You Can Paint a Bathtub? What?!

Update (2017)...I still swear by this stuff! SO here's the link to Amazon (where I ordered mine MULTIPLE TIMES over the years):


...ALSO... I swear by their other product for counter top paint!
ORIGINAL POST:

That's what I asked when I read about this stuff a while back.

I've used Rustoleum's countertop paint before in an apartment that we rent to local college students and I was pleased with the results. I was very excited to try Rustoleum's tub and tile paint that I ordered from Amazon. I admit I was a bit terrified of what the outcome might be...but anything is better than that icky old tub I had before.

If we were rich (ha!) I would have begged Caleb to put in a new bathtub, but we're not and that's cool.

So, we have 4 bathrooms in our house and this one is my favorite.

It has gray tiles on the walls and floor. Our house was built in 1954 and I'm so glad the original owners didn't go with blue, pink, or yellow!

The tub is so gross. I've never taken a bath in it. It's so gross.

Anyways, I bought the tub and tile paint for only $24 and ended up using only 1/2 a can.

So for about $12 + supplies I think I got a good deal.

now & then:

Please ignore the dirty floor and the wall tiles since I was in the process of bleaching them when I took this picture of the tub. I also have to scrape up some of the drops I got along the edge.

Darn you painters tape!

 The process was so easy!

The kit comes with 2 small cans that you mix together in the larger size can. It's a very thin paint which worried me at first, but then I realized that it goes on very smoothly and doesn't drip or run hardly at all.

I think I spent a longer time cleaning and prepping the tub than I did actually painting it.

This is after one coat of the enamel paint.

The only step that I skipped was to sand the tub. Here's my reasoning on that:

The reviews online said that the paint creates a really slippery surface - slick like glass. Since the only places on the tub that were rough to the touch were on the bottom of the tub I left those unsanded to add traction for when the shower is used. Hopefully, I won't regret skipping that step, but once I saw how slick the enamel can be after it dried, I'm glad I didn't sand.

The picture on the right is AFTER I scrubbed the tub in preperation for painting.

It was so worn and discolored.

I only put 2 coats on as suggested on the package. I didn't feel that it needed more.

I used a 4" foam roller (door & cabinet kind) and a foam brush. Don't use the foam brushes from the craft store because they are two soft and the paint eats at the foam. Use the ones from the hardware store (I got mine at Ace True Value) that are made from a firmer foam and hold up really well.

By using foam rollers and brushes you get a perfectly smooth finish with no brush strokes or texture.

I bought two roller pads and two foam brushes to use - one for each coat. The enamel paint will eat away at the foam in between coats, so switch out before applying a second coat.

You also want to wear a mask and gloves. Trust me.

I wore a mask, but the fumes were still SO strong. I also opened up the bathroom window and still could barely breath.

The smell was really strong for about 2 days after I was done painting.

The difficult part is waiting for it to be usable again.

The package says you have to wait 3 days before using the tub again, but I'm going to do what the other reviewers on Amazon suggest and wait 7 days.

While the enamel is hardening I'm painting the walls yellow and the trim a fresh coat of white.

Hopefully, I'll post pictures of the finished bathroom soon!

Anyways, so far I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out.

Of course I can't judge it entirely until I see how well it wears once we're able to use it again.

Extra: click here to read about how we painted a maroon tub and sink vanity counter with the same product.