Bathroom is the most important attribute of any modern apartment, private house. Here they wash, wash clothes, relax after a hard day, because this room needs maximum comfort, and the bathing tank itself should have a beautiful, tidy appearance. Full-fledged restoration of the bath with your own hands will be much cheaper than buying a new one.
The old “Soviet” bathtubs made of cast iron and steel, which have served for more than a dozen years, are rusted, roughened and lose their luster over time. The cover is erased, cracked over time. But it is not always possible to restore the top layer - a severely damaged product will have to be changed.
How to determine the condition of the bath:
if the surface was once completely white, and now in several places or throughout the area it is tan, red, has a rough texture, small cracks, chips, then coating with acrylic and enamel will give the product a new life;
when the body is seriously cracked, deformed, large chips are visible near the drain, the diameters of the recently replaced pipes are very different from the size of the drain hole, it is useless to update and restore such a container, it is easier to remove it by replacing it with a new one that is more suitable.
Why it is worth trying to restore the "bath" yourself:
new capacity is quite expensive;
complete dismantling of the old bath is a very troublesome task;
the services of a master invited to restore a product are also not cheap;
a can of paint for a bathtub of standard dimensions costs quite a bit, although more expensive than ordinary dyes applied to walls, floors, etc.
The application of the dye during independent work differs from the technologies used in production - at the factory the bath is heated, powder is sprayed onto it, which melts due to high temperature, forming a strong enamel.
Methods of restoration - their advantages, disadvantages
There are several ways to restore a bath:
applying enamel with a brush;
acrylic coating - bulk option;
installation of a special liner.
It is easiest for a beginner who has encountered such work for the first time to use the bulk method - it is simple to execute, intuitive.Painting with a brush, with a certain dexterity, will also turn out well, and the acquisition of a suitable acrylic insert can be a serious problem, especially for custom designs.
Enamel Bath Step-by-Step Guide
Before you start restoring your bathing capacity with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the painting technology to minimize the number of errors - the result is not always good the first time.
What do we have to do:
buy tools, materials, protection;
prepare the container itself;
apply enamel;
wait until it dries.
During the repair, toxic, strongly smelling substances are used, therefore, the protection of the hands, eyes, respiratory organs from their effects should be taken care of in advance.
Necessary materials, tools
For work you will need:
liquid coating - a two-component epoxy enamel, the basis of which is mixed with a hardener before it is applied to the surface;
soda - with its help, the tank is degreased;
drill with a special grinding nozzle - to remove the old cover;
hard, flat brush, preferably made of natural bristles, 7-9 cm wide .;
two cans of glass, with a capacity of 0.5 liters - they will dilute the dye;
measuring cup to accurately determine the right amount of hardener;
solvent - 646 is better suited, it is added to enamel to increase its fluidity;
personal protective equipment - workwear, gloves, respirator, special glasses.
Which enamel to choose
High-quality enamel will last as long as possible, from exposure to water, high temperatures will not lose color, luster, does not crack too quickly.
When choosing take into account:
method of application - spray can, brush, roller, bulk method. When using a roller, a surface is created on the surface, an aerosol is used to mask local defects, the brush and the bulk method are used most widely;
type of kit - the restoration kit is best suited, in which there are all the tools necessary to prepare the surface for work, applying the composition;
enamel color - it is desirable that it differs from the previous one by a maximum of one or two tones, otherwise the “old” layer will be visible;
hardener color - it is recommended to use white or transparent, since colored ones can leave ugly spots.
Enamel preparation
What you need to do before coating the bath with enamel:
apply a powdery detergent (cleaner), over which to grind with an emery wheel, a drill with a grinding nozzle, an emery bar, etc .;
Using a liquid detergent, degrease the surface to be treated - this especially applies to cracks, various bumps, chips;
rinse thoroughly and for a long time with hot water;
wipe the bath dry with a clean cloth;
remove the overflow, siphon, clean the surfaces under them, remove excess with a vacuum cleaner;
then the first enamel layer can be applied.
