A bathtub is a well-used item, and those who shower or bathe in it frequently have a good chance of scratching or otherwise damaging the ceramics. This is quite annoying, but no reason to replace the whole tub ! With a suitable repair kit, damage to the ceramic of a bathtub can be patched: here is a manual to repair a scratch on a bathtub easily.
Repair a scratch on a bathtub easily: the steps
On the market there are special bathtub repair kits to buy, which even a layman can use without any problems. Especially when moving out of a rented apartment, it is advisable to repair a scratch on a bathtub easily, because this will certainly make the apartment departure much more easy, with the landlord not trying to get extra money from you to replace the whole bath or completely renovate the bathroom!
The mentioned repair sets are available in many different colours, so that the patched area is hardly or indistinguishable from the intact environment. Often the retailer will let you take sample cards home to match the colour — even if your bathtub is white, you may find there are many different versions of white!
Repair a scratch on a bathtub easily: What you need
- Detergent
- Water
- Liquid rust remover
- fine sanding paper
- Cloth for drying
- high-quality repair kit for ceramics
1. Cleaning damaged areas
Clean all damaged areas thoroughly with water and some detergent. Then dry everything well with a rag. This gives you a sustainable, clean surface.
If the metal is exposed under the ceramic and has already some rust on it, it is recommended to rust with liquid rust remover or sandpaper before cleaning.
TIP: In order to get a repaired area really completely grease-free and soap-free, it is recommended to clean with acetone.
2. Mix the two-component repair material
Mix the two components of your ceramic repair kit (hardener and filler) according to instructions for use and then process the mixture as quickly as possible before it hardens.
3. Application of the bathtub repair material
Use the small plastic spatula, which is usually in the package, to apply the repair material. If there is no spatula, a knife or a special putty iron is sufficient. Fill the damaged area completely slightly above level.
4. Smooth sanding
After about half an hour of drying, gently grind the repaired areas on your bathtub with fine sanding paper. Then remove the sanding dust.
5. Use paint spray
Now spray the paint spray from your repair kit to the repaired areas. After drying the paint, the bath tub is again normally usable and looks (almost) like new!
Gerhardt Richter is a writer and a trainer at trade technical colleges, specializing in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and construction.
