How and with what can you restore an old cast iron or acrylic bathtub at home? Do-it-yourself bathtub restoration. Three available ways to restore a cast iron bathtub at home

During the operation of a cast iron bathtub, due to certain circumstances, damage to the enamel may occur due to mechanical stress and, as a result, the formation rust spots. The appearance of the bathtub becomes unaesthetic and the owner faces several ways to solve this problem, one of which is restoration with his own hands.

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Although this procedure is labor-intensive, significant financial savings are achieved, the finish of walls and floors is not disturbed during dismantling, and the usual reliable but updated bath remains.

Is it possible to restore a bathtub?

It should be understood that a bathtub can only be restored if there are no clearly rotten areas that cannot be repaired. This applies to the bottom near the drain and where water constantly remains. The enamel on the face may be in good condition, but rust that has penetrated through the damaged coating may have caused the cast iron to rust. As a result, the thickness of the metal is not able to provide the same performance characteristics. Maintainability can be assessed by cleaning old enamel, and then tap the surface with a wooden or rubber hammer to identify problem areas.

How to clean old bathtub coating?

It is best to clean old enamel by applying abrasive powder to the surface and rubbing or using a grinding wheel. Use abrasive attachments an electric drill should be used in cases deep penetration rust into a layer of metal. In this case, it is advisable to perform circular or translational movements of the working part of the tool along the surface, so as not to accidentally grind off the excess layer. Restorative compounds that are applied directly to the affected areas are also suitable. When the cleaned dirt accumulates, it is removed. The procedure is carried out until the coating is removed, that is, until the cast iron surface is shiny.

Application of acrylic

Full or partial restoration of enamel?

This issue is considered in each case individually, since it is necessary to take into account the condition of the enamel, service life and the amount of damage. If upon delivery or installation new bath If small chips have been obtained, local processing is possible. But even in this case, problems may arise with selecting the color tone and creating a certain coating thickness. That is, traces of restoration will be, albeit slightly, noticeable. After removing the rust stains, the contrast will be more pronounced because the enamel has acquired a yellowish tint. Therefore, if quick measures are taken to preserve the metal, partial processing and finishing can be done, but to obtain the quality of the coating, complete restoration is done.

Preparing the bathtub surface for painting

After removing the enamel and removing the rust, wash off the remaining coating and crumbs with water. Then the surface is degreased by applying special chemical mixtures that are neutral to cast iron by rubbing with a soft, dry cloth.

Note!

When inspecting the bathtub, the wall thickness is checked and the possibility of further operation is determined.

Before applying a new coating, warm up the bath using poured hot water within 15 minutes. Then the water is drained and inner surface Before painting, wipe dry with a soft cloth. The result should be a surface free of lint, dust and other foreign substances.

Application of acrylic coating

One of the simple ways to create the perfect bathtub cover is to pour an acrylic solution - stacrylic - onto the surface. He is two-component mixture hardener and acrylic. When applied to the surface, the composition polymerizes and forms a thin, uniform layer with a thickness of up to 5 mm. It has different degrees of viscosity and fluidity, which allows high accuracy pick up necessary option for creating layers of a given thickness. Also for beginners, delayed polymerization will be convenient, which gives a little time to correct minor errors.

Method for creating acrylic coating

Prepare the mixture according to the instructions.
Take a container and fill it with liquid acrylic.
The mixture is slowly poured onto the edges of the bath until approximately the middle height of the wall is reached, after which the stream is moved further along the perimeter.
Having passed the entire perimeter, the procedure is repeated starting from the middle until a continuous coating is formed.

Acrylic coating

Advantages and disadvantages of self-leveling coating

The acrylic coating is highly durable and therefore can protect the bathtub from external mechanical influences and significantly increase its service life. The method of applying it is quite simple and even if you have no experience in carrying out such work, difficulties will not arise. The coating is smooth and quite thick, thanks to the ability to fill unevenness and minor defects surfaces. There are no pungent odors during application and therefore no need to apply protective equipment respiratory organs. However, the drying time can be at least three days. Restoring an old cast iron bathtub in this way will be very expensive.

