Things to Think About When Reglazing Bathtubs

If you are remodeling your bathroom or if your old cast iron tub is an eyesore, there are things to think about when reglazing bathtubs. It is an undertaking to give a lot of thought.

Condition of Bathtub

Most bathtubs can be reglazed, especially if you are going to seek professional help. Rust spots, scratches all the way through to the iron, and discoloration can be quickly taken care of with a reglaze. If you have a vintage tub of unusual design or a claw foot tub that is difficult or impossible to replace, then reglazing is something you should consider. In most areas of the country, reglazing the tub yourself can save you up to 90% of the cost of professional reglazing or replacing the tub.

Work Involved

Reglazing a bathtub is a great deal of work. The tub must be sanded, smoothed and coated. Some finishes require heat to set the new glaze. If you are a novice this is probably not a job you would want to undertake. This would be a job for a professional reglazing company. Be sure to talk the subject over with the expert at your local home improvement store so you know all the steps and methods used in tub reglazing. There are wipe on products and spray on products and the quality between the two is vastly different, as is the length of time the job will last.

Repair or Replace?

Cast iron bathtubs are very expensive to replace. They are heavy to deliver to the inside of your home and if the bathroom is on the second floor of the house you would have the added problem of getting it up the stairs and through the doorway. The doorways themselves may not be wide enough to fit the tub through so, in that case, reglazing is the only answer for you. This would be especially true in many older homes that were built before regulations involving door widths were in place.

You may prefer to keep the cast iron tub that keeps water warm longer and in many cases are deeper than modern tubs.

Inconvenience

Reglazing will put your bathroom out of commission for a few days until the glaze sets. There is also the problem of dust from sanding and also the odor of the glaze.

Another inconvenience of a reglazed bathtub is you must be very careful with what cleaners you use to clean the tub. Most cleaners that you can use on a regular tub can't be used on a reglazed tub. A reglazed tub will also scratch and chip more easily that the original finish.

Professional Reglaze

Professional reglazing of your bathtub can be very expensive. In many cases, it is more cost effective to replace the tub than it is to reglaze it. Professional reglazing usually comes with a warranty to protect against damage.