If your tub is starting to show signs of wear and tear, you may want to get it reglazed. The process will get rid of small imperfections and make your tub look new again.

While it’s common to get an expert in for reglazing, it is possible to do it yourself. However, you may encounter problems which are likely due to using too much or too little of the product.

This article will make you aware of the most common glazing issues. That way you will know what to avoid the next time you reglaze.

Insufficient Thickness

Insufficient thickness will occur if you use less than the recommended thickness of the product. This will result in a layer that does not do enough to protect the substrate. It will cause the glaze to become brittle and crack.

When you apply the coating, the substrate should not be visible. If it is, you may have used too little glaze. This is especially likely to happen if you are reglazing over an epoxy coating that is susceptible to chalking and exposure to light. A situation like this will result in a blotchy appearance and it will reduce the lifespan of the glaze.

Excessive Thickness

You may think that the more glaze you put on the tub, the more protection it will provide. But you can also run into problems if you apply too much glaze. These include the following:

Sags and Runs: If you apply too much glaze on the vertical parts of your tub, the glaze will run. This will cause excess buildup in the sag areas and not enough thickness in the non-sag areas.

Cracking and Delamination: Just like cracking can occur when coating is too thin, it can also occur when it is too thick. When coating cracks it may chip off leaving a completely delaminated surface.

Increased Dry Time: Coating that’s too thick will take a longer time to dry. Not only will this be inconvenient in that you won’t be able to use your tub for a prolonged period, but it will also make the glaze susceptible to damage. The longer the glaze is wet, the more likely it is to pick up debris or become smudged by contact.

Improper Curing: If your glaze is excessively thick, it may not cure properly. If it is used without being properly cured, it may become damaged.

Wrinkling: Wrinkling occurs when the top layer of the glaze dries but the coating underneath remains soft due to a lack of exposure to the atmosphere. It can cause ridges and valleys (aka wrinkles) to appear.

How to Get the Perfect Amount of Glaze

You can avoid these problems my measuring your coating thickness with a ‘wet film thickness gauge’. You will need to communicate with your bathtub refinishing paint manufacturer to get the wet film specifications for your coating. The information may also be available on a technical data sheet for your product.

Here’s hoping all your DIY projects run as smoothly as possible. If you would like a free estimate on please contact us or call (847) 356-6928