Cast iron bath restoration: popular methods

Even very high quality plumbing deteriorates over time. Enamelled bathtubs are damaged and become covered with rusty streaks, yellowness and cracks. The restoration of the cast-iron bath will allow the product to return to its original appearance. We will consider the popular methods of repairing it in more detail in this article.

Cast iron baths are very popular, which is due to the good quality of plumbing and low cost. However, special care is needed for cast iron tanks, otherwise the enamel coating deteriorates and the product loses its original appearance.

The bathtub itself can last more than 50 years, which, unfortunately, cannot be said about the enamel. Since the coating is constantly exposed to the negative effects of external factors, its layer becomes thinner over time. It is not always possible to replace an old cast-iron bath with a new one. Timely restoration will extend the service life of old plumbing and return the coating to its original appearance.

Repair of a cast-iron bath can be easily carried out on your own, without resorting to expensive services of masters.

It is advisable to resort to the restoration of old plumbing in the following cases:

• Saving money on the purchase of new plumbing. It is not always possible to replace a damaged cast iron bath with a new tank.
• Features of the bathroom and the form of plumbing. In certain cases, dismantling the bathtub can be complicated by the inability to remove the bowl from the room without damaging the finish or the doorway. In addition, plumbing can have a non-standard shape or size, and it is extremely difficult to find a replacement with suitable parameters.
• Rented living space. It is not advisable to replace plumbing at your own expense in a rented apartment.

The bathtub is a sanitary ware subject to intensive use. Over time, even the highest quality enamel coating deteriorates from regular exposure to water, cleaning agents and mechanical stress.

The most common injuries and causes of their formation include the following:

• Formation of yellow spots on the surface. This defect appears as a result of the negative impact of running water, which contains a large amount of iron. If the plaque is not removed in a timely manner, then rust will appear in place of the yellow spots.
• Mechanical damage in the form of scratches and abrasions occurs as a result of the use of abrasive agents and metal brushes for washing the bath.
• Impacts from even small objects falling can crack or peel off the enamel.
• Cracks can appear on the enamel as a result of mechanical stress on the surface or temperature changes.

Before proceeding with the restoration of the bath, the reservoir must be prepared for subsequent work. Without preliminary preparation, it will not be possible to carry out a high-quality restoration of the coating. First of all, you need to carefully inspect the surface of the plumbing for rust. If the enamel is corroded, it must be removed with a solution based on oxalic or acetic acid.

The mixture is applied to damaged areas and left for 30 minutes, after which the dirt is wiped off with a damp sponge. If the acid does not help get rid of the rust, then a mechanical cleaning method will have to be applied.

After removing rusty deposits, the surface of the tank is sanded with emery paper or with a grinder. This removes the old layer of enamel. In the presence of serious mechanical damage in the form of deep cracks or chips, it is necessary to seal the defects with a putty for vehicles.

The final stage of surface treatment is degreasing. The bathroom can be washed inside with regular baking soda, after which the remaining substance must be thoroughly washed off with hot water.

Even an inexperienced craftsman can restore a cast-iron bath with his own hands at home. You just need to choose the most suitable method, be patient and follow all the instructions.

There are three main ways to renovate cast iron baths:

• enamelling;
• surface coating with liquid acrylic;
• installation of an acrylic liner.

One of the most popular ways to restore the coating of a cast iron bath is to enamel the surface. This method does not require large expenditures and is quite simple to use. Plumbing fixtures are painted using fast drying epoxy paint or more expensive mixes.

The enamel restoration process is as follows:

• A paint and varnish material is applied to a previously prepared surface using a natural bristle paint brush.
• The coloring composition must be applied starting from the sides of the bath and moving towards the deep part. The paint layer should be uniform and thin.
• If a too thick layer of paint and varnish material lies on the bottom of the bath, the excess must be carefully spread over the surface or removed.
• Epoxy paint is applied in at least three coats. The interval between applications should be half an hour. The last layer is recommended to be applied with a spray gun.
• It is recommended to close the bathroom after painting the tank. The process of complete drying is at least five days. It is forbidden to use the cast-iron bath during drying.

The main advantage in using the method of enameling the surface of the thicket is the minimum cost of repair work. In addition, this method of restoration is considered the simplest and does not require special skills.

However, enameling the bathtub has its drawbacks:

• The paint is prone to yellow staining. After a while, the surface will need restoration again.
• Most pig iron bath dyes can last no more than 5 years.
• Prolonged drying of the enamel creates certain difficulties. The bathtub cannot be used for almost a week.
• Enamel will not be able to mask irregularities on the surface of the bowl.

