Baths: re-enamelling

[Another John]

Has anyone tried re-enamelling a cast iron bath? (c.1960)

Ours definitely needs it, and I'm going to investigate the firms that specialise in this (it definitely doesn't look like a DIY job).

Thought I'd ask here for experiences first though,

Cheers John

[Chris]

I used Bathglaze

) to redo a resin shower tray. They did an excellent job and it's still fairly pristine several years on. They gave a quote over the phone and stuck to it and whilst I don't recall how much it was, I remember it seemed reasonable value for the work involved. (I don't have any connection with the company !)

Chris

[Chris Hogg]

If it's proper re-enamelling on a cast iron or a steel bath, then it requires a high-temperature furnace to melt on the enamel, say around

800 - 1000 C, and certainly can't be done in-situ. See for example (I have no connection with them). Otherwise it's just a glorified paint job, which might be perfectly OK for what you want, but be aware of the difference.

[John]

As someone else said, proper re-enamelling is a specialist job with the bath having to be taken away and baked in a kiln/oven thingy. However, if you happen to live in the north-west and would be happy with resurfacing rather than re-enamelling, I can wholeheartedly and happily recommend Nigel of Radiant Baths

did a brilliant job on the bath that my dad fitted in 1956 - it looked and felt brand new when Nigel had finished with it (and I've no connection other than being a very satisfied customer of his).

John

[geoff]

In message , Another John writes

I used some of this about 10 years ago

just beginning to show signs of wear around the plug hole

certainly DIY and certainly a cost effective solution

[Andy Dingley]

Yes, with excellent results. Bunch of work though, you have to be meticulous in doing it (just follow the instructions, but don't skimp) and it's hard to find the right materials.

Easiest way (i.e.you have to be hardcore DIY to do it otherwise) is to get some specialist in to do it. They're not a bad price, they give good results and you don't have to do plumbing to swap the tub.

[Another John]

OP here: Thanks for all the leads boys, and Yes Chris (H): I guess I don't mean proper re-*enamelling*, but the recovering spoken of in the responses.

I wouldn't care: we haven't used the bath for about 20 years, when we got the shower fitted in the extension bathroom. It just looks so tatty that it will be "prejudicial" to any sale of the house in the future!

Cheers J.