HOW TO PAINT YOUR BATHROOM TUB AND TILE
Can’t afford to completely renovate your bathroom, but still looking to modernize it?
Our 1970’s bathroom was just that- 70’s. It was pink (Pepto Bismol Pink), with brown trim and outdated appliances. It was not in our budget to completely renovate the bathroom, and the tiles and tub were still in great condition. My father-in-law introduced me to the idea of painting it using Rustoleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit in Gloss White. I ordered it online at Home Depot and picked it up in store because it is not kept in store.
So I did my due diligence in researching and watching videos and felt prepared to tackle this project. So here we go:
STEP 1: Remove the caulk from where the tub and tile meet, then thoroughly clean the tiles. Because we had just bought this house, I spent a lot of time cleaning these tiles. I meticulously cleaned, I mean meticulously, each and every tile, and the grout surrounding them. That was the longest part of this whole process. You just want to make sure the tiles are clean and there is no soap scum or mildew, or the paint will not stick.
STEP 2: Sand the tub and tile. I used a power sander at first to get the first coat of gloss off, and then went in with a hand sander and got around the corners and edges. This step is important to remove the gloss from the tile so the epoxy mixture has something to hold on to. Wipe off the remaining dust using a tack cloth and do one final clean. You want to make sure there is no dust, dirt or hair remaining, or the paint will attach right on to it. It will cause small bumps that will harden and will give an uneven texture.
STEP 3: Open some windows, and create the epoxy solution. The smell of this stuff is STRONG, so I highly suggest wearing a mask and goggles. Read the back of the box for full instructions. I would stir for a few minutes to make sure it is thoroughly mixed, or it will become too watery and you will get drip marks. Also tape off the edges where you don’t want the epoxy mixture, such as the wall and the shower head and faucet. If you accidentally drip on it, wipe it off asap or it will not come off.
STEP 4: Here’s the scary, I mean fun, part- START PAINTING! I suggest using a good quality foam roller and brush. Foam roller is key because the traditional paint rollers will shed and pieces will become mixed into the solution and create hardened bumps(which are painful to step on). I started out with the roller and then followed it with the brush to get the hard to reach spots. Once you apply it, you will notice small air bubbles- those will go away once it dries. I did a light coat the first round, knowing I wanted to go in with another coat after.
STEP 5: After your first coat dries, rub your hand over the tub and tile to make sure there are no bumps. If there are, sand them down and clean off the dust with a tack cloth. Then follow the same steps for the second coat. I waited a full day to put the second coat on, but you can apply the second coat after a few hours. Note that the epoxy mixture will harden after a few hours, therefore it cannot be saved and used again. Luckily I had gone through the whole box on the first coat, so I ordered a second and third box on Amazon just to be safe. I ended up going through 2 and a half boxes, and used the remaining half on my kitchen backsplash.
STEP 6: Wait 3 days to shower in your new and updated bathroom!
