Tub Refinishing?

[Ross]

Has anyone in here ever gotten one of those Bath Tub Refinishing kits from Home Dumpster or Lowes? The enameling kits? My tub is in desperate need of refinishing and I'm wondering if it's worth attempting to do myself.

 

[Karlynn]

We had a professional do ours. It took 3 tries before it didn't peel, and he had all the fancy equipment. One of the issues is that our tub was over 20 years old and a colored tub. I'm afraid it may be a big pain in the &#@ for you to do.

I also wanted to mention that the smell of the chemicals is pretty overpowering. When we had our tub done he had a vaccuum thingie that vented the air out a window, and it still was a very caustic smell. I'd be worried about how your lungs would do.

 

[Ross]

That's what I'm thinking too. This tub is the original tub from 1956. I really don't want to replace it, but having it refinished vs buying a new one is about the same money. Of couse the new one wouldn't be Cast Iron, but still. My water kills everything. Even with the filtering and softening equipment it is terrible.

 

[lance]

That's what I'm thinking too. This tub is the original tub from 1956. I really don't want to replace it, but having it refinished vs buying a new one is about the same money. Of couse the new one wouldn't be Cast Iron, but still. My water kills everything. Even with the filtering and softening equipment it is terrible.

Hi Roos,

I'm not familiar with the finishing process your refer to and the posting about chemicals raises a few red flags.

There is a procedure up here where a rigid cover shaped like your bathtub is installed over your existing tub, probably made from vinyl and caulked around the edges where the tub cover meets the wall and the floor.. My sister had one installed about 10 years ago over her existing blue tub and is very happy with it. Certainly cuts down on the chemical exposure.

Somehow, I don't think this is only in Canada.

Cheers

 

[Ross]

Hi Roos,

I'm not familiar with the finishing process your refer to and the posting about chemicals raises a few red flags.

There is a procedure up here where a rigid cover shaped like your bathtub is installed over your existing tub, probably made from vinyl and caulked around the edges where the tub cover meets the wall and the floor.. My sister had one installed about 10 years ago over her existing blue tub and is very happy with it. Certainly cuts down on the chemical exposure.

Somehow, I don't think this is only in Canada.

Cheers

No not just in Canada. I checked into it, they want $3000 U.S. dollars for that. I can get 10 brand new tubs for the price of one of those.

 

[tobagotwo]

Actually, steel replacement tubs cost less than $300. Unfortunately, you usually want a new drain and new faucets to complete the set.

I replaced one myself a number of years ago. The old cast-iron clawfoot disappeared from the edge of the yard before morning. It was incredibly heavy, and I wasn't able to lift it in any useful way. I don't want to tell you how I got it downstairs intact by myself. In fact, I may not be able to. I think I'm still blocking the memory...

Best wishes,

 

[Karlynn]

Our tub is a 1956 too. It's a different size from ones that are made now. It's much deeper and has a ledge seat on the back. (Where my son sits and falls asleep while taking a shower.) I didn't really want to replace it, but if I'd know it was going to be such a pain to get it refinished, I would have. The guy that did ours was very good about coming back to redo it and he finally did the whole tub from scratch again.

 

[lance]

$3,000 Us$

$3,000 Us$

Gosh Ross,

I can hardly believe it.

Does that price include installation, the tubs surround wall panels and gold plated taps and drain?

 

[Ross]

Yeah Lance I about flipped, but yes that's installed and new fixtures, but not gold. Needless to say, I did an about face and walked out the door.

 

[Mb]

I run a construction company in New England. We often remodel bathrooms, and about half of the time we hire a subcontractor to "refinish" the bathtub. In 20 years in business, we've had only ONE call back. The people we use are "Miracle Method", and they do just a great job. If you have tile on the walls, and are going to replace the tiles or a fiberglass tub surround, it is also very wise to have the shower valve replaced at the same time, when they have the walls opened up. Frankly we advise this even when the valve is not leaking. I actually had this company refinish our own bathtub in the family bath. It was mustard yellow, and is now shiney white. Cost now runs $450.$550.00 to have it done. When you talk about removing a bathtub, installing a new tub, you will definitely run more than that when hiring someone. And, you may not get the same quality bathtub.

