You can install an acrylic liner, but it is still costly and it only covers up your bathroom problems. Compared to all that, refinishing your tub looks pretty good.
The Truth: Refinishing Bathtub is Painting
Refinishing is a hire-the-pro project. DIY is great for many things, but it is virtually impossible to do a decent bathtub refinishing job by yourself. Porcelain, fiberglass, and cast-iron tubs can all be refinished.Bathtub Stays in Your House--No Removal Needed
One huge selling point of bathtub refinishing is that the bathtub does not need to be--and should not be--removed and taken to a shop. Refinishing is done on-site. Most refinishing technicians are highly aware of the fact that they are in a private residence, so they take many precautions to minimize overspray and other mess.Quick Overview of Tub Refinishing Process
After masking and dropcloths are set up, the tub is repaired (nicks and holes filled), primed, sealed, and painted with a highly durable, glossy top-coat of any color you choose.Surprised that it is paint? The two biggest bathtub refinishing companies I spoke to like to call the substance a "coating," rather than paint. Look at it however you want, but rid your mind of the idea that bathtub refinishing is a duplication of the tub's original dip-coat. In some cases, you can send a valuable cast iron tub off-site for a new dip-coat--but this is not what we refer to as bathtub refinishing.
The Two Big Names: Miracle Method and Permaglaze
What brings down refinishing--sometimes called reglazing--costs is the fact that competition for refinishing business is fierce. Searching for refinishing companies, you will find:
- Miracle Method, with about 120 U.S. locations.
- Permaglaze, with 50-60 U.S. locations.
- Countless independent, local companies whose quality may be higher or lower than the national franchises.
What Do Pro Bathtub Refinishers Do When They Reglaze Your Bathtub or Shower...?