Types of enamels for painting

This method is classic and has been successfully used to restore the enamel coating of bathtubs on a budget. There are two options for enamels: professional and regular. The first is used by specialists with extensive experience in enameling. This is due to the fact that the composition of the mixture is highly fluid and to apply a layer of a certain thickness it will be necessary to paint in several layers. At each stage, a layer of the same thickness is created without drips or streaks. If you have experience, it is possible to perform partial restoration of the old coating with high accuracy. Regular enamel is thicker and the entire coating is painted at one time, but with minor errors.

Coating

The process of applying enamel to a bathtub

First you need to prepare the required mixture. To do this, it is poured into two containers for mixing two portions in equal quantities, since the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub with enamel is carried out in two layers. The first part is mixed with the hardener in the amount described in the instructions for use. Then pour it into a spray bottle and evenly apply the first layer of enamel to the surface. This procedure can be performed with a brush, but it will take more time to create a layer of the desired thickness. After this, wait until it dries and immediately apply the second layer in the same way. You can use the bathroom no earlier than after 7 days.

Using a bath liner

The method is a radical solution in cases where the condition of the cast-iron bathtub has been brought to an unusable state: there are rusty holes or significant damage to the surface, and the owner has decided that it is better to restore it than to replace it with a new one. The special liner is an acrylic frame that is inserted inside a cast-iron bathtub and glued with a special adhesive.

Note!

The insert is manufactured in the factory according to custom sizes, so it will be extremely expensive.

They are adjusted locally to the level, coated with glue, placed in the bathtub, and coated with sealant on top. After a day, the bath is ready for use.

Conclusion

Restoring the operational condition of the bath requires analysis economic feasibility such an event. It includes the amount of time spent, experience in carrying out such work and availability necessary tools. Therefore, before restoring cast iron bath its condition is assessed and a choice is made possible ways applying enamel.

Do-it-yourself restoration of a cast-iron bathtub video:

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Liquid acrylic – modern material, with which you can carry out high-quality restoration of the bathtub with your own hands. Consists of a base that has enough high density, and hardener. Can be used for the restoration of steel, cast iron and acrylic bathtubs.

Materials and tools

To restore the bathtub, you will need bulk liquid acrylic, cleaning and degreasing products for plumbing fixtures, and soda. Please note that liquid acrylic is sold in containers designed for bathtub sizes - 1.2, 1.5 or 1.7 m.

You need to prepare a tool for work:

grinder;
drill;
whisk attachment;
pliers;
sandpaper of various grain sizes;
rubber spatula;
respirator;
vacuum cleaner;
sponge;
gloves;
flashlight.

When using a drill to sand the surface of the bathtub, you will need a special attachment.
Note: construction hair dryer and a stationery knife will be useful for removing non-factory enamel if the bathtub has already been restored.
You also need polyethylene to protect the floor and walls (you can use rags or newspapers).

Preparing the bath

The appearance and service life of the applied coating will depend on the quality of preparation. First, the overflow and drain are removed. Using a grinder or a drill with a grinding attachment, you need to carefully treat the surface of the bathtub. For this purpose it is used sandpaper for rough work 40-N or 32-N (according to GOST 3647-80). Emery will also help remove any water deposits that have formed. The surface after sanding should be rough to ensure good adhesion of liquid acrylic.

Note: non-factory enamel previously applied to restore the bathtub is removed stationery knife after heating with a hairdryer.

The bathtub needs to be cleaned and any remaining debris removed. Then the surface is treated with a plumbing cleaner - the poured product must be spread with a sponge over the entire surface of the bathtub, including the installation location of the removed overflow.

The bath is washed again and left to dry. After drying, the next important stage of work begins - degreasing. Soda is poured into the bath and thoroughly rubbed over the entire surface with coarse sandpaper.

Perhaps degreasing will need to be done not once, but two or three times. You must work with gloves. Then the bath is thoroughly washed with a stream of water from the shower.

Before starting the next stage, you need to remove the siphon.

The installation site of the siphon must be cleaned, degreased and rinsed from soda residues.

The mixer and shower are covered with a bag and secured with tape - water should not get on the applied layer of liquid acrylic until it dries completely. The tiles and shelves above the bathtub are cleaned of dust particles with a cloth. Do not allow sanding dust to get on the acrylic.

After completing this stage, the bath should be thoroughly dried with a hairdryer. Special attention pay attention to places where water can collect: the joints of the tiles and the bathtub, under the side, which is installed at the junction of the tiles and the bathtub. It is better to remove the rim and carry out the restoration of the bathtub without it. The cement joints at the junction with the bathroom can be dried well with a hairdryer.

