the material itself. During the restoration process, an acrylic insert is inserted into the bathtub - a rather thin plastic trough that more or less accurately repeats the shape of the original bowl. The liner is fixed to the surface of the bath using special foam and, according to the manufacturer, should last for 15 years.
The price of the insert is relatively low, however, it should be borne in mind that the cost of delivery, bringing into the house, dismantling tiles, siphons, installing the insert itself and other additional costs are added to this amount. As a result, the amount becomes so impressive that it is comparable with the price of a new bath.
Acrylic is a very strong and reliable material, but this restoration method has a serious flaw. If the surface of the liner does not fit perfectly onto the surface of the bath, microbends occur during operation. Polyurethane foam compensates for these vibrations, but its service life is only 3-5 years. Over time, voids form under the bottom of the liner, into which water flows and bacteria begin to multiply. With liquid acrylic restoration, there are no such risks.
Disadvantages of the liner
The benefits of acrylic are listed above. Enumerating the disadvantages of this method, it is worth mentioning such points:
- it is necessary to dismantle the drain siphon;
- a gap of at least 3 cm should be left between the wall and the bathroom, this gap must subsequently be closed with something;
- the lower row of tiles, which is adjacent to the upper edge of the bathtub, must be removed.
Enamelling
According to reviews, the restoration of an iron cast-iron bath with enamel is the most inexpensive and easy method to restore the coating. A few decades ago, rough bathtubs were simply painted, but today there are more advanced materials. Enamel adheres firmly to the surface of the bath and forms a smooth, even coating that can last from one to five years.
Then, if necessary, the process can be repeated. Reviews of the restoration of the cast-iron bathtub by this method indicate that you can carry out the procedure even with your own hands, without involving third-party performers.