If you're staring at a stained, dated, or scratched-up porcelain throne, you might be wondering, can you reglaze a toilet to give it a second lifestyle? It's a fair question. We reglaze bathtubs and floor tile constantly, so it stands to reason the toilet could get exactly the same treatment. The short solution is yes, it's technically possible. The long answer, nevertheless, involves a bit of a "should you" debate that might change your mind once you look at the mathematics and the effort involved.
Most people consider reglazing due to the fact they either possess a vintage bathing room with a specific color (think avocado green or rose pink) they want to keep, or even they're seeking to save a few dollars on a full bathroom remodel. Yet before you go out and buy a DIY package or call a professional, let's draw back the curtain on what this particular process actually looks like.
Exactly what does Reglazing Actually Imply?
First off, let's clear upward a common misunderstanding. When we discuss reglazing, we aren't actually "firing" the porcelain in a kiln at 2, 000 degrees such as they do with the factory. That's impossible to perform in your guest bathing room.
Instead, reglazing—also known as refinishing or resurfacing—is essentially a high-performance paint job. This involves using solid chemicals to etching the surface of the porcelain so that a new coating (usually a good epoxy or acrylic resin) can bond to it. Whenever it's done best, it looks shiny, smooth, and brand new. When it's done wrong, properly, it looks like you painted your toilet with a container of White-Out.
The Reality from the DIY Route
If you look for ways to deal with this yourself, you'll find plenty associated with kits on the equipment store. They're generally marketed for tubs and sinks, but the box may say they focus on toilets too. I'll be honest with you: DIY toilet reglazing is an enormous headache.
The prep function is intense. You have to scrub the toilet till it's surgically clear, then use a good acid paste in order to "rough up" the particular surface. If you miss even a tiny spot, the new glaze won't stay, and it may start peeling away in sheets inside a couple of months. Plus, the particular fumes from these types of kits are simply no joke. You'll need a respirator and a few seriously good venting, or you're likely to have a very bad afternoon.
Even if you're a professional at DIY tasks, getting a soft finish on the curves of a toilet bowl along with a brush or even a cheap spray can is incredibly difficult. You're most likely to end upward with "runs" or even "drips" in the finish off that look worse than the authentic scratches.
Exactly why People Choose in order to Reglaze
So, if it's such a pain, exactly why do people inquire can you reglaze a toilet in the first place? There are a few scenarios where it in fact makes sense:
1. Saving a Vintage Color
If you reside in a mid-century house and you're obsessed with your pink or even seafoam green bathroom, finding an alternative toilet in that exact shade will be almost impossible. Within this case, reglazing the present toilet can help you preserve that retro cosmetic without having to hunt through salvage yards.
2. Matching a Reglazed Tub
Sometimes, homeowners employ a pro in order to reglaze an old cast-iron bathtub. While the pro can there be, they might provide to perform the toilet as well so that the whites complement perfectly. Since "white" comes in about fifty different tones, this really is a legitimate method to make sure the bathroom appears cohesive.
a few. Avoiding a Main Demolition
In certain older homes, the toilet is literally "set" into the floor tile or even plumbed in a way that makes removing it a nightmare. If pulling the toilet means you have in order to rip in the entire floor, a $300 reglazing job begins to look a lot more appealing than a $2, 000 floor restoration.
The Drawback: Why It Might Be a Bad Idea
Now for that fact check. For that typical modern toilet, reglazing is rarely the particular best path. Here's why:
It's not long term. Unlike the original stock glaze, a refinished surface is a coating. It can eventually wear down. If you use harsh cleaners (like bleach or abrasive scrubs), you'll eat right through that new finish. You have to treat a reglazed toilet with "kid safety gloves, " which isn't always practical for something that gets daily use.
The cost-benefit ratio is away. You can go to a big-box shop right now and buy a brand-new, high-efficiency, dual-flush toilet intended for anywhere between $150 and $300. A professional reglazing job will likely cost you $250 to $400. You're essentially paying even more to put a temporary coating with an outdated toilet than this would cost in order to buy a new one that functions better.
It doesn't fix internal issues. If your toilet is leaking, provides a weak flush, or has a crack in the porcelain, reglazing won't perform a thing in order to help. It's purely cosmetic. You could spend $300 making it look pretty, only for the internal trapway to crack a week later, making you to toss the whole thing within the trash in any case.
How the particular Professional Process Functions
If you decide to go forward and hire a pro, here is usually what you should expect. It's a multi-step process that takes a several hours, plus a significant quantity of drying out time.
- Cleaning and Burning: They'll remove all of the aged caulk and make use of heavy-duty cleaners in order to get rid associated with every trace of soap scum or even hard water build up.
- Decoration: They will apply an acidity solution to the particular porcelain. This produces microscopic pores in the surface so the new finish offers something to "grab" onto.
- Repairing: If there are small chips or deep scratches, they'll fill associated with a waterproof putty and sand them clean.
- Priming and Spraying: This is actually the nearly all important part. They'll mask off the particular entire bathroom with plastic (because the particular "overspray" gets everywhere) and use a professional spray gun to use several thin layers of 1er and topcoat.
- Curing: You won't have the ability to use that will toilet for in least 24 in order to 48 hours. Don't even consider coming in contact with it, or you'll leave a long term fingerprint within the finish off.
Maintenance: The "New Rules" for Your Toilet
Once you've reglazed, you have to throw out your outdated cleaning habits. Individuals "drop-in" blue capsules? Just forget about them. Steel wool sponges? Completely not.
To keep a reglazed toilet looking good, you have to use mild, non-abrasive cleaners—basically, anything you'd use on a delicate surface. In case you get sluggish and go back to your outdated scrubbing ways, you'll see the finish start to dull and peel within a year. Consistency is key here.
The Final Consensus
So, can you reglaze a toilet ? Yes, you can. But ought to you?
If you possess a standard white toilet that's simply looking a small dingy, my sincere advice is to skip the reglazing and just replace it. You'll get a better-performing toilet, a fresh start, and it will possibly cost you less in the lengthy run. Modern toilets also use method less water, that is a nice bonus for your regular monthly bills.
However, if you are usually truly "wedded" in order to a vintage coloured toilet or you're dealing with a plumbing setup that makes replacement a logistical nightmare, then expert reglazing is a solid "Plan N. " Just make sure you employ someone with good reviews, and whatever you do, prevent the cheap DIY spray kits except if you're prepared to the actual whole factor over again in six months.
At the end of the day, it's regarding weighing the price of the "quick fix" contrary to the longevity of a complete replacement. Sometimes, the shiny new thing is actually the particular cheaper and easier option.