Most people wouldn’t even consider refinishing their bathtub, why bother when you can just replace it for a newer, neater model? If your goal is to add water jets and upgrade to a more Jacuzzi setting then replacement is your only option (if you currently have a standard tub). But if you just want your tub to look nice again refinishing it can be cheaper and easier in the long run. Why? Don’t forget that replacement often requires full demolition of that area of the bathroom which can mean repairing walls, removing and replacing plumbing parts, and upgrading flooring. Not to mention putting in new surrounds and often tiling. Starting to sound like a bigger job than you thought? Not surprising. That tub may only cost you a few hundred but the full demolition will kick you out of the bathroom during the renovations and will undoubtedly add hundreds more to the final bill. Ouch.
So now let’s consider refinishing or restoration. Over the years tubs can lose their “new” look with stains, yellowing, or general color fading. You can make the improvements yourself or hire a professional. If you are the handy sort we still recommend pricing the local experts and determining if the cost savings is beneficial enough for your time and effort. Technically restoration and refinishing are two different things, although many people use the terms interchangeably. Restoration is a multi-step process that is designed to clean up scratches and imbedding discoloration. Refinishing is done after restoration and involves use of a special chemical called Aliphatic Acrylic Polyurethane Enamel and is generally done by professionals in order to prevent the need for many more restorations.
