Why Not Reglaze or Repaint My Old Bathtub?

The first question anyone with an old and damaged bathtub might ask is: Why not replace the tub? Who wants an ugly old bathtub to ruin the decor, especially after a bathroom has been remodeled? But there are many reasons that replacing an old tub is unnecessary, especially if the damages are minor (scratches, gouges, chipped paint). Most people aren't aware that reglazing or repainting is probably the best way to get an old bathtub back to its original splendor.

Buying a new tub can be disadvantageous for consumers, largely because replacing the old tub with a new one takes a lot of time and money. The tub itself might cost up to $200, but costs can skyrocket once the work of contractors and subcontractors, demolition, removal, plumbers and landfill fees are factored in. This can run into the thousands. Then there's the issue of time. It could take a week simply to replace the old tub, plumbing or to make adjustments--and if a home only has one bathroom this can create major interferences.

The benefits to refinishing, reglazing and repainting an old tub are numerous. One, it's less expensive. Refinishing an old tub isn't as time-consuming, either. Quality work performed on an old tub can take up to 7 hours, depending on the amount of work that needs to be done. Refinishing an old tub can also provide the opportunity to remodel the entire bathroom, if needed.

Refinishing, repainting and reglazing work can be done on many types of tubs. Porcelain, acrylic, fiberglass and cultured marble all can be refinished, reglazed and repainted. Any type of damages can also be refinished, whether it be chips, gouges, scratches, cracks or even burns.

There are a number of things to bear in mind before refinishing an old tub. There are a lot of Do-It-Yourself kits on the market that provide step-by-step instructions on how to repaint or reglaze tubs. But unless you're skilled and knowledgeable about repairing tubs, D.I.Y. kits can do more harm than good. If the job turns out worse than before, fixing the damage can become more expensive as well. Another thing to consider involves hiring a refinisher. The competition for refinishers is stiff, and many contractors have turned to lowering costs to attract customers. On the surface, this might sound like a great deal. But experts state that these refinishers are abandoning quality work in the long run, because cuts in cost will have to come out of either materials or time-- both of which are crucial in performing a quality refinishing job. There are also a lot of scammers in the industry.

Research before hiring a refinisher. Referrals from satisfied customers help eliminate the possibility of getting poor service or from being scammed. Also, comparison shop. Ask questions. Determine exactly what type of work will be performed, the preparation for refinishing the old tub, the amount of hours the work will be performed. A quality refinisher will answer any and all questions. Also, the Better Business Bureau rates local businesses and contractors. A quality refinisher will have a good rating with the BBB.