In the eyes of a homeowner, a bathtub whose finish is starting to show signs of its age might make them replace it right away. However, little of what they realize is that by impulsively replacing their bathtub, they are throwing away too much money right out of the gate and not noticing that perhaps, reglazing their bathtub instead could have been the better option. In this article, we’ll be exploring how reglazing saves your bathroom budget.
But also, we’ll cover some circumstances where perhaps it is indeed time for you to replace your bathtub, and reglazing isn’t going to cut it.
What’s Reglazing?
Before we tackle the main topic. Let’s understand first what Bathtub Reglazing is. So, bathtub reglazing is a process that aims to restore a bathtub’s surface through the application of a new and durable coating to a bathtub that’s still in pretty good condition. This process involves the resolution and repair of cracks and chips, sanding the bathtub’s surface, and then spraying or applying a whole new coat or finish. The final product of this process is a coating or finish that extends the lifespan of your bathtub for many years to come.
Why Reglaze instead of Replace?
Now that we’re at the heart of the topic, let’s find out why it is better to look for a tub reglazing service instead of immediately replacing your old bathtub. In this section, we’ll cover some of the reasons why reglazing is a better alternative compared to replacing.
1. Cheaper Alternative
Unlike purchasing a brand new bathtub, calling in a reglazing services provider offers a cheaper way to renew your bathtub, aesthetically. This would usually cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars and may depend on the amount of work that will be done on your bathtub. That is a huge difference compared to purchasing a brand new tub, which will incur costs around the thousands or more, depending on the bathtub model, and that’s not yet factoring in the installation and labor costs.
However, if you do have some experience with Do-it-Yourself reglazing, you could end up spending less than a hundred dollars since you’ll likely need the tools required for reglazing and the refinishing kit itself.
2. Time Efficiency is Maximized
Unlike replacing your tub, refinishing or reglazing your bathtub offers less downtime compared to purchasing and installing a brand new bathtub. Normally, it would take around 1 to 3 days before your bathtub is ready for use again after it has been refinished. That’s because the treatment applied to your bathtub needs to settle in first.
Aside from that, the turnaround period is relatively fast, could take less than a day or at least a day or two, making tub reglazing less disruptive compared to replacing and installing a new tub.
3. Waste Reduction
Reglazing your tub also contributes to environmental friendliness, as reglazing instead of replacing ensures that you are extending your bathtub beyond its expected lifespan. Because when you are replacing a tub, the usual scenario is that the old tub, especially if it’s in a really bad shape, gets disposed of, instead of being repurposed, and thus, contributing to more garbage in landfills and other dumpsites.
4. The Artistic Direction is Completely Yours
Whether it is a do-it-yourself project or you’ve managed to coordinate with your tub reglazing services, you have the power to dictate how your bathtub should look in the end. You have the liberty to choose what colors the finish should look like and what style should be employed on it so that the tub feels distinct from what it looked like before.
5. Prolongs Durability, Saves Money in the Long Run
Reglazing or refinishing your bathtub, provided it is not heavily damaged, also prolongs its lifespan. The typical lifespan of a well-maintained bathtub is approximately 10-15 years. Assuming that your bathtub isn’t suffering from damages that make it beyond repair, reglazing or refinishing grants your tub another 5-10 or more years before it needs another round of reglazing, provided you’ve maintained it well.
As a result, reglazing allows you to save more money compared to replacing a bathtub outright. The saved money might not be noticeable at first, but it builds up over time, and you’d be pleased that you turned to reglazing to solve your bathtub issues.
When not to Reglaze?
Now, there are situations where reglazing cannot be applied, and you might have to replace the bathtub instead of reglazing it. Here are some instances where reglazing might not be applicable.
1. Major structural cracks or damage
If the bathtub feels too soft in structure or has huge cracks on it, reglazing only covers the cracks and does not resolve them. In fact, there could be a likelihood that, instead of helping, reglazing could worsen the situation.
2. Tub is subject to frequent repairs
If your bathtub has been subjected to frequent repairs here and there, you might be better off replacing the tub. That’s because the underlying issue here is no longer about minor chips or cracks – there’s a likelihood that you’re dealing with foundational issues at this point.
3. Leaking is frequent
A leaky tub is no longer an ideal candidate for reglazing since tubs that leak through cracks are a key indicator of big structural damage, and reglazing cannot restore that tub’s quality. Replacement will be needed to stem any further damage caused by leaks.
Reglaze First, Save More
To conclude what we’ve just covered, bathtub reglazing allows you to restore and rejuvenate what is otherwise a dull and aged bathtub and make it feel like it is brand new. It is often favored by homeowners because it is generally cheaper and time-efficient, as, aside from the aforementioned rejuvenation of the tub, it is not as disruptive as replacing a tub and prolongs its durability, thus allowing you to save more money in the long run.
However, keep in mind that while reglazing is indeed a great way to maintain a bathtub, there are a few situations wherein replacing might be the better option, usually stemming from severe damage. But if your tub’s structural integrity is still good and it just has some minor cracks and chipping on the surface, then you are better off with reglazing.
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