Often, acrylic bath coating, reviews of which are very different, is the only possible budget option, because not everyone can afford to install expensive new plumbing.
Ten years ago, no one thought about completely renovating an old bathtub in two hours, and so that all the roughness, cracks, and rust disappeared.
When reviews are positive
Now it has become possible thanks to such a method as bathtub acrylic coating. The reviews of those who used it depend on the level of the specialist who made the repair. If this is a master of his craft, then the consumer is satisfied: the coating lasts for more than ten years (no one has just checked longer), its cost is from two to four thousand rubles (depending on the region and the year of the restoration). Acrylic does not turn yellow and does not scratch - of course, subject to all the rules for using the bath. They are quite simple: dogs should not be washed in the bath (or a rug should be laid so that the claws do not scrape the coating); when bathing children, do not give them metal toys. Do not use abrasiveCleaning Materials – A normal dish detergent will suffice. Do not let too hot water. Also, the acrylic coating of the bath, the reviews of which are positive, does not like sudden changes in temperature and water with various impurities, such as iron. In this case, it may turn yellow.
When reviews are negative
If the repair was carried out by Uncle Misha, the best neighbor in the world, but who does not have special equipment, knowledge and experience, then the result will be appropriate: poor-quality and unstable acrylic coating of the bath. Reviews in such situations are negative: acrylic does not withstand more than a year and peels off (turns yellow, rusts, etc.), roughness and cracks appear.
What is liquid acrylic
In different years, different materials were used for restoration. At first, the bath was covered with acrylic with a brush, but that composition did not stand up to criticism.
Today, manufacturers have created a wonderful material that allows you to get a perfectly flat and smooth surface. This is a two-component substance containing a large amount of non-volatile substances. It is made from imported raw materials from companies such as Du Pont (France) and Byk Chemie, Dow (Germany). Thanks to its high-tech base, acrylic bathtub coating provides a beautiful and durable surface.
Material advantages
Restoration eliminates a persistent unpleasant odor - it disappears in a few hours and does not annoy the owners in the future. Unlike previous options, the bath coverAcrylic is done by the bulk method - rollers and brushes are not used. The layer is obtained with a thickness of 4-6 mm, taking into account the defects that need to be corrected.
Liquid acrylic has high plasticity and the ability to mix well. Therefore, you can add any color to change the color of the coating. In addition, no air bubbles remain during application. Its fluid and viscous properties do not allow the material to harden quickly. Therefore, it is evenly distributed along the walls and bottom of the bath with a layer of 4-6 mm. The low thermal conductivity of the material ensures comfort, while the antibacterial properties ensure he alth.
Only the size and regional prices will determine how much it costs to cover the bathtub with acrylic. In Moscow, the cost of restoration starts from 1900-2000 rubles.
Filling bath yourself
If the restoration has never been carried out, then it will consist of the following steps.
- Stage one. Do-it-yourself acrylic bath coating will become possible after processing the entire working surface with a grinder with an abrasive wheel or a drill with a nozzle. You can use a grinder with a special abrasive that allows you to work even with the factory enamel of the Soviet Union sample. The result should be a rough surface, cleaned of the bulk of fat and rust. This preparatory stage is the most important, since the strength of adhesion (adhesion) of acrylic to the bath depends on the area of their contact. And for rough surfaces it is maximum.
- Stage two. Dirt from strippingwashed off. The bath is degreased with a solvent and dedusted. Surface ready for coating.
- Step three. It is necessary to remove the siphon and substitute a jar under the hole in case the substance drips. Covering the bath with acrylic with your own hands does not exclude this. Professionals, on the other hand, work in such a way that the material does not flow into the hole, or use a special stopper that prevents this.
Stage four. Direct coating of the bathtub with liquid acrylic. To do this, the material is poured onto the edge of the rim with a gentle jet. With a rubber spatula, acrylic is gently pulled to the walls. When it reaches the middle of the bath, the acrylic container begins to slowly move around the perimeter. It is important to ensure that there is enough material for a continuous coating without gaps. The whole process must be carried out continuously. You can not stop until the perimeter is passed and the ring is closed. No need to fix anything - the sags and streaks will disperse themselves
How to prepare the mixture
Liquid acrylic consists of two components - base and hardener. Before mixing, they must be kept at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Then the base is thoroughly mixed (5 minutes) with the gradual addition of a hardener to it. Kneading is continued for another 10 minutes. The mixture is allowed to stand for 10-15 minutes, and it becomes ready for use. If necessary, color is added and mixed thoroughly. It should be remembered that the mixture must be used within an hour. If acomponents are purchased in advance, they should be stored in a dry place, without moisture and sunlight, away from heating and heating appliances.
