Do It Yourself: ; Prepping tub for refinish is tricky

Q:How do I go about refinishing my porcelain bathtub? - D.Chisholm

A:The refinishing or painting itself isn't too difficult, butpreparing the surface properly can be quite a hassle, even if thetub does not have chipped areas that must be repaired first. Don'tskip the preparation, or any paint you apply is likely to peel orchip quickly.

If you buy a tub-painting kit, it should include instructions aswell as the paint, a primer or bonder, and probably a few othersmaterials you will need. Expect to pay $25 and up for kits, sold athome centers and on the Internet. Two-part epoxy paint hastraditionally been used for do-it-yourself bathtub painting, butacrylic paint is also sometimes used.

The usual first step is to remove all traces of soap scum,grease, dirt and other contaminants from the tub. Scrub with TSP(trisodium phosphate or a phosphate-free substitute, sold at paintstores). Use a stiff brush and follow up by rinsing the surfacethoroughly with clean water. Let the tub dry and de-gloss thesurface with 120- or 150-grit sandpaper. The surface should have aslightly rough feel when you are finished. Remove all the sandingdust with a vacuum or tack cloths (sticky cloths sold at paintstores).

If you choose spray paint and primer, mask all surfaces in andaround the tub to keep stray paint from landing where you don't wantit. Paint when the primer is dry. Your paint job could last foryears, but, of course, there is no guarantee that it will.

Another option is to have the tub refinished by a pro; look inthe Yellow Pages.