I've been thinking about refinishing my bathtub because, honestly, replacing it is way out of budget right now. Anyway, I stumbled across this cool fact while googling around: apparently, bathtubs from before the 1950s were often coated with real porcelain enamel, which is why they lasted so long and stayed shiny forever. Nowadays, most tubs are acrylic or fiberglass with a gel coating that wears out pretty quickly.
Kinda makes sense why grandma's tub still looks brand new after like 60 years and mine looks like it's been through a war zone after just 10, lol.
But yeah, back to refinishing... I've heard mixed reviews about DIY kits—some people swear by them, others say they're a nightmare. Supposedly prep work and ventilation are key factors if you don't want your bathroom to smell like chemicals for weeks (ugh).
Has anyone here tried refinishing their own bathtub? Curious if it's worth tackling myself or if I should just bite the bullet and hire someone.
"Supposedly prep work and ventilation are key factors if you don't want your bathroom to smell like chemicals for weeks (ugh)."
You're spot-on about prep and ventilation—can't stress that enough. Did mine last summer, and honestly, the DIY kits can turn out great IF you're meticulous with sanding and cleaning beforehand... patience is key.
