We are planning to remodel two bathrooms. Both bathtubs are badly worn, one more than the other. Removing and replacing them would involve tearing down walls to get them out. Friends who have refinished their tubs tell me that even with the utmost care the refinished tubs begin to show their wear in a few years and it wasn’t worth it. Do you know of any recent developments that would preclude the removal of these fixtures and give us long-lasting satisfactory results?
–Margaret, via e-mail
There is no easy answer to your question and the answer we have is not the one you want to hear.
There are no new processes for refinishing bathtubs. It’s still messy and there is no lifelong guarantee.
Home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s and Menards, have sales representatives who can talk to you about the refinishing process. Home improvement and hardware stores sell refinishing kits.
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You may want to hire professionals to do this. You can find them in your local telephone directories. Home improvement stores usually have referral lists too.
An alternative to refinishing is a tub liner. For more on tub liners see the September 2000 issue of “Today’s Homeowner.” Companies that make tub liners, such as Luxury Bath Systems of Bensenville (630-295-9084), create a mold of your tub for an exact fit. However, the guarantee may not be as long as the life of the tub.
When it comes to tearing out walls to get to a tub, Jay Tippeconnic, a Home Depot manager in Palatine, said you have to be the final judge. You can buy a new bathtub for as little as $79 for an enamel on steel model to as much as $2,000 for the ultra-deluxe model with spa jets and other custom features.
While you think this over, you could make the tub look better for a short while. There are enamel and refinishing kits available at home improvement and hardware stores that range from $5 to $25.