A chipped and flaking bathtub can frustrate you in numerous ways. The more chipped your bathtub is, the more dangerous it is likely to be. That said, what matters is what you do about it.
Where there is a large chip, two things are likely to happen: first, it means your bathtub is likely to leak, often increasing the chances of you slipping and falling when you get out of your bathtub. Secondly, it may mean the chips will be uncomfortable on your skin. Or even worse, a chipped bathtub may affect sensitive skin badly.
Is your bathtub chipped and peeling? Perhaps you wonder if this would be dangerous for you and your family? Don’t fret. We’ve got the answers to all that and more.
What does it mean when my bathtub is peeling?
When you see your bathtub peeling off, it simply means it was refinished before. Usually, the finishing of your bathtub should last at least 10 to 15 years. Of course, that will always depend on how experienced the refinisher was. However, if you do the finishing job poorly, expect it to flake faster.
Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of your bathtub. This process involves using chemicals such as methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. Refinishing a bathtub is a cost-effective alternative way of replacing an old bathtub.
What causes a bathtub to peel?
When you do the finishing wrong, your bathtub will usually start to peel much faster than usual. Or when you didn’t wait for the glaze to cure correctly. Peeling may also begin to appear in a bathtub. But when a chip is on its surface, it typically affects the entire finish. And ultimately lead to leaks.
Is a chipped and peeling bathtub dangerous?
When you see a chip, it means the bathtub’s barrier to moisture is gone, making it prone to potential leaking. Not to mention, chips are not aesthetically pleasing. And may feel uncomfortable against your skin. So, If you have sensitive skin, you may not respond well to some chemicals found on the finishing of your bathtub.
Does a chipped bathtub increase fall accidents?
While a tiny chip may initially not seem like a big deal, it will grow into a larger crack. If you don’t attend to it sooner, it may cause more damage. Any extensive damage can leak and cause slip and fall accidents.
At least 80 percent of bathroom-related injuries happen due to slips and falls. Those accidents happen while people try to get in or out of the tub.
Is it dangerous to refinish a chipped and peeling bathtub?
Refinishing a chipped and peeling bathroom may expose you to dangerous chemicals like methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, may affect your breathing and skin.
CDC found that once methylene chloride enters the human body, it may affect brain function. Prolonged exposure to methylene chloride may cause irritation and chemical burns.
Best bathtub refinishing kits you should consider using include Ekopel and a Nadamoo. If you haven’t refinished a bathtub before, consider hiring a professional to help you out.
Is it safe to bathe in a chipped or peeling bathtub?
Bathing in a chipped or peeling bathtub is not dangerous. But if you have sensitive skin, it is always a good idea to clean your bathtub correctly.
However, if you decide to hire someone to refinish it, always make sure you don’t use it before it dries properly. Some products used to finish bathtubs can also emit dangerous vapors.
What to do with a peeling bathtub?
Fortunately, there is something that you can do with a peeling bathtub. We recommend the most practical: Grab a sponge, some soap, and a tub cleaner. Scrub the peeling area thoroughly. There are a couple of tub cleaning products that you can use, for example, CLR Brilliant Bath.
Follow these easy steps:
- Clean the bathtub thoroughly with a bathroom cleaner.
- Smoothen the area surrounding the peeling bathtub with finer sandpaper.
- From there, wipe the debris off the surface of the bathtub with a cloth.
- Then mix two parts of a hardener with a repair kit.
- Spread the repair mixture onto the area you want to repair.
- Wait for 30 minutes for the mixture to dry up.
- Put plastic sheeting on the surface and leave the area you are repairing.
- Spray the exposed surface with a light coating of paint. Wait for 15 minutes for the coat to dry.
In Conclusion
If you have a chipped or peeling bathtub, it’s always important to do something about it. Leaving a chipped bathtub may lead to leaks, which would later increase incidences of slipping and falling. Though chipped or peeling is not toxic, refinishing products may affect your skin.
Picture credit: “crackly sink after enhancement” by zen is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.