Bathtub refinishing (also called reglazing) entails applying a new coating on top of the surface of your bathtub. For your new finish to fully cure, you’ll likely need to refrain from using your tub for about 72 hours (this is a common timeframe, but ask the person refinishing your bathtub how long you should wait).
Even if your refinished bathtub seems dry after a few hours, resist the temptation to casually use it before it’s had enough time to harden. Some glazes lose their tacky texture shortly after being applied but may still be quite soft underneath. Waiting patiently will go a long way toward making your reglazed bathtub last.
Curing Time
Bathtubs generally can be used as usual after 72 hours. Some variables to consider are:
- Weather conditions: Curing times can be longer in humid conditions and in cooler temperatures. Ventilation to remove odors may also help create consistent drying conditions.
- Product information: Always defer to the refinisher’s instructions about how to treat your tub and about your specific glaze’s and environmental conditions’ effects on curing times.
- Additional repairs: If the technician needs to make any repairs to stains, chips, or cracks on your original glaze before refinishing it, this may also lengthen the process.
Questions Before Curing
Before your Portland OR professional leaves your home, ask them questions, such as:
- When will my refinished bathtub be OK to use?
- When can I allow the tap water to run into it?
- Does the glaze applied to my tile require a different amount of time to cure?
- When can bath mats and bottles of shampoo and other products go into the tub?
- Are there certain products or harsh chemicals I should avoid using on the new finish?
- If everyone needs showers/tubs during the refinishing process, how should we manage? (Maybe you’ll need to take turns at a friend’s house or in a hotel for a few days. Figure this out in advance, so no one’s left without a way to bathe!)
Protecting the Finish
After using the tub, gently remove traces of soap scum or body oils with a soft rag or non-scrubbing sponge. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive pads, and cleansers that are gritty, as they can harm the finish. For additional guidance on maintaining a refinished bathtub, consult professionals such as Renew-It Refinishing.
In bathrooms that don’t dry out quickly, try drying off your tub after you drain it to minimize the impact of excess moisture. And, avoid suction-cupped rubber bath mats in your tub altogether. Besides potentially yanking on your glaze when they’re removed, these rubber mats can collect moisture and keep it against your refinished surface.
Early Use Warning Signs
If your reglazed Portland OR bathtub was used before the finish was fully cured, you may notice smudges, marks or fingerprints in the finish that won’t buff out (trying to rub them out will probably make the situation worse). Other possibilities are areas that seem dull or feel soft compared to the rest of the glaze. Call your glazing professional if any of this happens. They may be able to make repairs or recoat your tub.
You may also see peeling around the edges of the tub and the drain. Sometimes this means that there’s moisture beneath the finish. Check around your caulking and plumbing fixtures to be sure none of these is leaking onto the sides of the tub. If needed, make plumbing repairs before refinishing your tub. Visit https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/reglaze for more tips.
When it comes back into service, be conscious not to trap regular bathroom humidity in the room by closing the door after showers, and run the vent fan instead.
Also easily overlooked are the drain and overflow parts.
Once the technician is done and before he leaves, make sure you’ve turned off the showerhead and faucet. A sputtering leak can drip for hours in the same spot and cause problems. If you can resolve the problem before reglazing, we suggest that you do.
Ask if they remove and replace caulk after reglazing the tub. If the caulking is on prematurely, or is bumped off in the cleaning process, there will be a place for water to seep behind the refinished surface. Advance preparation in these areas will protect the most water-prone areas of your bathroom.
Planning Ahead
- Empty toiletries and other personal items out of your bathroom before refinishing your bathtub. It’ll be easier to leave them out while the finish cures.
- During curing times, resist the urge to introduce moisture into the bathroom by bringing in damp washcloths and towels or by generating steam with a hot shower.
- After the prescribed amount of time for using your tub, inspect it under normal bathroom lighting. Look around to be sure that the finish shines consistently throughout. Then, refill your bathtub with personal items and enjoy your refinished bathtub!