Can Cast Iron Tubs Be Repaired

The 8 Best Tub Repair Kits for Fries and Scratches

The winner is the HomeTinker Tub & Shower Repair Kit

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission.

The Bandbox / Sabrina Jiang

A good tub repair kit is an piece of cake DIY solution for fixing cracks, chips, scratches, and small-scale holes while sealing the spot against corrosion, leaks, and further habiliment. We researched dozens of tub repair kits, assessing ease of utilise, formula, compatibility with different tub materials, and effectiveness.

Our best overall option, the HomeTinker Tub & Shower Repair Kit, can be used on several tub and shower types, comes in three colour series to match with dozens of shades, and is non-toxic and odour-free.

Here are the all-time tub repair kits.

For a tub repair that is effective and spot-on in terms of color matching, consider this popular tub repair kit from HomeTinker. Their Tub & Shower Repair Kit can be used on a wide variety of tub types, including acrylic, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain, enameled steel or cast iron, and gel-coated.

While many tub repair kits are available in standard color selections similar white, bone, or almond, the reality is that tubs come in a wide range of shades and these colors aren't always a perfect—or even close—lucifer. If yous're agape of your tub bear on-up sticking out like a sore thumb, then this refinishing kit, which allows you to mix your own custom color production, is a great match. A stark white base formula can be tinted using 1 of two different dyes to match tubs that range from black to milky white.

While information technology may audio daunting, the Home Tinker Tub & Shower Kit is a great DIY tub repair kit. It also stands out for its odorless formula.

To take on more than simply an isolated chip or scratches, consider using a tub refinishing kit—similar this ii-part product from Rust-Oleum. Following a multi-stride process, you'll exist able to refinish your tub in a smooth, white epoxy in a single day, simply you'll have to await iii days before exposing the surface to h2o.

Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing two-Part Kit covers upward to 110 square feet, and can also be used for sinks and tile surrounds. Information technology's worth noting that in one case you mix the included jars of the product together, it should be used within half dozen hours. Since two coats are recommended and you can re-apply after an hr or ii of dry out time, you lot should be able to hands consummate this process within the timeframe. The key to success is to do proper prep work on your tub and follow the directions.

Popular for their affordability and durability, fiberglass tubs are still subject to chips and cracks. If your fiberglass tub suffers a mishap, requite it a quick gear up with the Keeney Tub Repair Kit. A gel coat putty and hardener provide strong, durable adhesion for cracks and filling small holes, up to xviii square inches.

The formula is available in white or bone color options, though it may not exist an exact match for your tub. Fifty-fifty still, this fiberglass tub repair kit provides a smoothen finish and an easy way to mask imperfections and extend the life of your tub.

If your porcelain tub has become chipped or scratched, you may exist concerned nigh corrosion and an unsightly appearance. To restore your tub'due south appearance, the Bathworks Tub and Tile Chip Repair Kit is a popular pick that comes in five shades to friction match the appearance of your porcelain tub.

The chip filler compound and its cream hardener work together to cover up to a dozen fries, and it hardens within minutes—though full curing time will vary. Post-obit the manufacturer's directions, utilize the topcoat paint to embrace the repaired spot. Information technology dries to a glossy terminate, making this tub repair kit a good pick for porcelain tubs—although information technology can exist used on fiberglass or ceramic materials as well.

If you demand to repair the floor of your tub, an inlay kit may be your best bet for a fresh outset—without having to replace your unabridged tub. The NuTub Inlay Kit provides everything yous need to repair the floor of your bathtub. It'south a dandy solution if you have many cracks, scratches, or fries you want to hide on the floor of your bathtub.

Each kit includes a PVC inlay that measures sixteen x 36 inches, along with the adhesive, sandpaper, and other accessories you'll demand to complete your tub repair. You tin utilise this tub repair kit with practically all types of mutual tub materials, including porcelain, fiberglass, enameled steel, and acrylic.

To make it easier to encompass corrosion and stains, an aerosol paint specifically designed for tubs and tile is a popular selection. Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint is a single-step product that saves time and doesn't crave y'all to mix formulas together and look hours in-betwixt applications. Information technology leaves a sleeky, polish surface and adheres to fiberglass, porcelain, and ceramic surfaces.

This epoxy acrylic formula dries on the surface in simply 15 minutes, which is amongst the shortest drying times of tub repair kits. However, it nevertheless requires 3 days of curing time before being exposed to water. Keep in listen that each can only covers virtually 15 square feet. It's ideal for limited areas of impact-up or small fixtures (similar a sink), but for larger applications, you'll need multiple cans—upwards to seven cans to encompass an entire bathtub.

While standard tub repair kits work well for household fixtures, a hot tub that is exposed to h2o constantly requires a special type of production. Plast-aid Plastic Repair Kit is an easy-to-employ choice for sealing cracks in your hot tub trounce. Keep in listen that the surface volition need to exist make clean and dry out at the fourth dimension of the repair.

The 2-part formula requires mixing before application and becomes thick quickly. One time cured, information technology offers water-resistance and immovability—even for wet environments. No colour options are available, but you can add acrylic paint to blend the repair.

