Self-leveling acrylic for bathtubs: seven popular compositions for restoration + what to look for when purchasing

It’s easy to apply, inexpensive, and masks surface defects well—it’s not for nothing that self-leveling acrylic for bathtubs is so popular.You can carry out restoration work yourself and without the use of special tools. After hardening, the mixture is characterized by high strength and durability.

We'll cover how to find the best polymer blend. We'll tell you which market offer will be most suitable. Let's look at the assortment and see what parameters you need to pay attention to when choosing this material.

TOP 7 best offers for self-leveling acrylic

Bulk or liquid acrylic is a group of substances that are intended for the restoration of bathtubs using a specific method. The method of restoring the attractive appearance of the container involves mechanically cleaning the surface, degreasing, drying and applying (pouring) the composition.

The self-leveling acrylic kit includes a base and hardener. The standard shade is white or colorless. If necessary, the mixture can be tinted. The main advantage of the technique is its cost. Self-restoration costs 15-20% of the price of new plumbing.

If the estimate includes the services of a specialist painting the bathtub, the amount will be about a third of the cost of purchasing and delivering the bathtub. The rating includes acrylic from different manufacturers. They differ in price, composition, and features of use. Let's take a closer look at popular brands of acrylic.

The polymer can not only paint over the walls of the bathtub, but also flow into pores and scratches, making the surface even and smooth.

Place #1 - FINNACRYL-24

It is applied for restoration of cast iron plumbing, metal baths. The coating is glossy and smooth. The pot life of the material after mixing the components is 60 minutes. If the composition is not used within the specified time, it will be unusable.

In addition to the basic set, you can purchase blue, green, yellow, brown, red, burgundy, purple colors or buy ready-made color mixtures

Characteristics:

• manufacturer - Restvanna LLC, St. Petersburg;
• flow rate - 1.7 m (4 kg), 1.5 m (3.4 kg), 1.2 m (2.7 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 24 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

At temperatures above 25 degrees, acrylic hardens within a day. If the temperature ranges from 17 to 25 degrees, it will take 30-36 hours to form a durable film.

Before use, it is recommended to place the mixture in the bathroom so that the ingredients warm up to an acceptable temperature. After combining the components, the working composition must be thoroughly mixed with a drill-mixer for about 10 minutes and left to brew for another 5 minutes.

The base and hardener must turn into a homogeneous substance so that no film remains on the walls and bottom of the bucket. If you use a poorly mixed mixture, yellow spots will appear on the surface.

FINNACRYL-24 produces a thin, durable film that spreads evenly and does not form bubbles or sagging. Provided that the surface is well pre-cleaned and the technology is followed, the material shows the best results in terms of durability and aesthetics of the coating.

Users are somewhat confused by the positioning of the company itself. Previously, the official website and packaging indicated that production was located in Finland. But by 2017, the origin was changed to Russian.As practice has shown, the quality of the product did not suffer from this.

The manufacturer’s line includes liquid acrylic 24T, which differs from the main composition in its increased fluidity. There are also kits with a hardening time of 16 and 8 hours.

Place #2 – ECOLOR glass

The mixture appeared on the market among the first products in this category (2005) and is still popular. According to most craftsmen, it is “Stakryl” that has the highest strength characteristics.

Two-component enamel is made from raw materials from German companies Basf and Dow. After hardening, the coating is uniform, glossy and smooth.

Positive statistics may be due to the fact that the material has been used a lot for a long time when compared with competitors

Characteristics:

• manufacturer - Ecolor LLC, St. Petersburg;
• flow rate - 1.2 m (2.7 kg), 1.5 m (3.4 kg), 1.7 m (4 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 24 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

The composition remains fluid for 60-70 minutes. It is impossible to dilute the mixture with a solvent in order to increase this time - it immediately liquefies, quickly flows to the bottom of the bath, and a very thin coating is formed. Complete polymerization of acrylic is achieved in 2-4 days. The thickness of the layer varies between 1-6 mm.

The material is superior to its analogues in terms of final strength and smoothness; it is practically not afraid of abrasives, scratches, detergents. The bath can be used 1-2 days after restoration.

This acrylic is tinted with proprietary toners of blue, pink, light green, violet, beige, and turquoise. Shades are selected from a light palette to a dark one.

A significant disadvantage is that glass acrylic requires skill in application.The slightest mistake when preparing the composition or during the application process will result in bubbles, drips, and clots forming. The second disadvantage buyers note is the strong smell.

The manufacturer’s line includes another type of product - Stakryl Profi. This mixture takes 16 hours to harden.

Place #3 – Ekovanna Lux

The composition is made without solvent. It is cheaper than the two previous analogues and has lower consumption.

