Renovate your clawfoot bath

Add vintage charm with the classic rolled rim and whimsical clawed feet of a freestanding bath

Add vintage charm with the classic rolled rim and whimsical clawed feet of a freestanding bath

Photographs Charlie Mckay

Original cast iron enamelled baths can still be found for a reasonable price on the second-hand market – or even languishing as troughs in the odd paddock. New baths are often made with fiberglass, acrylic or other modern materials that can’t easily be restored, but a cast iron bath can be sanded and resurfaced numerous times. You need to use specific two-pack paint products for a durable surface on the inside of the bath, but once repainted, your bath will have the look and feel of a newly enamelled tub – ready for many more years of blissful bathing!

Step 1: Preparation

Sand all surfaces smooth inside and out, starting with the rougher grade paper and gradually switching to the finer grade. If the bath has previously been painted with a regular paint product, make sure you sand it off completely as it may react with the epoxy, causing it to bubble. Clean the bath exterior and spot sand any rust. (If the bath is really rusty you may want to start with a sand blast.) Sweep up any dust and wipe all surfaces first with a damp, then a dry rag.

Step 2: Undercoat interior

Use a two-pack epoxy undercoat (see right). Follow the ratio and mixing instructions on the side of the tin. (Mixing half of the 750ml tin of epoxy primer with the correct ratio of the hardener makes enough for one coat of the bath’s interior and a little extra for covering a few small sanded rust spots on the bath’s exterior. Discard brush. Once dry it can be sanded back for a smoother finish – but take care to wear the face mask and collect all the sanding dust to put in the rubbish. Don’t tip it down the drain.

Step 3: Top coat

Use a two-pack acrylic topcoat for the inside of the bath, (see right). Dividing and mixing the two products (as described in Step 2) will allow you to paint several coats. Wear a mask, open any windows and use a fan on a cool setting to ensure the area is well ventilated. Leave to dry. If necessary, lightly sand any problematic areas and apply a second coat. Discard brush.

Step 4: Exterior colour coat

You can choose any colour available in the Enamacryl Gloss waterborne enamel range. I went for the dramatically dark blue Resene Magnum. This is an environmentally friendly waterbased paint, so it is easier to apply than the two-pot products and you can wash your brush out in water.

Step 5: Painting the feet

I chose silver feet to match the chrome fitting of my bathroom and I used both a medium and a small paint brush for the edges of the feet. Repeat with extra coats as required for the solidity of colour you are after. Wash your brush out in water.

Step 6: Final seal

Protect the painted surface on the bath’s exterior and feet with several coats of clear water based varnish. Good tip: When using water-based paint, wash brushes out in water either in an inside sink or tip the water onto the lawn. Don’t tip paint products or grey water into a gully trap or storm water drain. Thanks to Resene Mt Roskill for paint products and to Bob for his helpful advice