When removing the old cover, a large amount of dust is formed, therefore it is advisable to take care of the protection of the eyes, hands, and respiratory organs in advance.
Enamel coating
The process of applying enamel consists of several steps:
the introduction of a hardener in the composition;
partial coloring of the side with a flat brush;
then draw a "bold" vertical line to the very bottom, and then smear the paint horizontally;
repeat the previous two steps until the entire surface is painted.
The drying time of one layer is about 70 minutes, full use of the bath is allowed after 6-8 days. You should not artificially reduce the drying time of each layer - this often leads to deformations, worsening the overall appearance.
All work is carried out in a heated room, and before starting work, it is advisable to warm the tank with hot water.
Acrylic upgrade master class
Many are trying to cover the “bathhouse” with liquid acrylic, although this coating is more expensive than enamel. The product takes on an aesthetic appearance, it is safe even for delicate baby skin. Pathogenic microbes do not settle in a qualitatively applied acrylic layer, since there are almost no pores in this polymer. The acrylic layer with careful care will last more than five years (maximum - 12-15), without loss of appearance.
Other advantages of acrylic cover:
allows you to save on buying a new tank;
the acrylic bathtub will be perfectly smooth, pleasant to the touch, but not slippery;
the material greatly simplifies the care of the product - it will be enough to periodically wash it with a soft sponge with a liquid, gel-like detergent;
acrylic does not smell anything - it protects the skin, respiratory organs, clothes are not needed when stained, ventilation of the room is also not required in most cases;
when everything is done correctly, after the mixture has hardened, the surface has an even tone without any stains, extra inclusions.
Materials, tools
From tools, materials you may need:
large emery cloth or grinder;
soda or cleaning powder of a similar kind;
iron brush;
putty for metal;
industrial hair dryer (significantly speeds up the process);
rags;
acetone;
plastic cup (it is substituted under the drain);
rubber spatula;
special bulk acrylic composition for coating bathtubs.
The old unnecessary layer is cleaned with sandpaper, a bar, a grinding machine, and then the dust formed is removed.
How to choose acrylic for bath restoration
The modern market offers the widest selection of acrylic compositions suitable for cast iron, metal bathtubs. If desired, pigments of various colors are added to the polymer mixture - the color is selected to your liking, in accordance with the existing, planned design of the surrounding interior.
Which formulations are most often used:
stekril - a universal material that requires accuracy when applying;
plastol - suitable for not too worn baths, maintains fluidity up to 90 minutes, polymerizes in 36 hours, the coating comes out of high quality, but less durable than made of glass;
ecovanna-luxury - odorless, has excellent hiding power, is applied to a metal, plastic surface, completely dries in a day;
shungite acrylic - available in black.
Some manufacturers create antimicrobial coatings. When buying, you should pay attention to expiration dates - when the acrylic composition is excessively old, the results of its use will not be too good, due to a decrease in adhesion. The applied layer can simply “fall off” from the base.
What is stekril, its advantages
Stacril is a liquid acrylic composition used for bulk application. It requires the preliminary application of putty, thorough preparation of the application site, is very sensitive to moisture. This is the most high-quality composition that can be tinted with different pigments, but diluting with solvents is not recommended - hiding power is lost, the layer comes out excessively thin. The material retains fluidity up to 60-70 minutes, completely hardens in 48-96 hours. Stakril has a strong smell, therefore, after completion of work, the room is ventilated.
The main advantages of such a coating are a perfectly smooth, durable surface, excellent appearance of the finished product, durability, strength. It will be difficult for a beginner to work with a glass, but it is he who allows you to get the best results.
This composition must be thoroughly mixed, in order to avoid the formation of clots.
Application of acrylic on the prepared surface
Before applying acrylic, old enamel, along with plaque, rust, dirt, is removed - the bath should become as even as possible.To do this, use coarse sandpaper or a grinding machine. After that you need to completely wash off the dust that has formed, dry all the places, for which it is best to use a building hair dryer. Since there will be a lot of dust, a respirator and safety glasses should be used during operation. After the cleaned container degrease with acetone.