The manufacturer uses products from the transnational company HUNTSMAN, German companies Evonik and Byk Chemie as a raw material base. The recipe was developed taking into account surveys of control groups of master restorers.

You can add xylene to the mixture in an amount of up to 60 g per set. A pronounced odor will appear, but fluidity will increase

Characteristics:

• manufacturer - LLC NPK EcoVanna, Moscow;
• flow rate - 1.2 m (2.45 kg), 1.5 m (3.01 kg), 1.7 m (3.57 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 24 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

The material is designed for independent non-professional use, so when kneading the substance is as homogeneous as possible, without lumps, which makes application easier. There is no strong smell.

It is easy to apply, no bubbles or drips are formed. The composition is characterized by good adhesion, fluidity retention and long-term hardening. A significant advantage is excellent fluidity. Even a thin layer of the mixture can mask unevenness and uneven color of the surface.

"Ekovanna Lux" completely polymerizes within 24 hours. Film used for bath enamel, characterized by minimal thickness but strength.

The manufacturer's line includes “Antimicrobial” acrylic with silver ions, which prevents the development of bacteria in a humid environment.The enamel actively prevents the proliferation of fungi and microbes, and in terms of characteristics and price it does not differ from the main composition.

Another representative of the line is “Shungite”. Natural shungite is added to this acrylic, so the material is black and has bactericidal properties. All other parameters are the same as the standard composition.

Place #4 – SipoFlex-24

This self-leveling acrylic is made from raw materials from leading European and American brands - Basf, Du Pont, Dow. The material is characterized by excellent quality and adhesion to cast iron and metal surfaces.

The material is easy to work with: it is quite elastic and spreads well when applied. WITH bathtub restoration Even an unprofessional master can handle it.

In addition to self-leveling acrylic, the company produces hot-curing compounds for chemical anchors, polymer floors, epoxy compounds, adhesive compositions, which indicates the scale and responsibility of the company

Characteristics:

• manufacturer - Sipo, Moscow;
• flow rate - 1.2 m (2.53 kg), 1.5 m (3 kg), 1.7 m (3.63 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 24 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

Acrylic does not have a strong odor, and no allergic reactions to the components of the drug have been identified. It is toxic only in liquid form, like other substances. After hardening, the film is not hazardous to health. The technology for preparing and using the composition is similar to the previous ones. Its service life is 70 minutes.

During the application of the mixture, no air bubbles or smudges are formed. When SipoFlex hardens, it turns into a bright white, smooth and glossy surface. In addition to the main composition, the product line includes acrylic with a hardening time of 16 hours.

Place #5 – PlastAll Classic

The correct pronunciation of the name is “plastol” (not “plastal”).Acrylic is produced without the addition of harmful solvents (acetone, butyl acetate, nonylphenols, mutagens, etc.). This is the only composition in the rating that shows good adhesion not only to cast iron and metal, but also to ceramics, plastic, wood, and concrete.

Liquid acrylic "Plastol" does not turn yellow, maintaining the ideal surface color. The manufacturer guarantees the absolute whiteness of the coating for 8 years.

Characteristics:

• manufacturer - Plastol Coatings Group LLC, Tolyatti together with PABREC, Slovenia;
• flow rate - up to 1.2 m (2.5 kg), 1.2-1.5 m (2.8 kg), 1.5-1.7 m (3.4 kg), from 1.7 m ( 3.9 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 36 hours;
• shelf life - 60 months.

The mixture recipe includes raw materials from Germany, Holland and the USA. The product is certified according to the European standard DIN EN 71-3, which indicates its complete safety for children in the solid state.

The product range up to 1.2 m (2.5 kg) is specially designed for the restoration of shower trays. The pot life of the diluted substance is 90 minutes. When applying the mixture, almost no bubbles or drips appear. Temperature resistance - up to 120 degrees.

Material for restoration of cast iron bathtubs and steel plumbing is completely polymerized in 36 hours. The coating is durable and durable. There is practically no smell. In addition to the classic composition, the company’s assortment includes 4 more mixtures. They differ from each other in viscosity, fluidity, and hardening time.

“Premium” dries in 24 hours, but it also needs to be applied within an hour. "Titanium" leaves a thin film, but it is more difficult to level than "Classic". “Super” dries in 16 hours, but is applied within half an hour. “Light beige” has a milky, creamy tint.

Specialists of the manufacturing company have organized a network of professional restorers PlastAllProfi. The site allows you to choose a master who has passed examination tests and received a certificate for the right to work with the material.

Place #6 - YarLIsoat 616

This pourable acrylic was developed in 2010. The composition uses components from the American company DuPont, German manufacturers Dow and BykChemie. The material gives a coating thickness of up to 6 mm. Can be used for restoration of containers, in which drinking water is stored. This fact is confirmed by relevant documents.

