Resurfacing Bathtubs

[Randy F.]

Just curious how many have opted to resurface old tubs rather than replacing them. If you have, were you pleased with the results? Did they hold up in rentals?

I refinished a few tubs in the eighties will good result, but have no idea how long they held up. A friend had purchased a specialty franchise. Back then, the products available required a mechanical bond. It was quite labor intensive to scuff the surface adequately to create enough "teeth" to ensure a good bond. From what I understand, todays products provide a chemical bond so prep is limited to a thorough cleaning. I wouldnt recommend the DIY kits as I'd want the warranty offered by the specialty guys.

Ive run into numerous scenerios where the tile surround was done fairly recently and in excellent shape, and the fixture had been replaced at that time as well, so there was no ready excuse to rip out tub and replace. In these instances I gave the homeowner and investor the options and each one chose replacement.

The last quote I received for resurfacing a tub was $375 and they are in and out in hours. Under certain circumstances, it may be a good option and be a time and money saver.

Whatchyathinkaboudit?

[Chris Calabrese]

I've had this done many times on cast iron tubs, tile surrounds, and 1-piece fiberglass enclosures. I use a company called Surface Specialists, and I'm pretty sure they're franchised. The finish comes out amazing, and they provide a 25-year warranty, so even though I've sold all of the houses I have to assume it holds up well for them to offer that.

To do a tub and surround, they spend 5-6 hours prepping and about an hour spraying the finish. They charge by the square foot, usually $5-8/SF. A little pricey, but cheaper than replacing and much less work/disturbance. They will also refinish tile floors, countertops, and anything else you could imagine.