Kansas City Bathroom Remodeling has gotten more and more questions in recent years about refinishing bathtubs rather than replacing them.
Many of our Olathe customers think that they can do the job themselves or find the service very affordably, so we thought we would provide a little information about refinishing a bathtub, also called reglazing, versus replacing it.
There are many companies that specialize in bathtub reglazing, and even more in the Olathe area – including Kansas City Bathroom Remodeling – can replace your bathtub, so there will be no shortage of teams to do the work for you.
So let’s look at some of the pros and cons of refinishing a tub versus replacing it.
Why Reglaze a Tub?
They don’t make ‘em like they used to, as the saying goes. In the late 1800s, a cast iron claw-foot tub was a luxury item. Ironically, they still are today, but instead of being made of heavy cast iron, they are fashioned from lighter fiberglass or acrylic.
Therefore, glazing is a pretty common practice with antique, claw-foot beauties because they are rare, and those who want authentic rather than look-alike, refinishing is the only way to go. But this technique can be done with any cast-iron, steel, or fiberglass tub regardless of its age.
Replacing a Tub
An old tub can be hard to remove, making your labor cost much higher. You could end up spending ($1,000 or more in labor alone, even if your replacement tub is inexpensive. The flooring, trim and plumbing may be affected during the replacement, so these will need to be repaired as well.
However, an advantage of new appliances is that they may have up to a 25-year warranty. A new tub could, in actuality, have a much longer lifespan than 25 years.
Reglazing
Replacing a tub can be more affordable, costing anywhere from $300-$1000 depending on the type of tub you have and its size. it will look like new again, and you can even change the color of an outdated tub if desired. Reglazing adds another 10-15 years of life to your tub, but no extended warranty usually comes with this service.
Reglazing is a simple process. An experienced contractor can do it quickly, but each step needs to be done with precision so that you can achieve professional results.
Steps in the Reglazing Process:
- Strip and sand the old tub to remove the old finish
- Repair cracks and holes, and remove rust
- Prime, coat and seal in multiple layers
In the opinion of Kansas City Bathroom Remodeling, either option is viable for our Olathe customers. If you’re debating about having a tub refinished, it’s a dependable service that can give you great results faster than replacing a tub entirely.
Usually, replacing your tub is a better option if you are doing other bathroom renovations because there will likely be more demolition to be done anyway.
We’ve seen great results in both cases, and we’d solidly recommend either one for our valued customers!
