A Homeowner Guide on How to Paint a Bathtub Tub With Epoxy

The short answer is "Yes, you can." but there is more to it than that and the question of how to paint a bathtub needs a few more answers. If some house type latex paint is spread over the bathtub and let dry I can guarantee that your satisfaction in a job well done will be very short-lived - it just isn't going to last past the first few baths. The type of paint will play a large part in determining the quality of the work, as will preparation.

Difficulty of the project work needs to be considered - are you prepared to take on a home improvement task? Some can be quite simple and require only a few minutes, while others can take weeks of your time.

The expected finished product needs to be evaluated. Will painting my bathtub produce the results I want? Will it last like I expect it to? All questions that need to be evaluated; if you don't like the result it could well require a complete bathtub change.

There are several product and manufactures that supply paint intended for bathtubs, tile and sinks. Both one and two part epoxy paints can be used, and I would recommend the two part brush on epoxy paint even though it requires mixing two paints into one.

While a spray can of epoxy paint is also available and might give a better, smoother surface it would also be extremely difficult to clean up over spray or places where the spray simply worked its way behind any masking material. In addition a spray would require a great deal more care in masking off areas that are not to be sprayed.

Under no circumstances should you use more normal paints as they are simply not designed to stand up under constant water conditions. It is one thing to have paint that is occasionally rained upon, and quite another to have it underwater for long periods of time.

The first step is obviously to read the directions on your chosen paint. A two part paint will require mixing the two parts into one container while a one part will not. Two coats are almost certainly required and the drying time will vary with manufacturers as will what to do with the epoxy paint while the tub is drying.

Clean the tub thoroughly with soap and water and make any tub repairs as necessary before beginning to paint. Easy to remove pieces such as faucet handles, trim and the water spout should be removed. If a bathtub shower door is fitted to the bathtub consider removing it as well; removal and installation will take only a few minutes and is probably quicker and easier than masking and carefully painting around the bottom track of the door.

Mask off the wall at the tub edge with masking tape, as well as any other parts not to be painted such as the drain. Don't try to paint right up against these items without masking them as removal of excess epoxy paint will be difficult if not impossible. The "extra" work of masking is well worth the effort.

Painting of the tub can be done with a small paintbrush for the edges that are masked off and either a large brush or a roller for the larger surfaces. Brushes and rollers are not really cleanable, so don't use your best brush; buy a cheaper brush and discard when finished.

Following the instructions for your particular paint, re-apply after drying the recommended amount of time. Store the paint and brushes during this drying period as instructed on the paint - different paints and manufacturers recommend different storage methods.

After a second drying period, remove masking tape and re-affix any removed items such as faucets. Again, check the paint instructions for the time necessary before using the bathtub and wait at least that long if not a few days longer.

When my wife and I bought our latest home it came with, to me, hideous avocado green fixtures throughout the house. While I changed out the kitchen sink and toilets I did not want the expense or work in replacing a bathtub and instead decided to try painting it.

I used a two part epoxy paint that required mixing with no trouble. Interestingly, the instructions were to store the paint brush and paint in the freezer overnight while the first coat was drying. I very nearly decided that they really meant the refrigerator, but finally wrapped the brushes in Saran wrap and stored them, along with the paint, as instructed. The next morning the brush was still soft and pliable and the paint in good condition, ready for the second coat. Follow the instructions.

My own paint job turned out very good, with no runs or streaks. The paint was very smooth and it was hard to tell it had been painted at all. I also painted a small bathroom sink at the same time with the only problem there being that my brush was really too large to fit into the sink very well. Nevertheless it also turned out well. I did wait a week before using the bathtub or sink even though the instructions did not indicate that it was necessary to wait that long. As I have another bathroom available it was not a particular hardship and I felt the it wasn't worth any risk at all of peeling the paint up prematurely.

That work was done nearly 10 years ago, and I am just now seeing some chipping and peeling of the paint. One very large spot in the bathtub has chipped off, along with a couple of very small areas as well as a couple of small chips in the sink. It has actually lasted better than I expected it to, and I plan on re-painting the bathtub. The sink, being more difficult to get a good job in and much cheaper and easier to replace, will probably be replaced in the near future along with the countertop. With the understanding that the paint will not last forever and will need to be redone some time in the future, I found that painting a bathtub with epoxy was a good alternative to replacing it.