How to: Refinish a Sink

Give an old bathtub or sink a new lease on life with a resurfacing kit. Follow these step-by-step directions and learn what materials and tools you need.

Materials Required
  • Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit
    Comet
    LimeAway
    Abrasive scouring pad
    Household bleach
    Wet/dry sandpaper
    Tack rag
    Patching compound
    Lacquer thinner
Tools Required
  • Scraper
    Varnish paint brush

How To: Step by Step

Step  1:   Clean the surface of the sink

Scrub the surface with an abrasive pad and a combination of Comet and LimeAway to remove dirt, grease, mold, oil, soap film and hard water deposits. If there are patches of mildew, use a solution of bleach and water and repeat if necessary. Rinse thoroughly with water. This process will create a slightly porous surface, which will guarantee a better adhesion of the epoxy.

Step  2:   Remove caulk and repair chipped areas

Use a scraper to remove any caulk around the fixtures of the sink and patch any chips or dents with a filler compound such as Liquid Steel.

Step  3:   Clean the area surrounding the sink

Thoroughly clean the floors and walls around the sink so there's no chance of dust or dirt getting into the epoxy.

Step  4:   Sand

Use #400/600 wet/dry sandpaper to smooth the surface and then rinse thoroughly with water to remove any residue.

Step  5:   Wipe down with a tack rag and prepare the mixture

Wipe down the surface with a tack rag so the epoxy has a flawless surface to bond to. Pour the activator into the base can and mix according to the directions.

Step  6:   Apply a first and second coat

Apply two coatings with a fine bristle varnish brush, allowing it to dry at least one hour between applications. Brush the mixture on in one direction and feather the edges as you paint to avoid a hard line between painted areas. Don't worry if bubbles rise to the surface. As the mixture levels out, the bubbles will disappear. You can apply a third coat if necessary on the next day. It dries to the touch in less than one hour and to handle in 3 hours. But don't expose it to water for at least three days or 72 hours after the last application.

Step  7:   Clean up

Clean all painting tools and any paint spills immediately with lacquer thinner.