To eliminate defects in factory enamel (cracks, chips), use quick-drying automotive putty.

The composition is stirred and rubber spatula Apply to damaged areas and then allow to dry.

While the putty dries, cover the floor under the bathtub and the tiles at the joints with polyethylene or newspapers, which are secured with tape.

This way, when pouring liquid acrylic, it will not spoil floor and wall tiles.
After the putty has dried, these places are covered with fine sandpaper. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust particles from the bathtub.

Use a degreasing agent (acetone) to wipe the areas where cracks and chips have been putty. You should also wipe the installation areas of the overflow and siphon with acetone. Place a container under the drain hole (you can use a cut plastic bottle). Excess liquid acrylic will drain into this container.

Coating

After completing the preparatory work, they begin to prepare liquid acrylic. The hardener is added to the material in parts and thoroughly mixed using a drill with a whisk attachment.

It is necessary to achieve complete mixing of the two components, not forgetting about the material in the corners and at the bottom of the jar with liquid acrylic. Otherwise, the layer of applied acrylic will dry unevenly. You need to stir the mixture for 10 minutes.
Important! Don't forget about the pot life ready mixture which is indicated on the packaging. During this time, you need to completely complete the work.
Before pouring the composition is allowed to stand for 5-10 minutes. To work you will need plastic container, into which acrylic is poured. You can use a trimmed and well-wiped hardener bottle. The work is performed wearing medical gloves.
Note: adding coloring paste will allow you to obtain the desired color of the composition. Color paste by weight should not exceed 3% of the total mass of the composition.
The composition is poured around the perimeter of the bath from top to bottom.

Going lower, help yourself with a rubber spatula, which is used to rub the acrylic into the surface of the bathtub. Having achieved complete coverage with liquid acrylic, use a spatula to make zigzag movements along the bottom of the bath. Then the composition is leveled with even movements from the wall towards the drain.

The bath is left for 5 minutes. Turn off the light and use a flashlight to check the surface of the bath for defects or irregularities (smudges) that need to be leveled with a spatula.

Important! Air bubbles may have formed when mixing the composition. To remove these bubbles, the surface of the bath is quickly blown with a hairdryer at low speeds.
After 10 minutes, use a flashlight to check the surface again. The bathtub can be used 24-48 hours after complete drying. Until this point, the bathroom must be closed. The drying time of the composition depends on technical characteristics material and temperature regime in room.
Note: Some modern liquid acrylics take 12-16 hours to dry.

The result of the work

As a result of the work done, you will receive a completely restored bathtub with a beautiful appearance, which is guaranteed to last at least 10 years. The bathtub must be washed after each use by special means for caring for acrylic, dishwashing detergents or liquid soap.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of bathtub restoration with liquid acrylic:

long service life;
beautiful appearance;
smooth surface;
excellent performance characteristics, primarily mechanical strength;
possibility of repeated restoration in the future.

A bathtub after restoration will be practically in no way inferior to a new bathtub.
The disadvantages of this technology include:

the long time required for the surface to dry completely;
a specific smell when applying and drying liquid acrylic;
the need to purchase bath care products.

Tricks at work

A high-quality bathtub surface will be obtained by applying the composition in an even, thick layer. Acrylic should flow down on its own. Determine by eye the middle of the side slopes and pour a second portion of the composition onto them. The remaining material is poured to the bottom. This way the entire surface of the bath will be covered with a thick layer of acrylic.

Anton Tsugunov

Reading time: 4 minutes

Over time, any plumbing fixtures wear out and lose their original appearance. Rust, chips, scratches, cracks, loss of shine and whiteness are the inevitable consequences of daily use and improper care. Do-it-yourself bathtub restoration can restore a decent appearance to old plumbing fixtures. In order for the bathtub renovation to take place with at the lowest cost means and effort, you need to have a good understanding of the algorithm for this procedure at home, understand how to restore a bathtub, how to paint the inside of the bathtub, and what products to choose.

There are three ways to restore your bathtub yourself. Depending on its initial state, you can choose one of them:

Enamelling.
Restoration using liquid acrylic.
Installing the liner.