The process of work itself looks like this: the polymer mixture is densely poured onto the sides of the bathtub, gradually flows down, fixed on all surfaces, forming a beautiful, uniform cover. For filling use a hardener can or any plastic bottle, slightly spreading the liquid with a spatula. Acrylic fills all existing pores, cracks, scratches, which creates the appearance of a completely new bath. A modern acrylic coating hardens in about one, a maximum of three to four days, in contrast to mixtures that were widely used several years ago.
Installation instructions for the liner - the fastest, easiest way to restore
Installation of a thin liner made of special acrylic does not require serious experience, but the product itself can not be bought everywhere. Bath inserts with standard parameters are searched for at large construction markets (such things are not sold in a regular household goods store), they are ordered from companies specializing in the restoration of bathing containers.
The acrylic insert completely repeats the internal contours of the bath, putting on it, tight-fitting, glued with special glue, waterproof silicone, a two-component mixture. Such products are most often used to update the bath in a rented apartment or when it is not possible to buy a new one right now, and the old one is terribly tired. The result here is obtained as quickly as possible - in just a couple of hours, and a high-quality, properly glued product will last more than 9-12 years.
What you need to know when performing installation work on the liner:
the product is made of medical or technical acrylic, simple or two-layer plastic;
high-quality liner can not be cheap, as well as greatly translucent, easy to bend;
the size of the product must clearly correspond to the size of the stationary structure - the voids formed due to the difference in the dimensions of the bathtub and insert must not be filled with polyurethane foam or other composition. If it is impossible to accurately select the liner, it is ordered in accordance with the dimensions or use a different restoration method;
if the product is planned to be installed in a room where the walls are very expensive, beautiful, new tiles, it is better to choose another option, as part of the tiles will have to be dismantled.
Work should begin with the selection of inserts, the purchase of consumables - glue, foam, sealants. When the container is framed with corners, they are removed, the tile adjacent to the bathtub is cut one or two cm upwards around the entire perimeter. Next, the cement boards, corners are removed, the overflow and discharge grates are removed, the siphon is used during operation. The old bath is carefully sanded with sandpaper, the edges of the acrylic tab also sometimes require trimming. Now there are designated places for draining, overflowing, carefully made slots of the appropriate size.
The most important step is sticking the liner. The entire surface of the old bath is lubricated with special glue, and a sealant is applied near the overflow. Next, the insert is carefully inserted into the container, pressed, fixed by lattice holes, special clamps on the sides. At the end of installation, a wall is formed around the product - for example, a narrow border made of ceramic tile is glued. The bath is filled with water, almost to the level of overflow, left to dry for 12-18 hours. The protective film does not need to be removed.
Correction of small chips, scratches
Most tiny germs can hide in the smallest cracks, scratches, chips of the bath cover - it is very problematic to get them out, wash them off, but removing and smoothing irregularities is easily done at home. If a chip is not removed in time, its sharp edges can cause injury during washing, cracks have the ability to gradually expand, branch out under the influence of water, capturing more and more “territories”. Scratches can be easily polished with special enamel restoration products or painted over. Chips are a more complicated case, they must first be puttied to make a smooth plane. Before starting the finishing work, the bath is cleaned of impurities, the damaged area is polished, putty with a two-component epoxy compound applied in several layers. After complete drying, the surface is ground again, one or two layers of enamel from the spray are sprayed on top.
How to care for a bath without harm to cover
Products with different covers are cleaned in various ways:
enamelled cast iron - use only "gentle" chemistry containing a minimum amount of chlorine. Iron washcloths are forbidden, because because of them the enamel is thinned, destroyed
enameled steel - poorly tolerate excessively hot water in combination with detergents, as well as sudden temperature changes. Hard sponges, washcloths are also undesirable;
Acrylic - it is permissible to use only soft sponges, special paste-like, gel-like detergents. Any means for alcohol, with chlorine, acetone, abrasive powders should not be used. Vinegar is rarely used, and it is advisable to replace soda with lemon juice.
