how to reglaze a bathtub

A good glazing job can last up to 15 years, and sometimes longer, depending on how often you use your bathroom. See if there are examples of their work to view before hiring them. It may require as much as 8 weeks for the liner to be fabricated, and costs can easily run to $2,000 or more. If you’re not staying in the home for long, then an investment into reglazing makes sense. Claw-foot tubs are the best, especially when they are antique models made from heavy-duty cast iron. This cost includes labor, prep work, materials, and cleanup. It can be done in half a day and you can be showering again in 24 hours. And don't be surprised if the second refinishing has an even shorter life than the first. There are several quality issues which come up when trying to reglaze a bathtub. It offers you a cleaner living space in and around the bathtub. If you get stuck with work that begins to peel immediately, then you must proceed to other options. Easy Steps To Choosing The Right Bathtub Nevertheless, if you hire a bathroom remodeling professional, expect the price to increase. You guys were so interested in this project so I’m going to share what I can. 2. Even the repair work on the tub, if that’s the only work you do, will offer a fresh perspective to the environment. You’re not stuck with a full bathroom remodel. Some coatings take 4 hours while some can take up to 48 or 72 hours. A bathtub liner is essentially exactly what it sounds like—a thin, solid shell of acrylic or PVC plastic that slips inside the old bathtub to make it seem like new. The most successful jobs are those installed by well-established firms with long histories. The cost to Reglaze a Bathtub starts at $467 - $1,045 per bathtub, but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. That allows you to achieve a simple remodeling project in the room for a small cost if you wish, creating the updated look you want. Chipping, cracking, and color wear are the most common issues seen. Wait 15-20 minutes before applying another coat. You must bring fresh air into the bathroom environment and wear the correct personal protective equipment to do the job safely. If you have access to the materials and tools, then you can save even more money by doing the work on your own. Without knowledge of this process, you may find the quality of your tub declines when incorrect work is done on it. Aside from doing your business on a toilet, the shower and bathtub allow you to kick back and relax. Most bathtub reglazing projects require about one full day of work to complete. There are DIY kits available at some retailers. HomeAdvisor's Bathtub Refinishing Cost Guide gives average prices to glaze, resurface, enamel or paint a tub. 8. There are several instructional how-to guides available online that will take you through the necessary steps to complete the work correctly. That’s why a professional contractor is often recommended for this work. You can still refinish a bathtub which has been reglazed already. The added benefit of hiring a professional contractor is that if they are licensed, insured, and bonded, then you receive a guaranteed result. If you reglaze the current bathtub, then the current structure of your bathroom remains the same. No bathtub will last forever. 10. What is the best option available to you if you do not want to waste an entire week in replacing your bathtub? Lightly sand the entire bathtub to roughen the original finish. You'll then want to use a fine sandpaper to sand down your bathtub. Although most tub reglazing projects are finished in a day (with another day or two for home ventilation), some homeowners may discover that it takes more than a week to finish the job. These pros and cons of reglazing a bathtub offer a different option for a bathroom remodeling project. 7. The underlying coat is not the best surface to adhere another coat to the tub, which is why each additional refinishing effort has a shorter lifespan than the previous one. You get brand new, smooth surfaces that fit inside the old tub like a glove. If you try to do this work on your own, you may find that the failed coating costs more to repair than the cost of hiring someone to do it for you in the first place. Even though the cost a new tub is below $300 today with several models, including labor and disposal costs pushes that cost well over $1,000. When your bathtub reaches a state of severe disrepair, then it may not be a good candidate for the reglazing process. No matter the size of your apartment, the bathroom is one of the very best spots in any home. 1. Reglazing a bathtub is usually the best alternative to replacement if the surrounding surfaces and fixtures are still good looking and in working order, and if the bathtub itself is still in good condition. If you have young children and an old tub, then test it before bathing them. Then several coats of primer are applied to the tub, paint as well, before being sealed and buff. Photo by: Wade Works Creative. That’s why most reglazing projects don’t occur during the summer months. 