Bathtub enameling

Enameling a bathtub with your own hands is a feasible procedure for any owner. To understand how to restore the enamel of a bathtub, you need to pay attention to the condition of the container.

Repair of cast iron or steel bath using enamel is justified if there are no deep chips and cracks. Otherwise, enamel, even applied in 2–4 layers, will not hide serious damage.

How to restore a cast iron bathtub yourself at home? When choosing what to paint the inside of the bathtub with, preference should be given to high-quality epoxy enamel from trusted manufacturers, guided by the following criteria:

Selecting the method of applying enamel: brush, roller, aerosol or pour-on method. The most acceptable are application by brush or pouring, since a roller can impart an unnecessary porous texture, and aerosol spraying can only be used in case of repair of individual areas.
Complete set for coating restoration. It is convenient to purchase a kit that includes everything you need for repairs - enamel, auxiliary components, tools for application and compositions for preparing the bathtub.

Important! Due to its thick consistency, high-quality epoxy enamel can create a smooth, even surface and repair small chips. But it is worth understanding that do-it-yourself repair Baths at home are inferior to the industrial method of applying enamel: there may be a change in the color of the new enamel, increased vulnerability to shocks and chips, and limitations in care products.

Self-enamelling of a bathtub occurs in two stages: preparatory work and application of enamel.

Applying enamel

How to restore the enamel of a bathtub becomes clearer after reading the instructions for the purchased enamel composition. The important points here are:

Preparation of the composition. Follow the instructions to prepare the enamel, combining the active component and hardener in the required proportions.
Coating with the first layer of enamel. Cover the surface with a thin layer of enamel using a hard wide brush, starting from the top, gradually going down into the depths of the bowl. You can especially carefully walk along the bottom of the bathtub and the drain as the most worn places.
Applying a second layer of enamel. A new enamel layer is applied after some time specified in the instructions. After this, it can be left to dry for 15 minutes.
Correction of smudges. All detected enamel stains must be smeared with a brush, moving up and down and from side to side. This must be done quickly before the enamel dries.
Reapplying enamel. To achieve a more reliable result, increase the strength of the enamel and protect against new chips, a cast iron or metal container can be painted with one or two more layers of enamel.

How to restore the enamel of a bathtub if the chips are deep? It is necessary to repair the chips with putty, polish and degrease. All chips and cracks must be carefully repaired:

Using sandpaper soaked in water, polish the edges of the chip;
degrease cracks with solvent or white spirit;
dry the surface;
apply enamel.

After enameling, the bath should dry for 7–8 days. Proper care behind the bathtub should exclude the use of abrasive detergents.

Restoration using liquid acrylic

Repairing a bathtub with liquid acrylic is an easier process at home than enameling. Acrylic is resistant to chemical and mechanical stress and is unpretentious in work. Using liquid acrylic you can get a beautiful smooth surface, resistant to temperature changes and hard water.

Because of the way the acrylic is applied, this method is sometimes called "pour bath". Filling bath with your own hands - suitable economical way renewal of cast iron products.

Acrylic is often used trademark“Stakryl” is a two-component high-density enamel, including a base and a hardener.

Covering a bathtub with acrylic yourself consists of the following steps:

Surface preparation. This process is similar to preparing for enameling: you need to clean the bathtub from the old coating, degrease it, and seal the cracks.
Application of acrylic. Having combined the components according to the instructions, pour acrylic from a convenient container in a thin stream onto the side of the bathtub, pushing it under the edge of the tile. The acrylic layer should be approximately 4–6 mm and flow down to the middle of the container. Moving along the side, you need to pour acrylic evenly. After applying acrylic along the outer edge, continue to pour it into the middle of the container, gradually narrowing the circles and moving in a spiral. The remaining mixture flows into the prepared container through the drain.
Drying. Liquid acrylic can dry from 6 to 24 hours. But it’s still better not to rush to use the updated bathroom right away, but wait a few days.

Restoration using an acrylic liner

The third method of repair is to install a liner or “bath within a bath.” It is impossible to make a liner at home; it is made industrially and is an insert that follows the shape of the bathtub itself. It's easy and quick way repair the bath yourself. But it also has disadvantages:

Installation requires removal of the bottom row of tiles to secure the edge of the insert.
Inability to repeat the exact shape of a cast iron bathtub with a liner. This is explained by the fact that cast iron is a complex material for molding and has different depressions and protrusions, which, when installing the liner, provoke the formation of voids. All this negatively affects the quality of the new bath.

