Bathtub Replacement Vs Repair
A bathtub is an important element in any bathroom. There’s nothing like coming home after a hard day at work and relaxing in a hot bath for a half hour or so. As a bathtub ages, though, stains appear, cracks begin to show, faucets leak and/or stop working altogether, and tub itself may even start leaking. When that time comes, should you repair it or replace it? In this article we will look at why repair is often preferable to replacement.
Since a new bathtub costs only about a few hundred dollars, and since most people are able to afford that, you would think that most would readily decide to replace their worn out tub rather than repair it. However, replacement costs involve more than just the price of the new tub. There is the cost of demolition, the cost of removing and disposing the old tub, not to mention the cost of the plumbing, the cost of the tile work, and on and on. Soon your $200 new tub is costing you several thousand dollars instead. It turns out that in most cases, repairing the tub is much less expensive after all.
Bathtub repair involves a process of restoration followed by refinishing. Restoration involves actually removing stains and scratches from the surface of the tub by use of a special solvent in conjunction with etching and sandpapering. It is an effective procedure, when done correctly, and leaves your old bathtub looking clean and bright. Can you do this yourself? Yes, but it is generally recommended that you hire a trained professional if you want the best results.
Following restoration, refinishing takes place. Refinishing is an important step that you might be tempted to forgo, but it’s necessary if you want the restoration to be long-lasting. In refinishing, the bathtub is sealed with a polyurethane enamel. Refinishing takes a day or two, but after that your tub should be good to go. Even more than with bathtub restoration, refinishing should only be attempted by qualified professionals. Sure it will cost you more, but it will be well worth it in the end in terms of both results and convenience to yourself.
Tony S. Michaels publishes a blog about bath and shower remodeling. Visit http://showerwallpanels.org for the latest information about Shower Wall Panels.
