Re-enamel Bath...advice

weegie_2

Hi guys

Our bathroom is old and shabby. Desperately needs overhauled but i am skint. I can't stand looking at it any longer though so need to do something.

Instead of buying a new suite....as the bath and toilet still look ok.....I was thinking of just getting my old bath re-enamelled as I think it is what is bringing the whole bathroom down. Wondering if any one has ever done, what a rough cost would be and what sort of upheaval involved.

Any advice, much appreciated.

weegie

Mrs_pbradley936

I think you should get a new bathroom suite. I looked on B & Q and they start at £337 for a bath, toilet and basin. You could spend almost that and still have a shabby old one.

weegie_2

My problem with a new cheap one (which I would love and don't mind) is that I have quite a 'heavy' husband.....I fear that a cheap acryllic one would not quite live up to him sitting/standing in it all the time!

tawnyowls

There is a DIY product called Tubby. I used this, or rather didn't, because the instructions tell you to sand down the bath (they supply the stuff) - when I did this, all the yukky marks, which I thought were damage from limescale remover, came off, and it looked as good as new! Even if that doesn't happen to you, £40 for the kit is a lot cheaper than using a company (was ~£200 when I enquired at the time). You won't be able to use the bath for at least 24 hours either way.

never_enough

I wouldn't bother doing it unless you have a really beautiful bath. Mine was done by the previous owners & it's not very good (understatement of the year!) Lumpy & bodged looking.... And getting ripped out as soon as poss!

You can get a new metal bath for around £100, maybe less if you look around. Depends on dimensions of husband, but look at:
http://www.victoriaplumb.com/Steelplus_1700_Steel_Bath_2_Tap_Holes.html
£89.99 for a 1700x700 metal bath.
We got one from kaldewi (sp?) for about £60 a couple of years ago. You may decide to go for a wider bath, for comfort. If you have the space it's worth doing as they're not that much more expensive.

mhkhan

after buying house we were skinned, my husband refused to replace the bathroom suit which was quite old, i looked up in ebay and bought a used bathroom suit from nearby which was in excellent condition, bought the re-enameling kit, and re-painted the whole suit before installing. than paid 100 pounds to the plumber to take out the old bath tub etc and fit the new one( was looking new). the full bathroom suit which was second hand but in very good condition was bought under 5.00 pounds, with the re-enamelling and installation it costed me under 175.00 pounds. did everything myself. had no choice. but all my friends and relatives think that we have installed a new bathroom suit

sadbhe

mhkhan wrote: »

after buying house we were skinned, my husband refused to replace the bathroom suit which was quite old, i looked up in ebay and bought a used bathroom suit from nearby which was in excellent condition, bought the re-enameling kit, and re-painted the whole suit before installing. than paid 100 pounds to the plumber to take out the old bath tub etc and fit the new one( was looking new). the full bathroom suit which was second hand but in very good condition was bought under 5.00 pounds, with the re-enamelling and installation it costed me under 175.00 pounds. did everything myself. had no choice. but all my friends and relatives think that we have installed a new bathroom suit

I was going to re-enamel my bath and sink as they are in good condition, are great quality but are 1970s baby blue! How easy is it to re-enamel and what is the finish like? I am a total novice at at DIY

84Zane

In my experience & talking to different people, if you want to re-enamel a bath the only way worth doing is paying a company to remove the bath, take it to they're factory, sandblast & enamel it completly from fresh ie. heat the bath up & throw glass powder at the bath to create 'Virgin' enamel. This however is alot of up-heval & not sure how much would cost now.

Talking to 'alot' of people who have re-enamelled their own bath at home, say it's not worth it, as you'll just have to replace the bath again down the road. As these types of re-enamelling is just like 'painting' enamel onto the bath & doesn't live up to everyday wear & tear.

My advice would be either have the bath removed & professionally re-enamelled or replace the bath completely. I know probably not what you want to hear but will save you time, effort & money in the long run . . .