Liner installation algorithm

Remove the tiles adjacent to the bathtub.
Clean off old enamel.
Wash, degrease and dry the bathtub.
Dismantle the drain system and seal the hole with silicone gaskets.
Try on the liner. Mark the place where the drain neck will be located with a marker. If necessary, trim off excess acrylic.
Pull out the liner and apply two-component foam or assembly adhesive over the entire surface of the bathtub inside.
Return the drainage device and install the liner.
Treat the joint between the bathtub and the wall with plumbing sealant.
For better sealing, install plastic borders.

No matter how carefully you treat your plumbing fixtures, time will still leave its mark on once new products. The abrasive properties of detergents and mechanical effects on the surfaces of bathtubs negatively affect the factory enamel and make it visually unattractive. Two options come to mind - replacing or restoring the bathtub. Which method is better, reviews and the financial component of the issue are described in our article.

Restoration of a cast iron bathtub

The appearance of indelible rust stains on the bathroom indicates that the service life of the factory enamel has come to an end. Complete bath replacement? But this procedure is technically difficult and expensive. New materials and technologies will allow refresh the surface of plumbing fixtures in the shortest possible time, and this:

Saving finances. Modern plumbing will cost the new owner a lot of money. Let's add to this list: dismantling the old bathroom, transportation, installation of new plumbing.
Minimum terms. A practicing master will complete the work in no more than 5 hours, and after 48 hours you can use the updated equipment.
Quality. The durability of the product, which depends on the material used and the restoration method, is 10-15 years.
Color variation. Often acrylic enamel released white. At the request of the client, by adding color paste, you can get a bathroom shade to suit every taste.

And of course it’s worth mentioning the main feature cast iron bath - ability keep warm for a long time. All of the above reasons point to one thing - “ No" replacement, " Yes" restoration.

What methods of restoring cast iron bathtubs exist?

So we found out that complete replacement plumbing in the bathroom will cost us a considerable amount, and besides, it is a waste of personal time.

Let's consider three restoration options that, for an optimal fee, will give us excellent result:

Acrylic coating. New way, with which a liquid acrylic solution is applied (pouring method) to the surface of the bathtub. Obtained layer characteristics:

Lifetime. Depending on the thickness of the layer, it lasts from 8 to 15 years.
Perfect coverage. The composition spreads well, filling all cracks and irregularities.
Odorless and hygienic. Both children and allergy sufferers can take the bath.

New layer of enamel. Applying special enamel to the surface of the bathtub will remind many of the painting process. Cheapness and simplicity of the method, reduce physical properties updated product:

Durability. New enamel will last no more than 5 years.
Coating. The resulting hard coating is sensitive to impacts.
Appearance. With time , the enamel will definitely turn yellow.

Acrylic liner. On old surface an acrylic liner is installed that completely follows its contours. Advantages:

Life time. The strength of acrylic gives the product a service life of up to 15 years.
Surface. The “bath in bath” design completely hides all defects.
Aesthetic appearance. Acrylic will never turn yellow, and the plasticity of the material allows you to add new design elements to the bathroom.

Restoration of bathtubs with liquid acrylic

When using liquid acrylic, even in the most advanced cases you can get excellent result, and the surface of the bath will become smooth and glossy. In addition to acrylic, the mixture includes: epoxy resin, hardener and chemical additives that increase the characteristics of the new surface.

Restoration stages:

Surface preparation. Scratches are sanded with sandpaper, rust and chips are removed using a grinder. The debris is removed, the surface is treated with baking soda - degreasing.
Enamelling. The bathtub container is washable hot water. Thin layer the mixture is poured in a small layer onto the side of the structure. Acrylic flows freely along the walls of the bathtub and connects at the bottom. The resulting voids at the bottom are also filled with liquid until the circle closes.

You should not try to deal with drips and sagging - this can only cause damage. When dry (the hardening process lasts up to 24 hours), all errors will disappear.

In this video, restoration specialist Artem Babenko will tell and show how he restores a bathtub using liquid acrylic:

Restoration of bathtubs by applying a new layer of enamel

Ideally, enameling takes place in an industrial environment, but special compounds that have appeared recently make it possible to do this at home. As a result, you can get a new one protective covering, without dismantling the bathtub.

