Replacing the damaged bathtub is a cumbersome process and comes along with that bathroom destruction mess, in addition to the cost of getting a new one, that you have to incur. Refinishing serves as a much better option to replacing the old one.
Cost
How much does the process cost? According to The National Kitchen and Bath Association, the total estimated cost of replacement goes to the tune of approximately $2,800. You can save this money by opting to refinish. If you want to get your bathtub refinished from a company providing this service, it would cost you between $400 - $600. It varies according to the area. Some companies quote very less price than the above, but you can not guarantee the quality of work, because there is a possibility of bathtub starting to deteriorate soon after refinishing.
You can buy Do-it-yourself kit from hardware stores or home depot. The kit typically contains products such as waterproof sandpaper grit, caulking, cleansing agent, a surface prep material, and a couple of paint ingredients, for instance, primer or epoxy paint. Several bathroom cleaning products are available in the market, you can use those for cleaning as well. It costs you anywhere between $60 - $120. The price depends upon the quality of material used in the kit. If you are ready to shell out a little more, you can buy paint sprayer or else you can do it with a roller and brush. A paint sprayer would cost you approximately $150.
Procedure
Since hazardous chemicals are used, it's necessary to have a proper ventilation and for your safety, you should be using face mask as well. It works for marble, acrylic and porcelain bathtubs. The following procedure is adopted. Before you begin re-glazing, make sure that plumbing is in good shape, because if any plumbing job is done post refinishing, it may spoil the refinished bathtub. Also take off any cleaning agents, towels, toiletries from the cabinet so as to avoid damage to them during the process. Disengage the plumbing items in the proximity of bathtub such as shower head and overflow caps and take off all caulking surrounding the bathtub. First it is scrubbed throughout with the cleaner to get rid of mineral leftovers, soap deposits and layers of oils. Abrasive ingredients can be used for cleaning. You can also use homemade cleaning solutions for this. Next step is to restore the crevices and scraps by the process of filling. Fusing agent, which bonds between the finished surface and old one by the process of etching, is applied. It gets glued to the existing surface. The process of sealing these cracks is termed as tub caulking. The chemicals used have a foul odor, so ventilation of fumes becomes necessary. Finally, it is given a finishing touch by spray painting with a coat of acrylic. The last step is to polish it and get rid of dust to give it a glossy look. It is suggested not to use it for a day, because it needs to get dried and if the finishing doesn't adhere well, bathtub will soon start peeling. This is all the information that you will need about the cost that you will incur if you are refinishing a bathtub.
