Numerous scientific studies have shown that taking a bath is good for your body and mind.
But if you’re sitting in a chipped, stained, or otherwise unappealing tub, your bath might not be so pleasant. Even so, this doesn’t mean that you should run out and buy a new one right away.
This information has been put together to help you decide whether or not it would be more cost-effective for you to have your bathtub replaced rather than refinished.
So let’s dive in!
What Exactly Does "Bathtub Reglazing" Mean?
Reglazing a bathtub, which may also be called recoating or refinishing, is a purely cosmetic type of repair. It will make your tub look as good as new by getting rid of any minor surface flaws it may have.
The process is as follows:
The first thing a trained and experienced expert in bathtub repair will do is sand down the surface. This takes away any blemishes or light scratches on the surface. After that, they will fill in any cracks or chips that are still there. After that, they will apply a coat of primer and then paint the bathtub. Depending on the type of tub you have, they may have to do more than one application.
After the painting is done, they will give it one last buffing.
The reglazing process can give a worn-out bathtub a new lease on life. However, some bathtubs need more repairs than just reglazing. Read on to find out when it’s okay to keep your tub and when it’s time to replace it.
How often should you glaze your tub?
If your tub is in a good state for maintenance, it might be worth keeping. Reglazing may make ugly flaws disappear, leaving a surface that is once again pretty and smooth.
However, your tub can’t be in too poor a shape. Here is how you can decide if reglazing your bathtub is the best thing to do.
Stains
Your bathtub will eventually get stained from use. Even if you clean it regularly, the surface will eventually get a strange discoloration that looks like it has a yellowish tint to it.
This is nothing unusual, but it sure stinks up the place.
The refinishing process can get your tub back to its original white color, even if the stains are very dark. Sanding and repainting will either get rid of the stains completely or cover them up so that they are no longer visible after the job is done.
A Few Scratches on the Surface
If you reglaze your tub, it will hide small scratches on the surface. Also, you can fill in most of the cracks.
You shouldn’t, however, reglaze a tub that has one or more large cracks. It’s possible that these cracks will weaken the structure of your tub or cause leaks. It is highly recommended to replace bathtubs that have developed large cracks.
In that case, your bathtub could flood without you even knowing it.
Budget Restrictions
In many cases, reglazing is more cost-effective than buying a whole new tub.
You will also have to pay someone to take the old bathtub away. Most of the time, this means spending money to hire a professional to take it away and dispose of it for you.
Because of this, the cost could end up being higher.
If you only have a small amount of wiggle room in your budget, reglazing your bathtub can help it last longer at a lower cost. Because of this, you won’t have to empty your bank account to get a “new” bathtub.
How often should you replace your tub?
The process of reglazing can make your tub look better and give it a new lease on life, but there are some tubs that are too damaged to be reglazed. Here are some signs that it might be time to replace your bathtub with something else.
Your tub is showing its age
The average lifespan of a bathtub is about 25 years. You should seriously think about getting a new tub if the one you have is getting close to that age or is already older than it.
Even if it is working fine right now, there is still a chance that it will break down in the not-too-distant future. Even though reglazing your tub is cheaper than buying a new one, you shouldn’t do it if you plan to replace it soon anyway.
It always needs maintenance and repairs.
If your bathtub keeps breaking down and needing repairs, you might want to buy a new one. If you have to keep spending money on repairs, reglazing a broken tub is a waste of money because you will have to do it over and over again.
But a minor fix here, and there’s nothing to worry about.
After the problem is fixed and the surface is reglazed, you’ll have a bathtub that works well for a long time. On the other hand, you shouldn’t put money, time, and effort into maintaining a bathtub that needs many repairs every year.
Restricted by Time
The process of reglazing may require more than one visit to finish. After all, the professional can’t buff your bathtub while the paint is still wet, and they have to wait for the primer to dry before they can do any painting on the tub.
Because of this, it’s possible that you’ll have to wait a week or two before your bathtub is finished.
If you don’t have time to wait, it might be best to buy a new bathtub. It is possible that you will be able to buy and install your new tub on the same day.
Major Leaks
When a bathtub starts to leak, you should start looking for a replacement as soon as possible. Fixing big leaks in a bathtub can be hard and only work temporarily. Instead of spending money on an expensive fix that may or may not fix the problem, it would be smarter to buy a brand-new bathtub.
Mildew and mold are both types
If there is mold or mildew in your tub, you should get rid of it as soon as possible. Reglazing the surface might hide the mold, but it won’t get rid of the problem entirely. Using a moldy bathtub for a long time can cause major health problems.
Mold can cause a wide range of symptoms, including the following:
- Respiratory issues
- Headaches
- Responses caused by allergies
- Fatigue
- Eyes that are scratchy and red, etc.
- Mold exposure can also cause more serious health problems, such as anxiety and depression, if not treated. When mold is found in a bathtub, it’s important to get a new one right away.
If your tub is still in good shape after it has been refinished, it will have been money well spent. With the reglazing method, surface flaws like scratches, small cracks, and stains can be fixed.
But reglazing your bathtub is a complete waste of money if it is old, leaks, or is covered in mold. You will have no choice but to buy a new bathtub soon.
Is your tub showing signs of wear and tear?
Click on this link to learn more about the bathtub repair services we offer and how we might be able to help you.
