Bathroom Refinish | Is Bathroom Refinishing Worth the Cost?

Have you just bought a home that needs a bathroom refinishing? Or, are you getting ready to sell your home and have been advised to contemplate bathtub refinishing in order to command top dollar? If so, then this article on bathtub refinishing is for you!

The Most Important Element in Refinishing a Bathroom

When taking about a bathroom refinish job, most will probably talk about repainting and perhaps getting a different vanity. But there is an element in your bathroom that no amount of cosmetic work will make up for if it isn't right -- and that's your bathtub. No matter how great the walls look or how new your bath vanity is, if your tub is old and grungy, then anyone entering your bathroom is going to come away remember that your bathroom was also old and grungy. And so for that reason, in this article we're going to concentrate on refinishing your tub.

Refinish Bathroom = Refinish Tub

However, before you read any further, please note that only professionals, or an experienced do it yourselfer should complete bathtub refinishing. This is not a project that should be attempted by someone with limited experience in home repair and tool usage.

How a bathtub is refinished depends on what it is made from. Refinishing of older, cast iron, enamel tubs is done by:

· Filling in any visible cracks and chips;
· Thoroughly sanding both the inside and the outside of the tub;
· Acid etching the inside and the outside of the tub to create a surface for the primer to adhere to;
· Priming the entire tub; and lastly
· Painting the inside and the outside of the tub with an enamel finish.

For acrylic tubs, a similar process is followed - they first etch the entire area to create a surface for the primer to adhere to, then it is primed, and lastly finished off with an acrylic enamel product. (By the way, this same process can be used to update outdated dishwasher fronts, oven doors and stovetops!)

It is important to note that refinishing a tub is not always the most cost-effective solution for a bathroom refinishing job, especially since having a clawfoot tub redone can cost anywhere between $500 and $1000. And, both enamel and acrylic bathtubs need to be removed and taken to the refinisher, as opposed to being done on the spot. Therefore, it may cost less to have a new bathtub installed as opposed to removing, repairing and reinstalling the existing one. Unless of course you live in a vintage home that came with the original bathtub, albeit in need of some sprucing up.

Having made the decision to invest in refinishing bathroom, and explicitly, redoing your tub, it is important to note that once a tub has been refinished and reinstalled in your home, for the new surface to last as long as possible, treat it with care. You will want to make sure that you don’t use a harsh chemical cleaner, but rather a mild cleaner like Bon Ami, which won’t scratch or dull the surface.

If you have decided that the best way to go with your bathroom refinishing job is to have a new bathtub installed instead, home improvement stores often sell a variety of tubs in all different sizes and options - from a basic small bath / shower unit, to jetted Jacuzzi tubs. And, if you decide you want the vintage look without having to consider refinishing, you can purchase an old world style with modern jets as well.