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How to Fix a Chipped Bathtub

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Fixing a chipped bathtub is a do-it-yourself project that will save you from hiring an expensive professional. Whether your tub just has a few small chips, or it is badly damaged and needs to be refinished, these are both projects that you will find kits for at your local home improvement store. With a little elbow greasy, your tub will look like new in just a matter of days!


It’s easiest to start with a small amount of epoxy and add more layers than it is to put too much on and remove it. Let the epoxy dry, then sand down the surface with 400-600 grit sandpaper. Follow the directions on your epoxy kit to let it fully dry. Gently sand the surface with 400- or 600-grit sandpaper until it feels smooth like the rest of the tub.


Some epoxy will set in 2-3 hours, at which point you can sand. Other kits may advise you to wait up to 24 hours before sanding. You can add another layer of epoxy after sanding if you can still feel the chip. Then repeat the process. Your refinishing kit should come with sandpaper to use. If your kit didn’t come with sandpaper, then start with 400-grit sandpaper and work your way up to 2000-grit.


Increase the grit of the sandpaper in increments of 200 until you reach 1000-grit sandpaper, then go up in increments of 500 until you end using 2000-grit sandpaper. Repair any chips or cracks in the tub with a 2-component epoxy chip repair kit. Follow the instructions to mix the two parts of the epoxy in a small tray.


Use a small brush, spatula, or the bottom end of a matchstick to apply thin layers of epoxy to any chips. Wait 2-3 hours until the epoxy dries and sand the patches down with 2000-grit sandpaper to match the finish of the rest of the tub. This will ensure that the tub has no chips or cracks and seal the surface before you apply the new finish.

How to Fix a Bathroom Faucet?

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Most of the time, a problem with a bathroom faucet involves a leak. Usually, faucet leaks are caused by worn washers or seats in the faucet assembly and these are easily replaced. There are several types of faucets, some that no longer use washers to create a seal in the assembly. Make sure that you recognize the type of  faucet that you have before attempting to fix a leak because different assembly parts and tools might be needed. In some cases, you might need to purchase a faucet repair kit that contains special tools for fixing specific faucets. In any case, fixing a bathroom faucet can be done in a matter of minutes with just a few replacement parts.

Locate the water valves under the sink and switch them off. Cover the sink drain to prevent parts from getting lost. Pry off the cap from the sink handle. Remove the screw that holds the handle on. Remove the faucet handle. Unscrew the nut. Unscrew the stem. Coat the new washer with plumber’s grease. Replace the seat washer. Remove the stem from the packing nut. Coat a new O-ring with plumber’s grease. Replace the O-ring. Reassemble the faucet.

Ball-Type Faucet. Purchase a faucet repair kit for this type of faucet. Remove the handle by unscrewing the set screw and lifting the handle. Remove the cap. Remove the collar. Loosen the cam and lift it out. Remove the seals and springs from inside the faucet with a needle-nose pliers. Remove the old O-rings. Roll on the new, greased O-rings. Install new springs. Install new valve seats and washers. Reassemble the faucet.

Cartridge Faucet. Remove cap. Remove the screw on the handle. Remove the handle by tilting it toward the back of the sink. Remove the retaining clip (if present) with a needle-nose pliers. Pull cartridge up and out. Cut off the O-rings with a utility knife. Install new, greased O-rings. Reassemble the faucet.

Ceramic-Disk Faucet. Locate the handle set screw and remove. Lift the handle off. Remove the cap. Remove the cylinder mounting screws. Lift the cylinder out. Remove the seals from the cylinder. Clean the cylinder openings with vinegar and rinse. Replace the seals. Reassemble the faucet. Place the handle to “on” and turn on the water very slowly so as to not damage the ceramic disk.