Cardiff · Wales
Bath Re-enamelling for Cathays homes
Problem with your bath in Cathays? We put it right where it is, mix the colour on the day and guarantee the work for a year.
- Resurfacing from £350
- Several chips and rust patches
- A dull, rough surface that won’t come clean
DIY kit or professional repair?
You can buy a DIY kit for most repairs, and they can tidy up a tiny mark. The trouble is colour and preparation: they come in a handful of shades, and if the surface is not prepared the repair will not last.
We understand the appeal of fixing it yourself. The trouble is that kit repairs frequently look fine at first and then fail, and the old filler has to come out before a proper repair.
How we handle bath re-enamelling in Cathays
After cleaning, repairing and priming, we spray on the new finish. The preparation is what makes it last, and we take our time over it. Whether it’s chips and rust in more than one place and an old resurfacing that’s failing, we can typically put it right, on pressed steel baths, cast iron baths and acrylic baths alike.
The work is guaranteed for twelve months. If there is a problem with the repair within the year, we return and sort it.
- Location
- Cathays (CF24, CF14, CF10)
- County
- Cardiff
- Cover
- One year on every repair
- Quote
- From £350. Free and fixed, from your photos
- Telephone
- 0345 017 0787
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Our work in Cathays
Cathays is about 1 mile south of Cardiff, in Cardiff. Anywhere in CF24, we come to you. Cathays is one of 91 towns and villages in Cardiff where we work.
We cover every part of the CF24, CF14 and CF10 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether you live on Moy Road, Colum Road and North Road or anywhere nearby, a technician can come to you. Nearby, we also work in Castle (1 mile south), Roath (1 mile east), Castle Quarter (1 mile south), Riverside (1 mile south) and Adamsdown (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Ely (3 miles west), Caerau (3 miles south-west), St Mellons (4 miles north-east), Llanrumney (3 miles north-east), Morristown (4 miles south) and Fairwater (3 miles west).
Landmarks near Cathays
In Cathays, that means homes near Howardian High School, St Monica's C.I.W. Primary School and Bute Park, among other places. You will also find Flora Hotel (less than half a mile south), Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology (under half a mile south) and Church of St Andrew & St Teilo (within half a mile south-east). Cathays has its own railway station: Cathays station. A little further out are Capitol Centre (1 mile south-east) and Regimental Museum of 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards (less than half a mile north-west). Not far away are Roath Park Lake and Glamorgan Canal / Long Wood.
When a repair isn’t the answer
Honesty matters more than a booking, so here’s what a repair won’t do:
- A bath split right through the body
- An acrylic bath that flexes badly underfoot
- Holes rusted through the metal
Not sure? Send photos and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Materials we work on in Cathays
- Acrylic baths
- Pressed steel baths
- Victorian roll-tops
- Basins & shower trays
- Cast iron baths
Different materials, different repairs
Cast iron
Cast iron baths are so heavy that repairing in place makes obvious sense. The enamel is the part that wears or chips, and that’s what we repair.
Pressed steel
Under the enamel of a steel bath is thin metal. Exposed steel rusts quickly, so the metal is treated and sealed before the repair.
Should you replace it?
If the bath is sound, re-enamelling is typically much cheaper than replacing it, when you count removal, plumbing, tiling and decorating. It’s much quicker too. Prices start from £350. Every job is a little different, so each one is priced on its own. What’s damaged, how badly and how easy it is to reach all play a part, and combining jobs on one visit brings the cost down.
Why choose Surface Doctor in Cathays
- Nothing taken out or refitted
- Dust sheets down, tidy finish
- Colour-matched on site
- We’ll tell you if it’s not worth repairing
Take a look at our full price list and guide to resurfacing and replacement costs.
Looking after it afterwards
Looking after the surface is easy, and it makes a real difference:
- Don’t let dyes or oils sit on the finish
- Wipe the bath dry after use in hard water areas
- Have chips seen to early
- Fix dripping taps quickly
Give the finish its full curing time before using the bath. After that, a soft cloth and washing-up liquid is all it needs.
The longer worn enamel is left, the rougher it gets, and rust spots spread under the surface. Resurfacing sooner means less repair work first.
What we do, step by step
Here’s how a visit generally runs: we arrive at the agreed slot, protect everything around the work area, do the job and clear up. Plan for a full day from start to finish. Before leaving, we tell you how long to leave it and what to avoid for the first few days.
- The room is masked, protected and ventilated.
- The bath is cleaned, degreased and any chips or rust repaired.
- The surface is prepared and a bonding primer applied.
- We spray on the new enamel finish in several coats.
- We leave it to cure, and it’s normally ready the next day.
Getting ready for the visit
- Mention any earlier repairs or resurfacing
- Let the surface dry out before the visit
- Let us know about parking or access
Ask for a price
Pricing is simple: take a close-up of the damage and a photo from further back, send them to us with your postcode, and we will reply with a fixed quote. There is no charge for the quote and you’re under no obligation.
Related advice
What else we do in Cathays
What affects the price in Cathays
Prices start from £350. There is no charge for travel to Cathays. The price depends on:
- The type of damage
- Where the damage is and how we get to it
- Whether we combine several jobs
- Previous DIY repairs that have to come out
It helps to know what pushes a price up or down: the amount of damage, the material, access to the area, and how many jobs we do in one trip. Send photos and you’ll get a fixed figure.
Getting a price from pictures
When you take your photos, a few simple things make all the difference:
- Where you are, by postcode
- One picture of the entire bath
- Any earlier repairs or coatings
- Something in shot to show the size
If you’re in Cathays and want a price, photos are the quickest way: one close up, one from further back, plus your postcode. You’ll get a fixed quote with dates to choose from.
FAQs for Cathays
Will you leave a mess?
We protect the room with dust sheets and masking first, and tidy up before we leave.
What does bath re-enamelling cost?
Prices start from £350. The exact price depends on the damage, so we quote from photos. You will get a fixed figure before you book.
What areas do you cover?
Across the UK, so Cathays is covered. Prices don’t change with location.
How long will the bath be out of use?
One day for most baths and can be used the day after. We give you timings with the quote.
Can a failed resurfacing be redone?
Yes. Stripping the old coating adds time, so it’s reflected in the quote.
Do you charge for travel?
We don’t add a call-out fee. The fixed price covers the visit and the work.
Can landlords book you?
Yes. We work for landlords, agents, builders and businesses as well as homeowners in Cathays.
Do I need to be at home?
Yes. The technician needs access to the room for the visit, at a time that suits you.
Work for landlords and builders
For anyone letting property in or around Cathays, we’ll quote for several properties at once. Just send pictures for each address and we’ll price them together.
Letting agents frequently send us photos straight from the inventory. You can have a price before you arrange access, and we liaise with tenants about access if you’d like us to.
About our accreditations · Every repair comes with a one-year guarantee.