In order for the acrylic “bathhouse” to serve for a long time, you cannot pour boiling water into it, throw sharp, heavy objects (pieces of brick during repairs, knives, other iron tools).
If you properly care for your own restored bathroom, it will last a very long time, while maintaining an excellent appearance.
Conclusion
Restoring an old home bath is available to almost everyone - if you have all the necessary tools, materials, do it yourself with ease. The modern industry of paints and varnishes offers a huge variety of materials of any color to update the "bath". When independent repair is problematic, the entire process of product restoration is entrusted to professionals who will do it quickly, efficiently.
Bathroom is the most important attribute of any modern apartment, private house. Here they wash, wash clothes, relax after a hard day, because this room needs maximum comfort, and the bathing tank itself should have a beautiful, tidy appearance. Full-fledged restoration of the bath with your own hands will be much cheaper than buying a new one.
Content
Features
The old “Soviet” bathtubs made of cast iron and steel, which have served for more than a dozen years, are rusted, roughened and lose their luster over time. The cover is erased, cracked over time. But it is not always possible to restore the top layer - a severely damaged product will have to be changed.
How to determine the condition of the bath:
Why it is worth trying to restore the "bath" yourself:
The application of the dye during independent work differs from the technologies used in production - at the factory the bath is heated, powder is sprayed onto it, which melts due to high temperature, forming a strong enamel.
Methods of restoration - their advantages, disadvantages
There are several ways to restore a bath:
It is easiest for a beginner who has encountered such work for the first time to use the bulk method - it is simple to execute, intuitive.Painting with a brush, with a certain dexterity, will also turn out well, and the acquisition of a suitable acrylic insert can be a serious problem, especially for custom designs.
Enamel Bath Step-by-Step Guide
Before you start restoring your bathing capacity with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the painting technology to minimize the number of errors - the result is not always good the first time.
What do we have to do:
Necessary materials, tools
For work you will need:
Which enamel to choose
High-quality enamel will last as long as possible, from exposure to water, high temperatures will not lose color, luster, does not crack too quickly.
When choosing take into account:
Enamel preparation
What you need to do before coating the bath with enamel:
Enamel coating
The process of applying enamel consists of several steps:
The drying time of one layer is about 70 minutes, full use of the bath is allowed after 6-8 days. You should not artificially reduce the drying time of each layer - this often leads to deformations, worsening the overall appearance.
Acrylic upgrade master class
Many are trying to cover the “bathhouse” with liquid acrylic, although this coating is more expensive than enamel. The product takes on an aesthetic appearance, it is safe even for delicate baby skin. Pathogenic microbes do not settle in a qualitatively applied acrylic layer, since there are almost no pores in this polymer. The acrylic layer with careful care will last more than five years (maximum - 12-15), without loss of appearance.
Other advantages of acrylic cover:
Materials, tools
From tools, materials you may need:
How to choose acrylic for bath restoration
The modern market offers the widest selection of acrylic compositions suitable for cast iron, metal bathtubs. If desired, pigments of various colors are added to the polymer mixture - the color is selected to your liking, in accordance with the existing, planned design of the surrounding interior.
Which formulations are most often used:
Some manufacturers create antimicrobial coatings. When buying, you should pay attention to expiration dates - when the acrylic composition is excessively old, the results of its use will not be too good, due to a decrease in adhesion. The applied layer can simply “fall off” from the base.
What is stekril, its advantages
Stacril is a liquid acrylic composition used for bulk application. It requires the preliminary application of putty, thorough preparation of the application site, is very sensitive to moisture. This is the most high-quality composition that can be tinted with different pigments, but diluting with solvents is not recommended - hiding power is lost, the layer comes out excessively thin. The material retains fluidity up to 60-70 minutes, completely hardens in 48-96 hours. Stakril has a strong smell, therefore, after completion of work, the room is ventilated.
