Repair the enamel - do the bath repair yourself

• Material for bathtub repair
• Repair enamel - instructions
  • 1st step: cleaning the damaged area
  • 2nd step: fill out
  • Step 3: Sand the repaired area smoothly
  • 4th step: paint enamel
• What else should be noted "> Tips for quick readers

The daily routine in the bathroom can quickly cause small damage in the enamel on the sink or on the bathtub. Most of these occur in the form of small cracks and quirks on which the paint is chipped off. If these are not repaired promptly, they can quickly cause major damage. For home improvement, these repairs are fortunately easy to do yourself. Therefore, we will explain step by step how to repair enamel.

So if the perfume or the hair dryer has dropped down and caused unsightly quirks, must be acted quickly: Because if these small damages are not repaired, is exposed by the daily exposed to moisture another danger: Under the enamel sits a steel body, the sensitive to moisture penetrating with rust. This can eat through the material and lead to leaks, which in turn expensive repairs, a new purchase or even a renovation of the bathroom can result. Also, the rust can cause more enamel to peel off if it settles underneath.

Material for bathtub repair

In order to repair an enamel bathtub, the following items and materials should be available:

• For rust: wire brush
• Putty with a hardener suitable for sanitary ware
• spatula
• abrasive paper
• Enamel paint in the form of a paint pen or paint spray

In most well-equipped home builder and DIY shop, all necessary materials can be purchased in the complete set for about 20 to 30 EUR. It must be ensured that it is really a set for enamel and not for acrylic paint or other holds.

Tip: For small and superficial cracks and quirks sometimes even a paint marker, for larger damage a spray paint should be preferred.

Enamel bathtubs have a layer of so-called blue ceramics under the white topcoat. If only the white upper layer has been damaged, it can sometimes be sufficient to compensate for the optical defect with a paint marker. Deeper damage must be cleaned, troweled and sanded before painting.

Important: Pay attention to the right shade when buying the paint! Especially with old bathtubs due to the material discoloration of the right tone over time can not be taken. Account managers in the DIY or home improvement market can provide valuable assistance.

Repair enamel - instructions

Total about one and a half hours for the repair. However, it can take several days to fully use the tub again.

1st step: cleaning the damaged area

Before you start with the repair, the damaged areas must first be cleaned. If necessary, rust can be removed carefully with a wire brush. Corrosive cleaning agents should be avoided as they can sand up the paint. The resulting damage is difficult or impossible to remedy. Thereafter, the cleaned area must dry well.

2nd step: fill out

Mix the filler according to the manufacturer's instructions with the hardener (often 30: 1). With the spatula you can fill the broken area. It is important that in the meantime no air bubbles occur and the mass is carefully smoothed out. The hardening agent gives the material its strength. On average, putty can be processed for almost half an hour. After 30 minutes it is dry.

Tip: Remains and traces of the putty next to the repaired area must be removed immediately from the intact enamel, otherwise they can quickly settle and cause unsightly bumps.

Step 3: Sand the repaired area smoothly

After about half an hour the smoothed area has to be sanded smooth. It is important to create a smooth transition to the intact enamel. In the event that there are small cracks in the material after that, they can be repaired and sanded as in step 2.

4th step: paint enamel

Before you can paint the repaired area, all loose remains of putty must be carefully removed. Also, the bathroom should be clean and dust-free as possible, so that no particles can settle on the wet paint. The can has to be shaken vigorously to distribute the color optimally and to ensure high opacity. Then the paint with about 25cm distance sprayed on the repaired enamel - several times in thin layers until the desired coverage is achieved - and allowed to dry well. The required drying time depends on the lacquer used and the thickness of the ink layer.

Tip: Cut a hole the size of the repaired area into a piece of paper and use it as a sprayer for a cleaner and more accurate result.

What else is to be noted "> The repaired area takes some time to fully cure and dry. Only after about four days, the treated area is properly dried and the tub can be used again normally for bathing and relaxing.

If you prefer to do without a complete set, you can get the individual materials individually. It is particularly important to pay attention to the right paint. Surfaces in the bathroom are stressed heavily and mostly daily. The use of an unsuitable paint can quickly create quirks again. Or worse, invisibly under the paint, penetrating moisture can cause rust that will not stand out until more serious damage occurs. Only high quality products specially marked for the required repair of bathtubs, toilets and sinks should be used. On the packaging, the corresponding labels are usually easy to find. Again, the inclusion of a professional in the DIY or home improvement market is recommended.

A final word: In general, cracks and quirks can be easily repaired to a depth of about four millimeters by the handyman himself. However, if the damaged area is particularly deep or very large - if, for example, the rust has penetrated deep into the steel - you should think about whether or not a specialist can be consulted.

Tips for quick readers

1. Thoroughly clean the damaged area from dirt and rust.
2. Mix the putty with the hardener according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Fill the damaged area and let it dry for 30 minutes.
4. Sand the hardened area to create a smooth transition to the enamel of the bathtub.
5. Paint the repaired area: Cut a hole of the appropriate size into a piece of paper and use it as a spray mask for a clean and accurate result. Shake the can vigorously and apply at a distance of approx. 25 cm in several layers.