According to reviews, the restoration of a cast-iron bath is a great way to update the surface and do without major repairs. There are several ways and technologies, each of which has its own characteristics. If your bath has lost its luster, turned yellow, has become rough and unpleasant to the touch, and the enamel has become cracked, do not rush to change it. Be sure to keep in mind that when replacing a bathtub, it is also necessary to change old siphons and pipes, the design of which is probably already outdated, and the condition leaves much to be desired. In addition, the size of the new bathtub will most likely be different from the old one, so additional redecoration of the entire room will be required.
Positive feedback on the restoration of cast iron baths leaves no doubt - this is a great alternative to an expensive replacement. The restored surface serves reliably for several years, looks beautiful and neat.
What is bathtub restoration
Bathtub restoration isa process in which the upper enamel layer is renewed in one way or another, while the old case is not affected. By the way, you can restore both a cast-iron bath and simpler substitutes - steel and acrylic. All repair work related to the restoration process takes place directly in the customer's apartment, there is no need to remove the bathtub and spoil the repair in the room. Depending on the chosen method, the duration of work is from 1 to 5 hours, and then it is necessary to wait for the composition to dry completely. This may take quite a long time: from several hours to several days.
Then you can use the bath as usual, but you should deal with the coating especially carefully: clean with mild detergents, do not use powders with large abrasive particles, try not to drop anything heavy into the bath, do not put metal basins inside. Such precautions are necessary because the coating is more brittle 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 inconveniences are insignificant.
Methods of restoration
There are several popular methods. Before making a final choice, it is advisable to find out all the ways and feedback on the restoration of cast iron bathtubs and really evaluate the advantages and disadvantages.
The most popular method is restoration using liquid acrylic. In this case, the bowlbaths are carefully poured with acrylic, which has the consistency of condensed milk. The coating is durable, smooth and beautiful, does not turn yellow over time. Another successful 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, most affordable and easiest method is enameling. According to reviews, the restoration of cast-iron bathtubs in this way is characterized by a low price and quite acceptable quality of the finish coating. The enamel surface is smooth and can last another 1-5 years.
Let's look at these methods in more detail.
Liquid acrylic
This restoration method is also often referred to as acrylic enameling or a bathtub. The material is applied to the edge of the bath by pouring, the composition flows down the walls and forms a perfectly flat, smooth surface. The coating is durable, smooth and beautiful, does not turn yellow over time. The exact amount of starting material depends on the size of the bowl, the density of the substance, as well as the brand of the manufacturer. Before application, the bath must be thoroughly washed, it is advisable to remove the drain siphons and grates.
If re-enamelling or if the work surface is badly damaged, additional cleaning may be required. After hardening, acrylic becomes hard 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 updatedamaged enamel.
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid acrylic
This method of enamel restoration has many advantages, but it is not without some serious drawbacks. The advantages of the method reviews include:
- short drying period: the bath can be used for its intended purpose after 36 hours;
- has excellent characteristics: non-yellowing, scratch-resistant, good heat retention, durable;
- cost 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 curves of the bathtub surface, so factory defects, chips, deep scratches will be noticeable.
Acrylic liner
Reviews on the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub with acrylic are mostly positive. Customer dissatisfaction is usually caused by the quality of the work, and not the material itself. During the restoration process, an acrylic liner is inserted into the bath - a rather thin plastic trough, which more or less exactly repeats the shape of the original bowl. The liner is attached to the surface of the bath with a special foam and, according to the manufacturer, should last for 15 years.
The price of the liner is relatively low, but it should be borne in mind that this amount is added to the cost of delivery, bringing into the house, dismantling tiles, siphons, installation of the liner itself and other additional costs. As a result, the amount becomes so impressive that it is quite comparable with the price.new bathtub.
Acrylic is a very durable and reliable material, but this restoration method has a serious flaw. If the surface of the liner does not adhere perfectly to the surface of the bath, microbends occur during operation. Mounting 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. When restoring with liquid acrylic, there are no such risks.
Insert flaws
The advantages of acrylic are listed above. Listing the disadvantages of this method, it is worth mentioning the following points:
- it is necessary to dismantle the drain siphon;
- leave a gap of at least 3 cm between the wall and the bathroom, this gap must then be closed with something;
- the bottom row of tiles, which adjoins the top edge of the tub, needs to be removed.
Enameling
According to reviews, the restoration of a cast-iron bath with enamel is the most inexpensive and easiest method of restoring the coating. A few decades ago, rough bathrooms were simply painted, but today there are better materials. The enamel adheres strongly to the surface of the bath and forms an even, smooth coating that can last from one to five years.
Then, if necessary, the process can be repeated. Reviews of the restoration of a cast-iron bathtub by this method suggest that you can carry out the procedure even with your ownhands, without involving outside performers.