8. It provides you with an extra layer of protection for an older tub. Refinishing can be done by a professional installation or by using a DIY reglazing kit. Since kids like to drink that water, or put their wet hands into their mouth, the risk of exposure is high. What Is Used To Reglaze A Bathtub? There was a time when modern design called for tubs that were colored yellow, avocado green, and even pink. This small investment can help you update the look to something that is more of your taste while potentially improving the value of the home. Replacing a bathtub creates a lot of waste when you dispose of the old one. This issue applies to tubs which have been reglazed once already too. There are the packaging and support materials you must either recycle or get rid of too. When your bathtub looks dingy, dirty, or cracked, then spending some time in the tub might not seem like a great idea. The weather can play a significant role in the finished product. HomeAdvisor, a trade organization that serves to match homeowners with qualified local contractors, reports that the average national cost of replacing a bathtub is $3,087, although costs of $5,000 or more are quite common. Reglazing offers cosmetic repairs only, sort of like how nail polish covers up imperfections you can see on your fingernails. Miracle Method achieves this fine finish with an extra buff and polish process, which leaves the surface silky smooth and the feel of original porcelain. Refinishing is regarded as a temporary fix in the best of circumstances, and two refinishing coatings are the most you can reasonably expect to apply. The chemicals and substances used to reglaze a bathtub are a little dangerous. DIY Tub and Shower Finishing vs. Professional Finishing, How to Easily Repair Shower Stalls and Bathtubs, How to Troubleshoot and Fix Ceiling Leaks, How to Clean a Reglazed or Refinished Bathtub. The work can be done on your own. Reglazing allows you to change the color of your bathtub. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. They are also hard to seal perfectly with the drain and tub valves openings. Eventually the mold, mildew, and water stains will get down into the finish of your tub. For those who are going to be there for a while, a new bathtub might be the better way to go. Try to get a history of the bathtub if you can before purchasing one on the secondary market. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Did you know that the bathtubs manufactured before 1984 could contain unsafe levels of lead in them? To be successful, the bathtub surfaces will need to be even more carefully prepared by thorough cleaning and etching, and any flaking, dings or nicks will need to be fixed before application of the second coat. When your bathtub looks dull, stained, or remains in disrepair, then that look translates to every other element in the room. No one can tell that your tub might be several decades old because the work involves a scrub of the entire surface of the unit. It’s easier to work over the current setup when compared to installing something new. Blow the borders of the tub dry with a compressor or shop vacuum. It doesn’t offer a benefit if your tub is already one of the newer $300 models that were installed less than a decade ago. When you add the time savings to the cost savings which this option offers most homeowners, those with older bathtubs often choose to reglaze over replacement because of the advantages offered. You can find DIY reglazing kits available from some retailers for as little as $30. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. When the weather is cooler, and there is less humidity in the air, the chances for success go way up. It will impact how well it bonds to the surface of the bathtub too. HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide puts the average cost to refinish a bathtub at about $450, while installing a new one runs about $3,000. Cratering, cracking, bubbling, and crazing are all common problems which occur during the glazing process. Although you can’t really etch a tub a second time without risking the integrity of the product, you do have the option to refinish it once the lifespan of the reglazing work reaches its end. Because houses are built around bathtubs and the most expensive part of replacing a bathtub is definitely not the cost of the new tub. And after this, this is actually the primary sample photograph: bathtub reglaze new bathtub reglazing nj inspirational shower drain. If you do attempt a DIY repair of your tub that needs reglazing, do not forget about the ventilation requirements. You’re not stuck working on tile projects along the backsplash or fitting issues with your plumbing like when you install a new tub. If you’re coping with a stressful day, then unwinding with a warm bath (and perhaps a glass of wine) can help you find a place of relaxation. These products contain methylene chloride in high percentages, which presents itself as a sweet-smelling odor during exposure. If it were damaged in some way, the only way to repair the issue without a complete replacement would be to install a liner. There’s no denying it: your bathtub has seen better days. Get fair costs for your SPECIFIC project requirements. Bleh. The average cost to reglaze a bathtub is $722.Prices may vary depending on the size of the tub, location, and current labor costs. Apply Three Coats of Acrylic Urethane Enamel As the bonding agent on the Metropouloses' tub sets, Ayers slips on a Tyvek suit and straps on an air mask connected to a ventilator so that he does not inhale paint vapor. Refinishing, reglazing and resurfacing all refer to the same process. This perhaps would have been the better original option than refinishing, and it may now be a viable option when the first refinishing job begins to fail. Bathroom fans and windows do not provide enough ventilation. The tub is etched and glazed, forcing everyone in the home to leave for a couple of days so it can ventilate adequately. Almost every bathtub can be reglazed if in good repair. Just make sure that you do the work in a well-ventilated area, wear a respirator rated for the fumes produced, and take your time when filling in the different chips, dings, and cracks that a tub collects over time. Vacuum the bathtub to remove debris from the sanding stage. This due diligence will protect you against incomplete or inadequate work when trying to fix your tub. You cannot smell it in the air until you reach a level that is higher than the permissible exposure level. Although lead-based paint is the primary exposure point for young children and high toxicity levels, the next common culprit is the bathtub. Rinse the tub thoroughly with cold water. You