Preparatory work. Contaminants deposited on the surface of the bath must be removed. The container of the restored structure must be thoroughly washed and dried.
Applying enamel. Tools for enameling are chosen according to your taste. This could be a roller, brush, etc. During operation, the solution should be thoroughly rubbed to prevent drips.

After at least two days, the enamel will completely harden and the bath will be ready for use.

Restoration of bathtubs using an acrylic liner

The two restoration methods described above are labor intensive. What to do if you need to get results in short time? For this, there is a “bath in bath” method - installing an acrylic liner on the old surface will allow you to enjoy the updated plumbing in just two hours.

Preparatory work. The dimensions of the old bathroom are carefully taken and the appropriate frame is selected. The enamel of the old coating is carefully protected with sandpaper - the roughness allows the liner to stick to the old bathtub as accurately as possible.
Installation. A sealant is applied around the perimeter of the bathroom (protection from moisture), the rest of the part is filled with special foam. An acrylic tab is installed, along with a siphon and screws.

For thorough gluing, you should fill the bath with water - under the influence of the load, the foam will not be able to lift the liner up. Everything is ready, and after two hours you can take water procedures.

Do-it-yourself bathtub restoration at home

All the methods described in our article do not require installation of a bathroom, and the work is done at home. To do the restoration yourself, or to invite a specialist, is everyone’s business.

Let's consider important points Things to pay attention to when restoring bathtubs at home:

Foreign objects.	Whatever the work is in vain, you should completely protect any possibility of foreign objects getting onto the drying surface of the bath: washcloths, creams, soaps, shampoos should be hidden. Remember - even a hair falling on the enamel can ruin the work done.
Proper surface preparation.	An improperly prepared surface of an old bathroom can lead to swelling or chipping of the new layer. Only conscientious cleaning (grinder, drill, sandpaper) and degreasing (baking soda) will allow you to achieve an excellent result.
Preparation of liquid acrylic.	After adding the hardener to the main components, whisk the mixture for at least 7-9 minutes. Then give the acrylic about 4-5 minutes to polymerize, and mix the resulting solution by hand for another 5 minutes. At improper preparation acrylic enamel may not harden in places or turn yellow.

The best way to get rid of wasting personal time and considerable financial investments to replace unattractive enamel sanitary products- restoration of the bathtub. Which method is better, reviews and an excellent opportunity to preserve an old cast iron bathtub will allow you to make the right choice.

Video tutorial: restoring the coating in the bathtub

In this video, master Evgeny Pogrebnoy will tell you how to restore an old, rusty bathroom coating with self-leveling acrylic:

Like any coating, enamel becomes thinner over time, rust spots, stains, and chips appear on it. When the most effective chemical cleaning products containing abrasives fail to correct the problem, most owners decide to change equipment.

But after assessing the labor intensity installation work with material costs, they begin to look alternative options related to updating an old cast iron bathtub. Despite the aesthetically unsightly appearance, the design is quite suitable for performing the main function in accordance with all performance characteristics, will last another half century. It's all about the enamel coating. This means that something new is required, and thanks to new technologies, this manipulation is carried out in the shortest possible time.

Restoring or replacing a cast iron bathtub?

A radical method is to replace the sanitary tank. First of all, you need to calculate how much this procedure will cost. Let’s sum up the cost of an ordinary classic bathtub with the cost of its delivery, including transportation and loading, taking into account the desired floor. Dismantling of old equipment and installation of new equipment is carried out in accordance with the company’s price list. According to the most conservative estimates, you will need at least 13,000 rubles. This does not include damage to the wall and flooring, which is inevitable for any type of installation work. Partial replacement of cracked fragments and redecorating. Conclusion - getting rid of the old one and installing a new bathroom is quite troublesome and expensive.

Isn't it better to think about restoration, if the functionality is good? old bath with thinned or washed away white surface? Especially large sum does not guarantee an excellent result, since the purchase of the least budget capacity was initially intended. When choosing a higher quality convenient or design project, costs can increase significantly. If the owners this method does not fit, they think about available and effective options restoration. It is important to approach this issue wisely, choosing the optimal solution.

