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How to paint a bath

A person painting a pink bath white

Overview

Painting the bath is an affordable way to bring your old bathroom up-to-date. We’ll show you everything you need for painting a bath. You'll also see how to properly prepare the surface of the bath to get the best result.

Steps

1Prepare the surface of the bath

Give the surface of the bath a good clean with a scourer and some heavy duty cleaning liquid. Then use ‘wet & dry' sandpaper to roughen up the surface and remove the shine from the enamel. Rinse with water and dry. Finish the cleaning process by rubbing the surface down with solvent. Once the solvent is dry, mask up the edges of the bath and the plughole. It is also worth taping up the spout so no water drips on the wet paint.
A person sanding a bath with wet and dry sandpaper

2Prepare the paint

Bath paint is a two-part paint that comes in separate tins. Stir the individual tins with different stirrers then mix the two tins together in a solvent-resistant container. Once they are thoroughly mixed, pour half the paint into a second container. You will use this second half for the second coat. Put a lid on it and put it in the fridge. Then let the first half sit for an hour to come up to room temperature.
A person pouring clear liquid from a tin into a plastic container

3Paint the bath

Once the paint is at room temperature, give it another good stir. Then paint the bath. Start with the top of the bath and work down. When the first coat is finished, give it 12 hours to cure before applying the second coat. Remember to give your paint an hour to come up to room temperature before you do coat number two. Once the second coat is finished, wait 24 hours before removing the masking tape and at least five days before using the bath.

A person painting a pink bath white
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.