How Long To Wait After Reglazing Bathtub?

You’ve finally taken the plunge to give your old, worn-out bathtub a new lease on life. The reglazing process is complete, and your tub looks as good as new, sparkling and inviting. Not to mention you’ve saved on the cost of a new bathtub installation. But there’s a catch – you can’t dive into a relaxing bath just yet. Your newly reglazed tub needs time to set, and the wait is crucial to ensure the longevity of your bathtub’s new surface. You might be wondering, “How long do I need to wait?” Let’s dive into the factors that determine this waiting period and help you understand when you can once again enjoy your rejuvenated bathtub.

Key Takeaways

After reglazing your bathtub, it’s essential to wait for at least 24 to 48 hours before using it. This waiting period allows the new surface to dry and harden properly. However, complete curing, where the surface reaches maximum hardness, may take up to 7 days.

Factors that determine how long it takes for a reglazed tub to dry

How long you should wait after reglazing bathtub before taking a shower or a bath broadly comes down to 2 factors. The refinishing material used and the humidity.

1. The type of coating material used

In order to determine the exact drying time for your tub, you should ask the resurfacing professional who did it. This is because he or she knows best the type of coating material they used. Otherwise if you’ve done it yourself, take a close look at the packaging.

Reglazing can be done using different materials like polyurethane or urethane, polymer, and epoxy, which have different drying times. High quality bathtub refinishing kits usually dry faster than low-quality products.

For instance, if you are using Polymer, it takes about 30 minutes to dry after every coat application. When it comes to the upper coat, allow it to dry for 48 hours before using the bathtub.

For urethane, each coat takes 10 to 15 minutes to dry. And the upper coat takes 24 hours to dry. Urethane is a high-quality refinishing product; hence dries fast.

For epoxy, you have to let it dry for 3-4 hours before applying the next coat. Your bathtub feels dry in around 24 hours.

However, it is important to follow the instructions on the product carefully, as different brands and formulations can have different drying times.

2. Humidity and cold weather

Reglazing your tub during cold weather or when the air is too moist tends to prolong the drying time.

This is based on the fact that when it’s too cold or moist; the refinishing product thickens and becomes very difficult to work with.

The appropriate temperature to work with is above 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature below this will not only affect the refinishing process but also the drying time and the overall appearance of the refinished tub.

3. Bathtub reglazing curing time

There is no one-size-fits-all because the hardening time also depends on the above two factors; type of coating used and humidity and weather.

It refers to the time required for the new bathtub coating to achieve maximum hardness.

In regards to the type of coating, most products will require 24 hours to dry.

The tub may however feel dry in about 24 hours, hardening may take up to 7 days.

It is important to strictly adhere to the recommended drying time so as to avoid premature coat failure. You want to avoid problems like fixing a peeling reglazed bathtub.

So, how long to wait after reglazing bathtub to take a shower?

Now, back to our question.

Taking a shower after 24 to 48 hours should not be a problem. If you are in a hurry, you can use a fan to help speed up the process, but be careful not to let the fan blow any dust or debris onto the wet surface.

Just remember it will take up to 7 days to dry completely. So don’t put things around it or in the shower niches that could fall and damage the drying surface. Also choose the best types of bath mats for refinished and reglazed tubs.

Does tub reglazing smell? How long does bathtub refinishing fumes last?

Yes, tub reglazing can smell quite strong. The chemicals used in the process can give off strong fumes.

If you are concerned about the smell, you may want to ask the company performing the reglazing for more information about what they use and how they ventilate the area.

The fumes from bathtub refinishing can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. It all depends on the type of paint or coating that is used and how well-ventilated the area is.

If you’re sensitive to fumes, it’s best to wait until the area is well-ventilated before entering. This is really just part of the pros and cons of bathtub reglazing.

When to start cleaning a tub that has been reglazed

There’s no set answer to this question since it can depend on the type of reglazing material used.

However, it’s a good idea to wait until the bathtub has completely dried as this may damage the newly reglazed surface.

Most reglazing products recommend that you wait at least 24 hours before cleaning the surface, but we recommend waiting the full 7 days to avoid accidental marking the surface.

In general, you’ll want to avoid using any harsh chemicals or abrasives when cleaning a reglazed tub, and instead, use a mild soap or detergent and a soft cloth. Be careful not to scrub too hard, and always rinse the surface thoroughly afterward.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered the question; how long to wait after reglazing bathtub to take a shower. We have seen that the drying time varies depending on which coating you use, humidity and weather, and the drying time. High-quality refinishing products like urethane dry quite fast compared to low-quality products. So it is up to you to choose the most suitable material for reglazing your tub. Nonetheless, 48 hours should be enough for the bathtub to feel dry and ready for use but cleaning should be avoided until it has completely dry.

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