How to Change the Colors of a Cast-Iron Bathtub

Old cast-iron tubs are topped with porcelain that has been baked on. If you have an old porcelain tub that is looking worn and dull, but the structure itself is in good shape, you can end up with a brand-new tub by simply refinishing the surface of the porcelain. You can't use actual porcelain, as it will have to be baked on, but your home refinishing dealer will have materials that will duplicate the look of the original porcelain. This is a good time to change the color of the tub to deep blue, hunter green or some other color to modernize the look of it.

Screwdriver
Painter’s tape
Plastic tarps
Respirator (with face mask)
Rubber gloves
Paintbrush
Porcelain etching compound (hydrofluoric acid)
Airless paint sprayer
Porcelain primer
Colored porcelain enamel paint

Instructions

- 1
  Take off the faucet and other fixtures, using your screwdriver. Put painter’s tape over any non-porcelain items that can’t be removed. Spread out plastic tarps over the floor. Tape tarps to the surrounding walls. Put on the respirator and rubber gloves.
- 2
  Brush porcelain etching compound over the whole surface of the tub with your paintbrush. Let it sit on the surface for 15 minutes. Rinse the brush well. The shine should be gone from the tub surface.
- 3
  Fill an airless paint sprayer with primer. Spray it on in a thin, light layer, keeping the sprayer moving at all times to avoid drips.
- 4
  Allow the primer to dry for four hours. Apply a second layer. Let it dry 12 hours.
- 5
  Fill the sprayer with your colored porcelain enamel paint. Spray it on in a thin, light coat, covering the whole surface.
- 6
  Spray on a second coat. Let it set four hours. Repeat the process, applying four to six coats. Let the final coat dry for 48 hours. Reassemble the fixtures.

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