Tutorial: Tub Refinishing
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
When we moved into our A-Frame last October, I learned that there are two new colors your bathtub could turn: orange (if your well water has high iron) and blue (if your copper pipes were corroding). In Tennessee, the showers would turn a disturbingly pretty pink color from some mold or spore, probably, but those two colors were new to me.
The bathtub, though, had begun losing its shiny finish and had dull patches around the bottom. Enter: a tub refinishing kit. This is an epoxy-acrylic paint that will leave a hard and sturdy finish on tubs and showers alike. Here is a full guide to how I used it and all the supplies you will need.
Supplies:
Like most non-wall painting projects, the prep will take longer than the actual painting. Here is what you will need:
4-inch foam roller (you'll probably want a couple)
CLR cleaner or bleach (if your tub has mold or mildew)
abrasive pad
respirator mask: the smell is REALLY STRONG
*the paint comes in two colors, white and coastal fog (grey)
Prep:
Use a razor blade scraper to remove any caulk from the shower.
If your tub has lime, rust, or calcium buildup, use CLR cleaner (diluted with water per the bottle directions) and an abrasive pad to remove the buildup. OR If your tub has mold or mildew, use bleach (diluted with water). DO NOT USE BOTH BLEACH AND CLR, as it will create toxic chlorine gas.
Rinse and dry the tub.
Use a block sander to scuff sand the entire tub. If your tub (like mine) had old peeling paint on it, sand that off, too.
Rinse and dry the tub with a tack cloth to get any excess dust.
Remove any metal fixtures (faucet, drain, etc) that you can, and tape off the rest.
Paint:
Following the directions on the tub and tile paint, mix parts A and B separately, and then add Part B to Part A and use a paint stick to stir until it reaches a consistent texture (about 1 minute).
Use the foam roller to begin painting the tub or shower. Go slowly, press lightly to avoid leaving lines, and feather the edges.
Wait 1 hour for the first coat to dry.
Reapply a second coat. I switched out rollers for coat 2 because the foam was starting to disintegrate.
Remove all tape and touch up any spots around the tape. I used a Q-tip dipped in paint, and it worked great.
Wait 3 full days for the paint to cure before using.
I am seriously so blown away by how good this ended up looking! My tub looks brand new! Since sharing this on my IG, I have gotten a lot of questions, so here are a few FAQ's:
Can this be used on shower tile too?
Yes! It is made for shower tile.
Can I use this on my bathroom floor tile?
For that, use this paint instead. I actually wrote a whole blog post about painting floor tile. Read it here.
How long does it last?
I will report back when I have had it on longer than a week! This is what a follower said:
Can I use this on my sink?
Yes, you can! It is made for sinks too!
What types of tub materials can this be used on?
It can be used on ceramic tile and porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, cast iron, and steel tubs and sinks. It is NOT for use on galvanized steel or flexible plastic.
If you want to watch the full video tutorial, you can watch it here:
Make sure to follow along in my IG stories for all the latest house projects, and be sure to tag me if you try this @MelissaAshleyMeares
xoxo,
Melissa
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