How To Refinish A Bathtub For Non-experts
What is there that’s more relaxing than reclining in a bathtub after a hard day at school or on the job? Obviously, the answer is “nothing”. A hot soak will wipe away the aches and pains of the day and relax both your body and spirit. It’s no wonder that people will go to great lengths to ensure their bathtub is in tiptop shape. That’s when knowing how to reglaze an old bathroom tub will stand you in good stead.
No matter how well you take care of your bathtub, it’s bound to develop some problems as it ages. You’ll begin to function as well any more. There are some easy fixes for some of these problems; however, others will need some professional help. In the following paragraphs you will read answers to some of the most often asked questions about bathtub refinishing.
Isn’t it Easier to Just Get a New Tub?
To look at new bathtubs in the showroom, it looks fairly routine to replace your old bathtub with a new one. You can purchase them for about $100 which doesn’t seem like a pot load of cash. However, what people fail to do when they choose this solution is to look at what it might cost to remove the old tub and have some one haul it away, the price of new plumbing, resetting tiles, re-flooring issues, and carpentry work that will need to be done. They discover that the real price tag of a bathtub replacement will be in the range of $2000 and realize that they can fix their existing tub for a lot less money. Its one of the better bath tub tips out there.
What Does Bathtub Resurfacing Mean?
Tubs that have been used for many years begin looking their age with stains and scratches. A bathtub restoration will eradicate these problems. There are kits created for homeowners to use to refresh their bathtubs. However, if you have no expertise in this sort of work, it’s a lot better to hire an experienced professional to do the job for you.
The procedure for restoring a bathtub involves the steps listed below:
* Cleaning the surface of the tub
* Applying a solvent
* Neutralizing the solvent
* Etching
* Sand-papering
When this time-consuming process is completed, your bathroom will look clean and new again.
Moving on to the Restoration Process
Once you finish the restoration process, you’ll need to refinish the tub. Spending[Investing the time to refinish means that you won’t be required to go back and restore it so often in the future. Refinishing is something that needs to be completed by a profession. After all, it involves a toxic chemical called Aliphatic Acrylic Polyurethane Enamel. This is not a lengthy process, so your tub should be ready to go once more in less than a day’s time.
Are Bathtub Liners an Excellent Decision?
A bathtub liner is a custom-made cover that will protect your tub from scratching and chipping later on. It merely takes a few hours to install your liner, and putting it in doesn’t require any additional plumbing or flooring and tile repairs. It can be a really fine option in most cases.
Doing the Work Yourself vs. Hiring the A-Team
As a general rule, a professional will be more expensive, but you can expect his repairs to last longer. Unless you have experience and know how to do the work the right way, it can actually be less costly to hire a professional. Possibly the initial expense won’t be as pricey if you do it yourself, but when you have to get someone to redo the work, the cost starts multiplying.
Are There Times When it’s Better to Add a New Tub?
The only time when you want to think about replacing your tub instead of restoring it is if the price you’re given for the repairs will end up costing you more than it would to have the tub replaced. In those cases, you might as well go the less expensive route and have a brand new tub.