The main advantages of such a coating are a perfectly smooth, durable surface, excellent appearance of the finished product, durability, strength. It will be difficult for a beginner to work with a glass, but it is he who allows you to get the best results.
Application of acrylic on the prepared surface
Before applying acrylic, old enamel, along with plaque, rust, dirt, is removed - the bath should become as even as possible.To do this, use coarse sandpaper or a grinding machine. After that you need to completely wash off the dust that has formed, dry all the places, for which it is best to use a building hair dryer. Since there will be a lot of dust, a respirator and safety glasses should be used during operation. After the cleaned container degrease with acetone.
The process of work itself looks like this: the polymer mixture is densely poured onto the sides of the bathtub, gradually flows down, fixed on all surfaces, forming a beautiful, uniform cover. For filling use a hardener can or any plastic bottle, slightly spreading the liquid with a spatula. Acrylic fills all existing pores, cracks, scratches, which creates the appearance of a completely new bath. A modern acrylic coating hardens in about one, a maximum of three to four days, in contrast to mixtures that were widely used several years ago.
Installation instructions for the liner - the fastest, easiest way to restore
Installation of a thin liner made of special acrylic does not require serious experience, but the product itself can not be bought everywhere. Bath inserts with standard parameters are searched for at large construction markets (such things are not sold in a regular household goods store), they are ordered from companies specializing in the restoration of bathing containers.
The acrylic insert completely repeats the internal contours of the bath, putting on it, tight-fitting, glued with special glue, waterproof silicone, a two-component mixture. Such products are most often used to update the bath in a rented apartment or when it is not possible to buy a new one right now, and the old one is terribly tired. The result here is obtained as quickly as possible - in just a couple of hours, and a high-quality, properly glued product will last more than 9-12 years.
What you need to know when performing installation work on the liner:
Work should begin with the selection of inserts, the purchase of consumables - glue, foam, sealants. When the container is framed with corners, they are removed, the tile adjacent to the bathtub is cut one or two cm upwards around the entire perimeter. Next, the cement boards, corners are removed, the overflow and discharge grates are removed, the siphon is used during operation. The old bath is carefully sanded with sandpaper, the edges of the acrylic tab also sometimes require trimming.
Now there are designated places for draining, overflowing, carefully made slots of the appropriate size.
The most important step is sticking the liner. The entire surface of the old bath is lubricated with special glue, and a sealant is applied near the overflow. Next, the insert is carefully inserted into the container, pressed, fixed by lattice holes, special clamps on the sides. At the end of installation, a wall is formed around the product - for example, a narrow border made of ceramic tile is glued. The bath is filled with water, almost to the level of overflow, left to dry for 12-18 hours. The protective film does not need to be removed.
Correction of small chips, scratches
Most tiny germs can hide in the smallest cracks, scratches, chips of the bath cover - it is very problematic to get them out, wash them off, but removing and smoothing irregularities is easily done at home. If a chip is not removed in time, its sharp edges can cause injury during washing, cracks have the ability to gradually expand, branch out under the influence of water, capturing more and more “territories”.
Scratches can be easily polished with special enamel restoration products or painted over. Chips are a more complicated case, they must first be puttied to make a smooth plane. Before starting the finishing work, the bath is cleaned of impurities, the damaged area is polished, putty with a two-component epoxy compound applied in several layers. After complete drying, the surface is ground again, one or two layers of enamel from the spray are sprayed on top.
How to care for a bath without harm to cover
Products with different covers are cleaned in various ways:
In order for the acrylic “bathhouse” to serve for a long time, you cannot pour boiling water into it, throw sharp, heavy objects (pieces of brick during repairs, knives, other iron tools).
Conclusion
Restoring an old home bath is available to almost everyone - if you have all the necessary tools, materials, do it yourself with ease. The modern industry of paints and varnishes offers a huge variety of materials of any color to update the "bath". When independent repair is problematic, the entire process of product restoration is entrusted to professionals who will do it quickly, efficiently.