Consumption of time and material
To cover the bath with liquid acrylic, reviews say 2-4 hours are enough. In this case, most of the time will be spent on surface preparation.
Material consumption is directly proportional to the size of the tub. A regular container 1.5 m long will take 3.5 kg of the base. And for a 1.7 m long bath, you will need 4 kg.
Tub Tips
When self-applying liquid acrylic, drips from the drain hole cannot be avoided. Therefore, before connecting the siphon, dried drops must be cut and cleaned, and the connecting parts should be treated with silicone before installation to prevent leakage.
Place newspapers or rags around the tub as the acrylic will drip from the sides. On the second day, frozen drops are removed with an ordinary kitchen knife.
Surface must be dry before applying acrylic.
Often the space between the walls and the sides of the tub is tiled or painted. With a perfect new surface, these "artifacts" will look unaesthetic. Therefore, it would be advisable to fill them with acrylic too. To do this, they also need to be cleaned and degreased. If a piece of cement fell out somewhere, and a through hole appeared between the wall and the bathroom (usually from the end), then you can push pieces of polystyrene foam, a dry new sponge for washing dishes, etc., into it,trying at the same time to level the horizontal surface for applying acrylic as much as possible. On the vertical walls in contact with the bathroom, you need to stick masking tape so that they do not get dirty, and make the corners clear and even.
Acrylic does not need to be thinned to save money. You will get a thin layer that will last for a very short time.
The bath can be used in a day, but it is better to wait four days - for the best drying of the coating.
Freshly applied acrylic should preferably be protected from drafts for the first two hours, until it sets well. Then you can open all the doors, windows - the smell will quickly disappear.
If the result is not satisfactory, then the restoration can be repeated, but first do not forget to treat the surface with an abrasive.
Be careful
You need to carefully review the quality certificates for the material before you purchase it and cover the bathtub with acrylic yourself. Reviews indicate that it is often replaced with handicraft enamel. This can lead to such consequences as the appearance of a yellow tint of the new coating and streaks, cracking, peeling.
Tinting liquid acrylic
According to statistics, the majority of the world's population prefers the white coating of a cast-iron bathtub with acrylic. Reviews indicate otherwise. Today, more and more often, a white bathtub does not fit into the overall design of the plumbing room and looks unnatural against the background of bright or dark walls. Somany people want to color it in tones that are more in line with the general mood of the room.
To do this, add a paste or liquid color to acrylic, knead until smooth and check the tone by applying a smear to the surface. The color intensity can be increased. Important: you need to mix color and acrylic under the same lighting that will be used in the bathroom. A variety of color options are possible with this restoration method, such as coating bathtubs with liquid acrylic. Reviews allow you to draw conclusions about the most popular tones. These include shades of red, brown, pink, yellow, light green, emerald green, blue and grey.
Relaxation in colored acrylic bath
Our ancestors knew about the ability of color to affect well-being. For example, in Athens, a stone font was covered with red ocher. Even then, the water was endowed with healing properties. It was believed that in combination with yellow, these qualities were enhanced. Water, illuminated by the sun's rays through colored glass, raised the mood of a person.
The ancients attributed a certain energy to each shade. So, red gives protection and is suitable for insecure people. Orange relieves neurosis, recommended for public figures. Yellow suits everyone, it gives vitality. Green brings healing to the sick and wounded. The blue color of the sky will heal after psycho-emotional upheavals. Blue will give determination. Violet will give energy to higher powers.
To achieve the desired shade in modern lifewater is not easy. Firstly, the bathroom almost always has no windows and, accordingly, no sunlight. Secondly, colored lighting will not solve the problem of water coloring. Thirdly, dyed sea s alt added to the water will scratch the acrylic. Fourth, not everyone has the opportunity to color water with herbal decoctions.
Therefore, colored acrylic baths were immediately appreciated as a practical means for relaxation and color therapy at affordable prices. Simply fill the tub with water to use.
If the room is equipped with good ventilation or a window, then aroma lamps can also be used to enhance the effect. The choice of oils today is unusually large. You can also place candles and admire the fire. The resulting ensemble of color, light and aroma will come in handy after the hard work of covering the bath with liquid acrylic, will help to relax and unwind.
