A. There are two options if your bath is just worn. The enamel feels rough to the touch and this tends to occur in the base of the bath.
You can have it re-enamelled. For this it must be removed and transported to a specialist re- enameller: Click for details of IVE Members who can re-enamel cast iron baths
OR You can have it re-polished. This can be done in situ and is a specialist operation:
Click for details of IVE Members who can re-polish cast iron baths
If your bath is chipped or you would like to change the colour, the only option which is available to you is to remove the bath and send it to a specialist company who will carry out the re-enamelling of your bath with genuine vitreous enamel:
Click for details of IVE Members who can re-enamel cast iron baths
Please be aware that there are many companies advertising and offering re-enamelling in-situ. This is not genuine vitreous enamel – it is a type of paint. The more reputable companies carrying out this service will describe it as “bath re-surfacing”. It is a shorter-term solution, but cannot be as hard or durable as genuine vitreous enamel. These companies may also be able to carry out a cosmetic repair of chips.
Genuine Vitreous Enamel is a type of glass, which is fused at high temperatures to achieve its unique combination of hardness and durability, which is unmatched by other finishes.
Re-enamelling will involve shot blasting to remove the existing enamel, followed by specialist welding if there is any damage or heavy rusting, for example around the plug hole. It will then be coated with up to three layers of vitreous enamel. Each layer will be fused to the surface by heating in a furnace to a temperature above 750 degrees Centigrade. It is this genuine vitreous enamel finish which will give the durability and long life that your bath has given you until now.
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Question & Answer taken from The Institute of Vitreous Enamellers (IVE) (UK-based technical Institute for excellence in Vitreous Enamelling)You can visit their very useful site here
Tags: caring for your cast iron bath, cast iron baths, re-enamelled, re-polished, The Institute of Vitreous Enamellers
