If I had known how easy and ah-mazing re-glazing could be, I would have done this sooner!!
Before pic with cracked porcelain sink
There were a few reasons why I chose re-glazing instead of replacing my bathroom sinks. Number one reason was because square sinks are really hard to find and I would probably have to replace the entire countertop. This is the bathroom with two sinks, so I would have needed a 9′ countertop, two new sinks, and a professional to install…all in the 3 weeks I had to remodel this bathroom and the master bathroom. Ummm, not going to happen!
A friend told me about how she re-glazed her small bathroom countertop and sink. The glaze is basically colored epoxy so it works the same way as applying epoxy to the countertops. I used this glaze from Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/BATHWORKS-20-oz-DIY-Bathtub-and-Tile-Refinishing-Kit-White-BWK-01/204364837. Note that a lot of glazing kits out there are NOT AVAILABLE to ship to California. This was a huge factor in which kit I chose.
I enlisted said friend to help me re-glaze since she had done it before and her bathroom looked great. It was nice having 4 hands because, even then, it took us almost 4 hours to re-glaze two porcelain sinks and a shower (I haven’t even talked about the shower, yet!).
After re-glazing pic…it looks sooooo good!!!
My tips for re-glazing are:
1. tape off any areas you don’t want permanently altered such as around the sinks and around the holes
2. stuff plastic bags or something inside the holes after taping off
3. invest in a good breathing mask…this stuff stinks!!
4. apply multiple light layers instead of trying to cover in one coat. This will help prevent permanent drips in your glaze.
5. buy a BOX of gloves…you will need to change out frequently
6. buy EXTRA foam rollers…you will go through several
7. ventilate the room and run a fan
If you have been thinking about doing this but haven’t taken the plunge, I am telling you now…DO IT!!! The crack was easily covered with one coat and after 11 months, my sinks still look ah-mazing. They look BRAND NEW!!! In fact, my husband thought I bought new sinks. Now on to the shower tiles…
Before pic of my shower with green tiles
Ok, first of all, if your shower is as ugly as this; you need to run, not walk to your nearest Home Depot and get yourself a re-glazing kit! These tiles were still in great shape, they were just UGLY!! Number one reason to re-glaze instead of replacing was to save money and time. If your tiles or grout are NOT in great shape, then you should replace them because the re-glazing does not hide any chips or mis-alignment nor does it guarantee a tight seal if the grout is missing.
Before you glaze, there is a cleaning step and an etching step that you don’t want to skip. It all comes in the kit and took me about an hour of prep before re-glazing could start. Also, tape and cover your tub before the etching step if you’re not re-glazing it. Once prep is done, you’re ready to mix and apply.
I highly recommend two people working on applying the shower glaze because it is a tedious job and the glaze you mixed only lasts so long in the cup before it hardens. Follow the same tips as the sink process but you will change out your foam rollers more often and always be on the lookout for dripping.
After pic of the re-glazed shower tiles!!!
How great does this look!!! So great, I’m going to show you another picture…
I feel like I saved my shower! Like, I was ready to tear it down and re-do everything but now it looks brand new and clean. Finishing touches include caulking around the tub and adding new fixtures. Is there a bathroom that you need to re-glaze? Try it! I am so impressed with the results!
Want to epoxy your countertop? Check out my post https://talanastreasures.com/epoxy-countertops/.