Preparation

• 1). Use a putty knife to scrape the caulking off of the edge of the tub. A box knife can be used to help cut the caulking loose. Epoxy paint will not adhere well to caulking, and can cause the paint to fail in these areas. Scrape away all traces of the caulking
  
  
• 2). Tape plastic drops on the floor in front of the tub. Muriatic acid is extremely volatile and will destroy any finish that it comes in contact with. This chemical will destroy carpeting. Use your painters tape to cover the tub overflow and the drain.
  
  
• 3). Put on all protective gear. You must wear a half-face respirator, long sleeve shirt, and chemical resistant gloves. Make sure that you also have adequate ventilation. Mix one part muriatic acid to 20 parts water. Add the acid to the water; do not pour water into acid. Slowly pour some of the mixture into the tub, and use a long-handled plastic scrub brush to scour the tub. Dip the brush into the mixture and scour the edges and the outside of the tub. Rinse the tub thoroughly and allow it to dry. Muriatic acid will degloss or etch the surface of the tub. This step will provide a good surface for the epoxy paint to adhere to.
  
  
• 4). Pour the package of cleaning solution into one gallon of water. The cleaning solution package is in the tub refinishing kit. Use a scouring pad or brush to clean the tub a second time. This will help to remove the residue left from using muriatic acid. Thoroughly rinse the tub and allow it to dry. There is no need to use the steel wool that came with the kit. The steel wool is used to degloss the tub, but it is not as effective as muriatic acid. Allow the tub to completely dry, and retape the overflow and the drain.
  
  

Painting

• 1). Tape a plastic bag over the tub spout and the shower head. This will keep potential water drips from getting into the paint. Put on your respirator and rubber gloves.Thoroughly stir the tub paint until it has become one solid color. Begin painting the far edge of the tub and work towards yourself. This will keep you from leaning into wet paint. Apply a light coat. Do not try to apply the paint too heavily; it will run or sag.
  
  
• 2). Allow the paint to thoroughly dry. The drying period can take 2 to 4 hours. Apply a second coat of paint after the tub is no longer sticky to the touch. Remove your painters tape as soon as you have finished applying the second coat of paint. This will eliminate the possibility of the tape tearing the paint.
  
  
• 3). Allow your tub a minimum of 72 hours to dry before exposing it to water. Caulk the edge of your tub, and allow the caulk to dry the recommended 24 hours before getting it wet. Your new finish has a greater success rate when you wait several days before filling the tub with water.