Can I paint an acrylic bath?

[chappie]

Is it possible to change the colour of a bathroom suite, which is currently avocado, to white, with paint? I have seen a product called Tubby Bath Paint, have any ABers tried this?

Thanks.

[Ice-Maiden]

There IS a paint I believe, available from good DIY shops - but on the off-chance it'll eventuallt peel off again, why not just invest in a new bath?

[chappie]

The whole bathroom suite is avocado (bath, bidet, toilet, shower). It is in excellent condition and I feel it would be a shame to scrap it, if it can be changed. I have seen a webpage that claims you can paint acrylic and enamel, but it would be interesting to hear from someone who has done this already if anyone has, as I am a bit dubious as to its success.

Actually, I don't mind the avocado colour personally, but I am only staying in the house for 2 or 3 years and then will move on, and the estate agent has told me that avocado suites are a definite no-no when you come to sell your property (however, it didn't put me off buying the house, so it would be interesting to hear what other ABers think about that).

Thanks for your reply.

[buildersmate]

Tubby Bath paint is for enamel baths. You have an acrylic plastic bath and rest of the suite will be porcelain. There is no way of putting paint onto porcelain.
Its best to change the whole suite to white.

[chappie]

Thanks for that buildersmate. I suspected that, but a company called www.decoratingdirect.co.uk claims that you can use Tubby for acrylic, it also says you can paint porcelain with it, therefore changing the whole suite. I have copied and pasted the following paragraph directly from their website:

A Versatile Kit for Many Surfaces:

The TUBBY kit can be used on cast iron (enamel) baths, steel, plastic, fibreglass and acrylic baths. It will even cover ceramic and porcelain surfaces which means the entire bathroom suite can be transformed for relatively little expense. Tubby bath paint can be used on bathroom sinks, toilet exteriors and bidets. It can also rejuvenate finely cracked or ugly tiles (one kit will cover 8 square metres coated once). Even washing machines, dryers, fridges and freezers can benefit from a hygienic 'as-new' finish.

I am trying to find out if anyone has actually tried changing their whole suite - I don't think the results would be professional looking, but at the cost, I am thinking that it might be worth a try, even if you then end up scrapping the whole suite and buying a new one.

[buildersmate]

OK, then I stand corrected. But I'm as suspicious as you are. How do you get the stuff up around the bend - or do you have to stare down at an avocado-coloured 'hole' (men only, of course). What happens when you put bleach on it?

[chappie]

It says 'toilet exteriors', so as you say, you would be looking down at a coloured inside! Although to be honest, I would be happy replace the toilet, as I don't expect they are as expensive as baths.

And I know you can't believe everything you read either, I would much rather have the opinion of a user, rather than someone who is trying to sell you a product. My instincts tell me that this Tubby stuff won't work.

Ultimately, I guess the way to go is to change the whole suite, it is just that we are quite happy for it to stay, it is when we come to sell, I have been told that an avocado suite would put off prospective buyers.

It is difficult to know what to do for best. On the one hand, we want the place to be more saleable and know that we will have to shell out some cash, but on the other hand, we don't want to spend more than we have to.

[annie0000]

I think that it would probably end up looking worse than if you just left it. Why not live with it for now and hope that avocado comes back in as a retro style by the time you come to sell! You could make a feature of it and compliment with typically 70/80's features.

[Octavius]

Personally I think avocado is horrid, but as said it may come back in retro fashion. If it is excellent quality, why not remove it, store it, replace with white, then when the retro market is screaming out for avocado suites � sell it or install it in your new place.

[chappie]

Thanks for such good ideas. I think we'd struggle for space if we tried to store it, we have a garage but it is used as a bird aviary, plus all the usual junk that gets stored in the garage.

The problem about it coming back into fashion, is that the downstairs of the house is modern, and the upstairs is old fashioned. I think if somebody is looking for 70's/80's style, they would think our downstairs just doesn't fit that bill, it is too modern. I hadn't thought of the possibility that somebody might buy the suite off us, a local estate agent talked as if nobody ever wants an avocado suite, in fact he reckons it puts people off buying houses!

Personally, although I wouldn't have chosen it, I think it looks quite nice in its setting, the bathroom is done out in green and white, with big mirror tiles over the washbasin, and my hubby and I both think it looks nice!

Thanks again for your replies.

[Octavius]

It might not put people off buying the house, but it might reduce the price if they need to refurbish and update any part of the property. It really depends whether you want to spend the money yourself and make the property marketable at its high end value, or feel the effect when you come to sell.

Although I think avocado is horrid, if I liked the property enough I would still buy it, but maybe knock a few thousand off for updating the rooms, whereas you could maybe get a white suite installed for a whole lot less. Its all about personal taste and not everyone shares yours, or mine, hence why most properties are �neutralized� before going on the market.

[123aliced]

hi,

I reckon you should keep the avocado suite. If it is in really good condition, it is not worth getting rid of it. My grandma's old house recently had a valuation and the estate agent apparently LOVED her old green bath suite, so I guess every estate agent is different!

Probably best not to ruin your avocado suite with bath paint that might not work, if you really want a white bathroom just get a new white bath suite. Then sell the perfect condition avocado suite.

[DIY-r]

I get sick of property renovation programmes on TV going on about how avocado bathrooms will have to come out and are a definate no-no. I think they are as good as any other colour. Whats the obsession with blandness - must be the times we live in!