Fixing small flaws in your tub, tile, or sink doesn't accept to exist an expensive project when you opt for a DIY tub repair kit, like this version from AiBast. The two-function formula combines to create a durable epoxy that you can apply to porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, or enameled steel tubs. In one case hardened, it'south waterproof and durable plenty to withstand upward to 143 pounds of pressure.

It cures quickly when compared to some other tub repair kits on the market; 18 to 24 hours is the recommended cure time, depending on the air temperature. This product is an affordable but effective style to right flaws in the surface of your tub, sink, or tile, but go along in mind that it's but available in a brilliant, white formula that matches glossy porcelain tubs or tiles best.

Final Verdict

If you want a tub repair kit that will leave behind a blended repair spot, and so the DIY color-matching kit from HomeTinker (view at Amazon) is your best bet. Apply the included dye to create a durable, water-resistant epoxy that is a close color-match for your existing tub, shower, or sink. On the other hand, if yous're looking for a quick pick for touch-up paint, the Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint (view at Amazon) is an excellent option.

Cloth

While nigh bathtub repair kits can exist used on the most common bathtub materials, it'due south nonetheless important to know what your bathtub is made out of. The reason for this is that the awarding method, surface preparation, and curing fourth dimension tin differ depending on the bathtub material. Common materials include cast iron, porcelain, fiberglass, and acrylic.

Bandage-fe tubs are probably the easiest to spot considering a magnet can be used to identify whether the tub is made of metal or not. Porcelain over metal tubs will also concenter the magnet, but porcelain tends to bit more than the enamel roofing a cast-iron tub.

Porcelain bathtubs consist of a steel tub covered in a thick coating of porcelain. Due to this design, many people refer to these tubs as porcelain over metal bathtubs.

Fiberglass bathtubs are groovy if fries are a business concern considering fiberglass is flake-resistant. However, this non-metallic material will still crack and fade over time, requiring repairs.

Acrylic tubs look and experience similar to fiberglass, with a flexible shell that gives when the sides of the tub are pressed in, unlike a rigid, cast-atomic number 26 tub. Acrylic is easy to repair, just it's likewise susceptible to fading and cracking.

Coverage

Not every bathtub is the aforementioned size or requires the same amount of product to repair the tub and give it that like-new appearance. This means that it's necessary for you to pay attending to the coverage that the production requires in club to ensure that there aren't any spots that are too thin, showing the old tub finish underneath.

Typically, a bathtub repair kit will provide plenty epoxy or enamel refinishing production to apply two coats to the boilerplate bathtub. Notwithstanding, if the tub has been significantly damaged or experienced a high level of wear over the years, it may require three coats to renew the appearance. Audit your tub beforehand and determine how much epoxy or enamel you lot will need to brand the repairs.

Application

The application method is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Most bathtub repair kits include an epoxy or enamel product that can be applied with a paintbrush or roller. This allows the user to quickly and effectively use the refinishing production as hands as if they were painting. Y'all can also detect bathtub repair kits that accept a spray-on refinishing product that is fifty-fifty easier to utilise than a paintbrush and roller. Just brand sure to tape off or otherwise encompass the areas of the bathroom that you don't want coated in refinisher, including the floor and walls.

Drying and Curing

Each bathtub repair kit will take private instructions indicating how long it will take for the treatment to dry. When the surface is dry, it can be lightly touched or brushed up against without damaging the epoxy or enamel. However, it is not durable enough for someone to take a bath or shower.

Refer to the production instructions to detect out how long until the repair fully cures. On average, it will take about 2 to 4 hours for the epoxy to dry, though some spray-on products may only take 20 minutes. Most bathtub repair treatments tin can and so have up to 48 hours for the handling to fully cure. Do non utilize the bathtub during this time to avoid damaging the repair.

FAQ

• How do bathtub repair kits work?

  Bathtub finishes can fade, scrap, and cleft over the years, simply a bathtub repair kit tin can be used to return the tub to a like-new appearance. This is accomplished by applying epoxies or enamels to the surface of the tub with a paintbrush, roller, or a spray tin can in order to ready cast iron, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic tubs.

• Can all bathtub materials exist repaired?

  All common bathtub materials can exist repaired with a bathtub repair kit, though it's important to know what the bathtub is fabricated out of because the repair process tin differ depending on the material.

• How do you know what your bathtub is fabricated out of?

  If you lot tin't tell whether the tub is cast fe, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic from a visual inspection, try pressing on the side of the tub to test the flexibility. If it gives, and so information technology's likely fabricated of acrylic or fiberglass. You can besides hold a magnet to the tub to make up one's mind if the tub is fabricated of cast atomic number 26 or porcelain over metal. If the magnet sticks, then you lot know the tub isn't acrylic or fiberglass.

Researching the latest products and trends to make the near of your home, Erica Puisis has been writing for The Spruce since 2022. A regular wanderer at large box abode improvement stores and an official helper to her handyman husband, Erica is no stranger to DIY projects and enjoys researching and recommending the right products to help you get the job done.

Boosted reporting and research for this commodity was done by Timothy Dale, a long-fourth dimension home improvement expert specializing in plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, amidst other topics.

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/best-tub-repair-kits-4158688

Posted by: baldwindides1962.blogspot.com

Share this post