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Cast iron tub paint peeling - how to remove

Kathleen Sheehan

5 months ago

We have a 'colorful fifties' cast iron tub. A previous owner used a special paint and painted it white. The paint is peeling now. Does anyone have suggestions on how to remove the paint? The blue underneath seems great to me and I'd like to bring it back since it's peeling anyway!

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Comments (6)

Debbie Downer
5 months ago
You mean the inside of the tub? If they did it right that would mean they etched or roughened the porcelain so the white paint sticks. But maybe youre lucky and they didnt do that.... If you have to get it recoated then I think I would try to match the blue - not only for cool retro effect, but then when it starts chippig or peeling then it wouldnt be so obvious.
Kathleen Sheehan
Original Author
5 months ago
Oh interesting! It's on both the inside and outside. Around the drain isn't etched, that's where it's peeling a lot. But the rest might be.

Do companies recoat or is it solely diy? We have young kids so diy with the holidays is a feat right now!
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Donna, Um, every whirlpool I have ever heard of is also available just as as a soaking tub... If it's going to be your tub, go sit in the tubs (yes, the whirlpools! :)) and decide which one feels best. That was my criterion. Sit in them and then get your favorite one made as a soaking tub. (after checking step-in heights, since it will be used as a shower too) As I said, Maax Melodie and Palace felt the best by far to me, but everyone's different (I've heard the Palace is pretty popular with folks who can fit a 6' tub in). Also, if you can fit 6' in, try the Toto cast iron 6' tub. If after all that the Porcher Ardennes is the one that feels best, go with that. I'm sure they'd have a way to help you make an alcove situation for it. If the Neptune feels best, go with that (again, check the height wrt using it as a shower). So your assignment is to go to the stores in Chicago, step into the tubs, sit in them, and decide which one feels best entering and lounging in. Then report back :)
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Travis Johnson
5 months ago
Here we have people that redo tubs professionally. But you can do it yourself.

Myself i would do it myself just so it comes out the way you want. I would start by sandbladting it and then start from scratch. The blue could be applied with a new fresh coat.

What an exciting project!!
Seabornman
5 months ago
I'd try various paint strippers, starting with the less toxic citrus variety. If the coating is an epoxy, it may be resistant to chemicals. Tub coatings only last as long as it takes to sell a house. Pros will come in and spray and can do a great looking job, but it's still just paint, not porcelain.
Sigrid
5 months ago
A pro job to coat a cast iron tub will last 5 or so years. 10 if you're lucky. They're not cheap, but, at least in my area, there are a couple of contractors who specialize in recoating cast iron tubs.
Iri
5 months ago
If the tub surface has been damaged, you might want to do a lead test. Some of the old enamels contain lead that can be released when the surface gets roughed up and you don't want that in the kids' bathroom. I think recoating would be the way to go if that is case. I wonder if anyone does blue these days.

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