My Home Tips and Trick

Not a Liner, Not a Replacement: Why You Might Want to Refinish Your Tub

By Lee Wallender, About.com



Got a yucky bathtub? Visit a home improvement store and you note that a new bathtub is inexpensive--less than $200. How hard can this be to replace? But add in the cost of a contractor, demolition, removal, landfill fees, tilers, and a plumber, and the total cost of the job has ballooned.

You can install an acrylic liner, but it is still costly and it only covers up your bathroom problems. Compared to all that, refinishing your tub looks pretty good.

The Truth: Refinishing Bathtub is Painting
Refinishing is a hire-the-pro project. DIY is great for many things, but it is virtually impossible to do a decent bathtub refinishing job by yourself. Porcelain, fiberglass, and cast-iron tubs can all be refinished.
Bathtub Stays in Your House--No Removal Needed
One huge selling point of bathtub refinishing is that the bathtub does not need to be--and should not be--removed and taken to a shop. Refinishing is done on-site. Most refinishing technicians are highly aware of the fact that they are in a private residence, so they take many precautions to minimize overspray and other mess.
Quick Overview of Tub Refinishing Process
After masking and dropcloths are set up, the tub is repaired (nicks and holes filled), primed, sealed, and painted with a highly durable, glossy top-coat of any color you choose.

Surprised that it is paint? The two biggest bathtub refinishing companies I spoke to like to call the substance a "coating," rather than paint. Look at it however you want, but rid your mind of the idea that bathtub refinishing is a duplication of the tub's original dip-coat. In some cases, you can send a valuable cast iron tub off-site for a new dip-coat--but this is not what we refer to as bathtub refinishing.
The Two Big Names: Miracle Method and Permaglaze

What brings down refinishing--sometimes called reglazing--costs is the fact that competition for refinishing business is fierce. Searching for refinishing companies, you will find:

* Miracle Method, with about 120 U.S. locations.
* Permaglaze, with 50-60 U.S. locations.
* Countless independent, local companies whose quality may be higher or lower than the national franchises.

Details of the Professional Bathtub Refinishing Process
The tub reglazing process is different between the two national tub refinishing franchises, Miracle Method or Permaglaze, as well as the local, non-franchised companies. However, there is some common ground:

1. Clean bathtub and remove caulking.
2. Mask around the bath tub and cover areas not to be refinished.
3. Remove fixtures and overflow cover.
4. Set up ventilation fan to vent overspray and odor outside.
5. Lightly sand entire bathtub.
6. Depending on the service you choose, the tub may also be etched with acid to help the coatings adhere.
7. Vacuum bathtub.
8. Fill chipped, scratched, or worn areas, then sand smooth. If there is extensive damage, the restorer may charge nominal extra fees for this.
9. Put down drop-cloths and covers over cabinets, sinks, fixtures, toilet, etc.
10. Spray-paint up to 3 coats of a primer; let dry.
11. Between 3-4 layers of top coat mixture are spray-painted.
12. Miracle Method comes back a few days later for a final buffing. Permaglaze does not do this because they say that their process does not lead to imperfections that would necessitate buffing.

Tub is ready to use within 48 hours. Your new coat is durable but not as durable as the original coating. As a result, do not clean with any abrasive cleaners such as Comet.

Do-it-yourself bathtub refinishing is possible, but not recommended. You employ essentially the same materials as the professionals, but you don't use the professional-level spray-gun.

Instead, you use a brush or small roller. Armorpoxy is the most prominent company selling do-it-yourself brush-on kits. They offer a quart of epoxy with hardener, latex gloves, steel wool, brush, cleaning solution, cleaner/thinner, and safety goggles. It comes in white but can be tinted (tint not included).

It's less expensive than other methods, but I still do not consider it a cheap alternative. Also, I'm a bit wary of brushing or rolling on bathtub paint. There's simply no way you can get a nice, smooth glossy coat with a roller or brush.
Summary--Bathtub Refinishing Options

* New Tub If Remodeling. If you're already ripping up your bathroom for other repairs, go ahead and put in a new tub. It's your cheapest option.
* Don't Spray. Unless you're a highly experienced painter (work in an auto body shop perhaps?), leave the spraying to the pros.
* Competition is Good. There are so many companies competing for your bathtub refinishing business, you can most likely swing a good deal.
* Rollers/brushes Don't Work. Don't cheap out with the brush or roll-on method.