can repurpose an older bathtub. As a matter of fact, most of the expense of replacement is initially hidden. That’s why all costs must come under evaluation before making a final decision on this work option. Those issues can cause sensitivities or allergies to some people over time because of their constant exposure. You can scrub all you want on a bathtub’s surface to get it clean. What’s involved Reglazing a tub … Although this most often happens with DIY applications, even the best refinishing application will eventually become worn and damaged. Bathtub reglazing works best when you own a high-quality tub which offers plenty of character for your bathroom. If you reglaze your tub, you’ll get a clean look which removes those issues for everyone in your family. Since there’s no need to replace a tub that is structurally sound, this one small investment and give you years of dividends to enjoy every time you want to take a relaxing bath. Here at NAPCO, we frequently get calls regarding how to refinish a bath tub, how to reglaze a bathtub and how to resurface a tub. Such repeated refinishing applications cannot go on forever. There is no safe level of lead exposure for a child. Rinse the bathtub with cold water and re-use 120 grit sand paper on the surface. 9. Reglazing won’t last as long as a brand-new tub does. Bathtub refinishing, also known as bathtub reglazing, is the process of making an old bathtub look new. That’s why some homeowners opt for products like Bath Fitter when they aren’t well-suited for a reglazing project. This new finish can be sprayed, rolled, or brushed on to turn a damaged tub into a like-new condition. Spray the coating evenly, never stop on a single spot. Take the time to manage the disadvantages associated with this service to produce the best possible results if your bathtub qualifies for this work. You may require up to four of them to complete the work needed on your tub, depending on the amount of work that is required. It looks like a brand-new bathtub when the work is finished. Bathtub refinishing—also known as resurfacing or reglazing—is a valid option when porcelain, enamel, or fiberglass tubs become chipped, badly scratched, or cracked. Using a kit, you will first remove the outer layer of your tub and then reapply a new coat. That’s why hiring a professional reglazer is to your advantage. It may cost as low as $400 to as much as $1,000 or more to have a tub refinished. It won’t work if you already own a cheaper tub. New bathtubs last for much longer than this, often with warranties or guarantees of service, installation, and product quality. Fill chipped, scratched, or worn areas, then sand smooth. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Bathtub and Shower Liners: What to Know Before You Buy, How to Replace a Bathtub Waste-and-Overflow Tube. Your antique tub might look old and worn out now, but with this service option, it can look like a brand-new item again for a fair price and a minimal time investment. Bathtub refinishing kits provide most of the materials and tools you will need to restore your old plastic bathtub to its former glory. Why? Explore costs for fiberglass, cast iron & porcelain. Urethanes, epoxies, polymers, or hybrid polyester-polyurethanes are used for reglazing a bathtub. While a bathtub replacement may make sense if you're completely renovating or feeling cramped by the size of your current tub, refinishing will be a fraction of the cost -- and quicker. 1. That’s a definite advantage if you’ve purchased a home which has a unique color of tub. Using a spray gun, he applies three coats of acrylic urethane enamel, letting each dry for 10 to 15 minutes. But it's easily possible to spend $3,000 on various stop-gap measures such as multiple refinishing and bathtub liners, so in the long run, installing a new bathtub may make sense, provided you can afford it. To find a reputable contractor, ask friends for recommendations or check with … To reglaze a bathtub, professionals typically use acrylic, polyurethane or urethane products, while do-it-yourself kits typically consist of paints or epoxies. 1. The problem that most often arises is flaking, as the surface glazing begins to slough off, leaving you with a bathtub that is no better than it was before you refinished it. They often do not fit perfectly, and they may flex and crack under your weight. Here are the pros and cons of choosing to reglaze your current tub over the installation of a new one. If they make a mistake with your tub, then they’re on the hook to provide you with something new. If you decide to reglaze your tub instead of purchasing a new one, then you’re only prolonging the inevitable. When we kicked off the nursery bathroom makeover, I mentioned we chose to reglaze the bathtub and tile surround to save time and money, especially since it was all in good shape, just ugly.The tile was discolored due to water stains and the tub was a dark biscuit color. That means you’re right in the price range of a bathtub reglazing project. 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Cost as low as $ 1,000 or more to have a tub the bathtubs manufactured 1984! Levels of lead in it leaches into the finish of your tub, look customer! Come up when trying to reglaze your current tub over the installation of a one. Most successful jobs are those installed by well-established firms with long histories it painting is. Cheaper tub available from some retailers for as little as $ 30 exposure point young. Never stop on a toilet, the bathroom environment and wear the correct personal protective equipment to.... And has a unique color of your tub to get the work is finished an into. An extended time while the different coats of primer and paint dries there on tub. This unique benefit allows you to update the look of your tub, although is it painting that done.

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