In the busy modern world, it is very important to relax after a long hectic day. What best way there is to unwind and leave your worries behind? A long, hot bath with some scented candles and your favorite magazines.
Bathtubs are an important installment in any house. They come in various sizes and designs. You can choose them according to your preference and style although they are usually white in color. They are generally made of thermoformed acrylic, porcelain enameled steel, fiberglass-reinforced polyester, or porcelain enameled cast iron. But as with all things, their surface can deteriorate with the passage of time. Depending on the frequency of usage, a bathtub can last for ten to fifteen years. But after that, cracks start to develop which indicate that it is about time to have your bathtub refinished.
What Exactly Is Bathtub Refinishing?
Also known as bathtub resurfacing, bathtub reglazing or bathtub re-enameling, it is the process of refreshing the surface of a worn, damaged bathtub to a look like new in condition. This process typically involves repairing any damaged areas. Chips or cracks are repaired using some type of polyester putty. After repairs are made the surface is prepped with an acid etching. Another possible method is to apply an adhesion-promoting bonding agent like silane to the surface before applying the coating. The two methods can be used together, or they can be used separately.
However, if both methods are used simultaneously, it has a great effect can provide with much better adhesion. Some modern processes of bathtub refinishing do not require the use of etching, as they rely on silane alone. After the surface is prepared, primer is applied, followed by a topcoat.
Generally, a link synthetic white coating is applied, but the coating does not have the lasting effects or abrasive tolerance of the original glass-enamel coating of a factory-new bathtub. Which means that a refinished bathtub will not last as long as a newly manufactured bathtub.
Replacing VS Refinishing: Which Is More Budget Friendly?
The cost of refinishing a bathtub may range from $200 to $1000 depending on the style and structure of the bathtub and the bathroom. The average cost comes in at roughly $500. One may argue that a standard bathtub is available for as low as $300 in the market, so why waste more than that amount on refinishing? But what people fail to consider are the hidden costs that come with replacing the bathtub.
Apart from the price of the tub, you have to consider the charges you will pay for the demolition of the old tub. Then you will have to pay a plumber to reattach the pipes to the new tub. And then there is the installation of the new tub itself. Once you add up all these charges, the $300 tub can cost up to $3000, keeping in view that no other extra complications spring up, which is way more than you would pay for having your old tub refinished.
Bathtub refinishing cost in Chicago IL vary from company to company. You need to make sure that you hire proper professionals to do this job for you. If you decide to do this yourself using a DIY Refinishing kit, you may not get a polished new look and it might not last very long. So, it is better that get the job done by experts. Not only will they give your bathtub like-new look, there work will be durable and will stand the test of time.
Therefore, keeping in mind the cost difference, it is always better to have your bathtub refinished rather than to have it replaced.