The Yaroslavl plant has its own research center where product tests are carried out, which is a guarantee of high quality acrylic

Characteristics:

• Manufacturer: Yaroslavl Paint and Varnish Products Plant;
• flow rate - 1.2 m (2.9 kg), 1.5 m (3.4 kg), 1.7 m (4 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 36-48 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

The product is supplied in a metal Euro container, which eliminates the risk of counterfeiting and damage during transportation. The design of the bucket protects the contents from premature opening of the goods by unauthorized persons.

The composition can be tinted in a signature tone of blue, emerald, black, yellow, red, blue-violet, burgundy, red-brown. Smell in progress bath updates insignificant, disappears in a couple of hours.

The pot life of the mixture is 40-45 minutes. If the room temperature is more than 24 degrees, the time of working with the composition is reduced to 20 minutes. Acrylic differs from competitors in its long hardening time. The coating remains snow-white for many years and does not turn yellow.

You can use the bathroom after two days.But it is recommended to change the mixer, lay tiles and work that is mechanically hazardous to the coating every other week.

Place #7 – EkACRYL

The composition does not contain solvents; no air bubbles are formed when pouring. The mixture is moderately thick, applied in a thick layer, but after dripping, about 2-3 mm of the substance remains on the walls, and 5-6 mm at the bottom.

After drying, the film remains plastic for some time and you can easily cut off drops on the sides of the bathtub, they do not break off. The coating is glossy and smooth.

The material is characterized by good adhesion to steel and cast iron surfaces, resistant to hot and cold water, detergents

Characteristics:

• Manufacturer: Yaroslavl Paint and Varnish Products Plant;
• flow rate - 1.2 m (2.7 kg), 1.5 m (2.7 kg), 1.7 m (4 kg);
• White color;
• hardening time - 16 hours;
• shelf life - 12 months.

The two-component material mixes well until smooth. The mixture does not have a pronounced chemical odor. Plasticity and fluidity make EkACRYL easy to work with. The viability of the substance lasts about an hour.

But restorers note the lowest strength of this acrylic among its “colleagues”. The coating can even be damaged by a falling shampoo bottle.

Features of material selection

When choosing enamels for bath restoration Pay attention to the expiration date of the product when purchasing. Acrylic compositions lose their characteristics during long-term storage. The result is loss of adhesion and rapid destruction of the restoration layer. The timing is indicated only on the basis; this indicator is not important for the hardener.

Key factors for buyers:

1. Whiteness, color. Almost all compositions give a white coating.If you need color, it is better to entrust the selection of shade and tinting to specialists; it is difficult to find the right tone on your own.
2. Presence of odor. You can’t do without it at all; the mixtures differ only in the intensity of volatile chemical compounds. Allergy sufferers, pregnant women and children are advised to leave the apartment or house while the bath is being updated.
3. Ease of application. A professional can handle any complex material. The home craftsman should purchase less capricious acrylic.

The color of the coating also depends on the color of the hardener. If it is initially a bright orange, red or brown tone, yellowness will appear after polymerization.

While working, it is important to remember about the toxicity of acrylic: wear a respirator and gloves to avoid damage to the respiratory tract and skin

If you plan update the bath yourself, take a look at the easy-to-apply compositions - “Ekovanna”, “Plastol”. For professional use, you can choose “Stacryl” or FINNACRYL. They are more difficult to work with, but provide more reliable coverage.

Another important indicator is the drying speed. The smaller it is, the more the mixture contains plasticizers and hardeners, which increases the fragility of the coating.

Keep in mind that the bathtub will dry completely only after 3-4 days. It is advisable to wait and ensure the containers are properly dried indoors. If dust or debris adheres to the surface, the appearance will deteriorate.

Remember, to restore the attractive appearance of the bathtub, restoration alone is not enough. Careful operation and care of the surface is important.

Liquid coating technology has a practical alternative - an acrylic liner. Comparison of both options given here, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the very useful information.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The process of restoring a bathtub with liquid acrylic and leveling the mixture with a brush:

Removing the acrylic liner and pouring a new polymer layer:

What does the bathtub look like after 11 months of use? Why the surface may turn yellow and why mechanical damage is dangerous:

The quality of self-leveling acrylic presented on the Russian market is approximately the same. Differences in the ratio of chemical components affect the application characteristics more than the strength and appearance.

Negative reviews regarding this or that composition largely depend not on the characteristics of the material, but on the work of the master. Unscrupulous performers may well use good acrylic, but the result will lack the expected aesthetics and durability.

Which option did you choose to renovate your own bath? Tell us what was the decisive argument in favor of the composition you purchased. Please write comments in the block below, post photos and ask questions about the topic of the article.