Bathtubs are one of the most popular items in a bathroom. They offer an easy-to-clean surface, as well as provide storage space for many things that you may need right before or after your bath.
This blog post will show you how to properly reglaze a fiberglass bathtub by outlining five primary steps:
- Remove all hardware from the surface of the bathtub.
- Use a putty knife to scrape off any caulking around the faucet, drain and other hardware on your tub’s surface.
- After doing so, use a utility knife or razor blade to cut through any remaining caulk and remove all hardware from the surfaces of your old fiberglass bathtub. If there is still stubborn glue left behind after removing all fixtures, try using acetone to get rid of it completely
- Next, carefully sand down rough edges with an electric sander for better adhesion later in this process.
- Scrape off any remaining adhesive residue
Use a razor blade to scrape away any remaining adhesive residue.
- Do not use steel wool at this stage or it will scratch the fiberglass coating and make your reglazing job much more difficult.
This is also an important step because if there’s still glue on your bathtub, you’re going to find yourself scraping up chunks of old silicone when trying to apply new silicone later on down in Step Three.
- Clean the tub thoroughly using a degreaser and water
- Use a degreaser and plenty of water to clean the tub thoroughly.
This is important because any remaining dirt or grease in your bathtub will stick to your new silicone, later on, creating an unsightly mess that’s tough to remove without harming the reglazed surface.
Next, you’ll want to fully dry off the fiberglass with paper towels before continuing onto the next step. Don’t forget about those corners near appliances and trim work!
- Apply primer on all surfaces of the bathtub
- Primer is an important step in reglazing a fiberglass bathtub because it will prevent any old silicone or caulking from sticking to your new, reglazed surfaces.
The primer should be applied generously and allowed to dry before completing the next steps.
To do this properly without wasting too much time, use two people working across from one another on opposite sides of the bathtub: One person applies primer while the other provides coverage by wiping down with paper towels as needed until all areas are fully primed.
This method also ensures that no surface goes unprimed! After priming has been completed, you’ll have covered most of what needs to be done for Step 4; now’s not a bad time to pull out the caulk remover and start removing any old caulking.
Priming is important because it will prevent any of your new reglazed surfaces from sticking, but if you still have some areas that need extra coverage after priming has been done (such as a deep bathtub where water can get trapped), then use a silicone sealant around those edges so they are not exposed.
- Apply a thick coat of reglazing product
Apply a thick coat of reglazing product to the bathtub surface and use a roller tool or squeegee tool to work it into the topcoat.
Repeat until there are no streaks left, then let dry for at least 24 hours before applying another layer.
Notice that some products will require you to apply more than one coat in order to get an even finish; this is normal! Take care not to overwork these areas though because they can be difficult or impossible to completely smooth out after drying overnight if you go too far with your application tools.
Don’t forget about other surfaces around your tub (such as those hard-to-reach spots on the ceiling) when applying multiple coats of reglazer so you don’t wind up with texture gradients.
Also check this awesome article How to Transform a Bathtub: Shining Like New with These Tips
Final Thoughts
If you have an old bathtub, it’s probably not in great condition. It might be scratched, worn out, or stained and it will make the bathroom look pretty shabby.
Bathtubs are expensive to replace so most people just live with an ugly tub for years until they finally decide to get a new one. But why wait? You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a new bathtub when you can restore your existing one!
Wilmington Tub Reglazing is the best way to bring back the shine and beauty of your old tub without breaking the bank! Our team will come right over and reglaze your entire bathtub as quickly as possible!
Your friends won’t believe how amazing it looks – we guarantee all our work for life so if there are any issues we’ll fix them free of charge! We’re happy to serve customers throughout New Castle County (Wilmington DE). Call today at(302) 600-1635.
