Remember a time when showers referred to the process of precipitation and not the variety of faucets in our bathroom which we use to take baths? Well, in those days of yore, taking a bath was a luxurious process with water heated to just the right temperature, a variety of bath salts, and of course the ever luxuriant cast iron bathtubs. Today actually finding a house that is fitted with a cast iron bathtub can be considered a stroke of good fortune. Even if you do find a cast iron bathtub chances are that it will need quite a bit of redoing. If this is the case, then one of the best ways of saving your cast iron tub is by re-coating its surface.
Painting a Cast Iron Tub
A cast iron tub can be a brilliant addition to your bathroom. Of course it needs to be in a good condition and it should be well maintained. Repainting a bathtub can fix its appearance drastically. If your bathroom is fixed with one of those cast iron bathtubs that are set extremely close to the wall then chances are that it is not painted all around. Ensure that you remove the tub from the space, paint it all around and then set it up again. Repainting a cast iron tub will not only improve the way it looks but also increase its life. You need the following things in order to paint a tub. Razor blade Sandpaper, 150 grit Primer, oil based Paint (enamel or acrylic polymer) Spray gun Sponge Once you have all the necessary things that you need to paint a cast iron tub, all you need to do is follow the simple steps given below. First, before you start painting the tub you need to wash it properly. Scrub the tub completely using any cleaning product and a sponge. If there is caulk around the rim of the cast iron tub, then you may want to remove it using a razor blade. Once you have cleaned the tub properly allow it to dry well. This is an important step as sanding the tub before allowing it to dry completely may interfere with the painting process. Next use a sandpaper of the 150 grit variety and sand the bathtub completely. Ensure that you sand the bathtub till all the paint that is flaking off is removed. Next comes the process of priming. A good primer ensures that the paint sticks to the surface of the cast iron tub properly and that the tub is not affected by rust. It is advisable to use an oil based primer. Ensure that you apply at least two coats of primer. Allow the first coat to dry properly before applying the second one. Before you start painting the bathtub which is the consequent step, it is important that you tape plastic over any part of the tub that you do not want to paint. Now start painting the tub. You can use either an oil based enamel paint for the process or use an acrylic polymer paint that allows for a good finish and durability. With either varieties of paint, you need to apply at least two coats. With the enamel paint be sure to sand the tub after you apply the first coat. Use a 200 grit sandpaper to make the surface smooth. Every coat of acrylic polymer paint will need at least thirty minutes to dry. As you now know, painting a cast iron tub is as easy as detailed here. For a bathing experience that is truly luxurious and takes you back in time, you can create a bathtub that will definitely make you relive an era gone by.