Restoring the old surface layer by “pouring” acrylic is the most popular method. Most consumers appreciate the know-how technology due to its simplicity and low cost. With this method, a liquid synthetic mass is poured onto the inner lining of the bathroom.

Advantages of self-leveling acrylic:

long-term wear resistance. When applied correctly, the service life is designed for a period of 8-15 years;
Thanks to the density and plasticity of synthetics, an even, smooth surface structure is formed;
The flowing mass smooths out all kinds of defects and scratches;
Acrylic is applied with high speed, simple technology application allows you to increase the volumetric layer of the surface to 6 mm;
The filling is characterized by the absence of a specific odor, so allergy sufferers, children and the elderly will not need other housing during the renovation.

Significant disadvantages of self-leveling acrylic are:

long drying time of the composition - 3 days;
Coating sensitivity. It is unacceptable for dust to get on the drying surface, otherwise it will deteriorate;
External apparent simplicity technological operation extremely deceptive. In fact, pouring acrylic requires certain skills in working with liquid mass;
Relatively high material costs compared to enameling. But the cost pays off given the increased service life and high quality.

Painting is often considered the oldest method of restoration, when special enamel is applied to a worn-out coating. The owner must think about how to refresh old equipment? Two types of enamels are provided: for professional use and for household purposes. The structure of the former is very thin; at least 3-5 layers will be required. This is a labor-intensive procedure. The latter are characterized by a thicker structure and, accordingly, two-layer styling is easier to apply. Liquid coating Apply with a roller or brush, trying to distribute evenly over the cleaned canvas.

Advantages of the enameling method:

is the most economical restoration option;
there will be no need to dismantle the drain and the overflow will not require reconstruction;
This method is intended not only for cast iron products, but also for steel containers.

Enameling has the following disadvantages:

short service life, less than 5 years;
Drying time is about a week;
the resulting coating is non-glossy, uneven, sensitive to deformation;
a thin layer of enamel is not able to mask dents and chips that may appear over time;
appearance yellow tint during operation, since the original factory epoxy coating is radically different in composition;

Cold enameling is considered the cheapest and in a simple way restoration. It can be compared to dyeing a canvas special composition. To extend the service life of enamel, you must listen to the following recommendations:

To wash a renewed cast iron coating, you need not abrasive cleaning agents that violate the integrity of the coating, but a solution washing powder or soap;
the new container must be protected from impacts; sharp objects can scratch the acrylic sheet;
enamel does not tolerate boiling water, it may crack. When filling the bath, before opening the hot water tap, let the cold water in first, and not vice versa.

Acrylic liner

For option 3 you will need optional equipment– an acrylic liner that is installed using the “bath in bath” method. This two-layer construction will last about 15 years. In this case, they are installed inside old design a new acrylic liner that perfectly follows its contours. Sustainability additional element carried out using technical adhesive foam.

This method has advantages:

acrylic is a more durable material than enamel;
thanks to perfect alignment, all defects and deformations of the cast iron sheet are smoothed out;
the inert material does not turn yellow until the end of its service life;
The two-layer design successfully combines all the advantages of acrylic and cast iron.

Disadvantages of acrylic liner:

the drain siphon will need to be dismantled;
the acrylic structure must not be applied to areas made of lightweight or thin cast iron, otherwise the bath will sag and the adhesive layer will move away from the fastening liner;
with the “bath to bath” method, the materials must meet the standards. Low-quality inserts or a composition not intended for gluing metal will negate all efforts;
careful measurement of the insert is required, down to the millimeter. The slightest discrepancies with the parameters of the main design are unacceptable.

All 3 restoration methods are simple and effective; they require preliminary degreasing and removal of dirt and limescale. You can get rid of greasy marks using oxalic acid or baking soda. Then they begin thorough cleaning, removing plaque and deformed fragments until flat plane. The next stage is grinding, the purpose of which is to obtain a rough surface. Irregularities in the fabric upon contact with the adhesive will ensure the maximum degree of adhesion.

To restore or not - objective conclusions

After weighing all the pros and cons, the owner must decide whether to dismantle or restore the much-needed plumbing equipment. But with competent and qualified performance of restoration work using materials High Quality, the updated bathtub will look like new. If possible, you should trust experienced craftsmen, which has proven itself well. Then an excellent result for relatively little money is guaranteed.