Finishing a bathroom with a bulk glass is a more laborious process than enameling. Acrylic is a modern material that contains two main components: acrylic and hardener. When the mixture is applied, a dense acrylic film is formed on the surface, the thickness of which can be from 0.4 to 0.8 centimeters.

Due to its good fluidity, liquid acrylic adheres well to the cast-iron surface in an even layer. The polymerization of the substance does not occur immediately, which makes it possible, if necessary, to correct the defects obtained when applying the glass.

Wrap the tap with a dry cloth and fix a plastic bag or film over the fabric. This is necessary so that water from the mixer does not accidentally get on the liquid acrylic during repair work. The drain is closed with a special stopper or disposable plastic cup.

Before processing the bath surface with liquid acrylic, it is necessary to prepare a working solution. The base and hardener are mixed in a convenient container. The resulting solution is thoroughly mixed for 10 minutes. The finished mixture must be poured into a convenient container. The solution is poured onto the area that is outside the tank next to the wall. Gradually, the sides of the bath are poured with a solution, moving along the entire perimeter.

The liquid acrylic will drain into the bowl and spread evenly over the entire surface. If some areas remain unpainted, the mixture is applied to them with a plastic spatula. The movements of the spatula should be smooth from bottom to top.

After distributing the liquid acrylic, the drain must be opened. Excess solution should drain into a previously prepared container. Complete drying of the treated tank will occur after a day. It is recommended to use the bath as directed not earlier than two days later.

The advantages of using this method include the following:

• fast drying of the surface;
• with the help of liquid acrylic, a fairly durable coating is formed;
• the coating is not subject to the formation of yellow spots;
• the service life of the acrylic layer can be up to 10 years;
• the coating of liquid acrylic is practically non-slippery.

The disadvantages of this method include the high cost of the materials used and the complexity of the repair work. Without certain skills, it will be difficult to create high-quality coverage.

Refreshing a cast iron bathtub with an acrylic liner is pretty easy. Removal of the old layer of enamel before the restoration is not required in this case. Usually this method is used when the reservoir is badly damaged. The essence of this method is that a special acrylic insert in the form of a bowl is installed in the bathroom, which repeats the shape of the tank.

The hardest part of using this method is making accurate measurements of the bath and the drain and overflow holes. It is not always possible to find an acrylic liner of suitable shapes and sizes. However, many companies make custom-made bowls of any parameters for cast iron baths. A quality acrylic liner should be at least 0.6 centimeters thick.

Before fixing the acrylic insert, if there are serious defects on the surface of the tank, the damaged areas must be putty. Additionally, it is necessary to remove the drain-overflow system and the mixer. Also, the sides of the bathroom are removed and part of the tile, which is located on the wall next to the tank, is cut off.

The finished liner is installed in the tank, the places for the drain slot are marked with a pencil.The acrylic bowl is removed from the bath and holes are made to drain. The liner must be reinserted into the reservoir. If all holes are present and there are no errors, you can start fixing the bowl.

The area around the drain is treated with a special sealant, and an adhesive mixture is applied to the surface of the insert. The bowl is placed in the bath. The joints between the tank and the acrylic insert must be sealed with a sealant, after which the bowl is filled with water. After a day, you can drain the water and start using the bath for its intended purpose.

The service life of such a coating can be 15 years. The surface is not susceptible to the formation of yellow plaque and rust. The acrylic liner allows you to mask unevenness and many other surface imperfections, creating an even and smooth finish.

This method of restoration also has some disadvantages:

• the acrylic bowl has poor resistance to impact and other mechanical stress;
• high costs for repair work;
• the need for additional work on the measurement of the liner and the formation of holes.

The quality of the restoration work will depend on the preparation of the bathroom surface as well as the materials chosen. Preference should be given to proven brands and quality products. The choice of the restoration method also needs to be approached with all responsibility. First of all, it is important to correctly assess your skills and strengths, as well as to consider the financial side of the issue.

When using the method of covering the bowl with liquid acrylic, remember that the shade of the mixture must match the shade of the enamelled surface. When removing the old enamel layer, some areas are not completely cleaned. The old coating can show through the acrylic layer with stains of a different shade. If necessary, liquid acrylic can be tinted by yourself using special tinting pastes.

For several ways to restore a bathroom, see the video below.