ANY installation is dependent more on the person doing the job, than the type of materials used. If you get an experienced bathtub installer, your lilkelyhood of having a problem is lessened. As I said, we've had ONE call back in 20 years. Not bad. - marybeth

 

[Harpoon]

Kindly ask around to a few plumbers in your area about the availability of a tub that would replace yours and prices...


You might be able to find a good one that's been refurbished or maybe ask about refurbishing yours if that's cheaper than replacing the enamel.


Barring that, I'd say you're probably better off replacing it with a new tub from yoru favorite hardware and appliance store rather than trying to mess around with either having a pro re-enamel your tub or trying to do it yourself.


Some jobs just aren't meant to be done by the do-it-yourselfer types...


For the record: We had a tub replaced several years ago, old tile, tub, and fixtures taken out and a vinyl tub/surround put in. My dad, my brother, and I muscled the old tub out of it's palce and into the middle of the bathroom floor then decided we were in way over our heads and called a plumber to finish the job.

Smaller jobs have been done "in house" such as replacing a toilet, repairs to the clothes dryer, installation of fan/vent in bathroom ceiling, replacement of said fan several years later when it died...

Biggest job we did was an addition to the garage. Next up was replacing the kitchen floor.

Tubs are DAMNED heavy and nothing to mess with solo or even with a helper or two if you haven't done it before.


Watch yer toes!

 

[Ross]

You folks would have a real laugh if you saw the room I have to work worth. I'm still asking myself how they ever got this thing in here to start with. I'm beginning to think they built the house up around it!

I really have NO capital to work with, but I'm so tired of crawling into a rust stained tub, plus it's very embarrassing for someone else to see when we have visitors. Just a thought running through my mind. I'd love to do something about it, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[epstns]

Ross - You hit the nail on the head -- Your house is probably like mine. They really did put the tubs in place before they finished out the last of the studs for the room. I was going to warn you about that when you mentioned possibly replacing the tub. I sure wouldn't try it, and I've done lots of things the average homeowner shouldn't do. . .

As a better approach, I, too, like the idea of checking with several tub refinishing contractors to find one with good references. We had ours done about 16 or 18 years ago, and it is just beginning to dull now. Not bad for the $400 it cost back then. Refinishing is also the route to take to minimize the list of other things that must be done at the same time.

 

[Missy]

We own a construction company and I agree with mberge's reply. Do the Miracle method and it shouldn't cost that much. The price she quoted is about right with a cost adjustment for your area. Probably a little more than here but shouldn't be more than New England. Good luck. And if it is really that bad and you decide to do it yourself instead of tearing out the wall, just study up on it before you tackle it. There should be brochures at the Home Depot or Lowe's. Let us know what you do and how it turns out.
Good luck.

 

[Ross]

Guess I'll be looking at my rust bucket for many years to come. I hate it, but it works.

 

[Nancy]

Is the enamel actually worn through to the metal? Or is the rust stain from your water?

 

[Ross]

Is the enamel actually worn through to the metal? Or is the rust stain from your water?

The enamel is worn through.

 

[Karlynn]

Can you have it professionally done and then maybe spend a night at the NoTell Motel with your wife and kitties? Just worrying about you and your lungs.

 

[Barry]

Wondering if a cheap renovation could be done using marine enamel. You'd have to go to a specialty marine store to get some, unless your paint store could order some for you. Seems that if it's durable and water-resistant enough for ship hulls it'd certainly work on a bathtub. Not the same as re-enameling, of course, but perhaps offest by being much much cheaper. I'd expect that you'd have to wire-brush the rusted metal first and wash the tub with a fairly strong TSP* solution to ensure adhesion.

* You can still get real TSP (trisodium phospate) at many hardware stores. That which you sometimes see at supermarkets uses "TSP" as the brand name but isn't really trisodium phospate. It should be used only for purposes for which only the real thing works well because it does add phospates to the ecosystem.

 

[hensylee]

Ross - just pull the shower curtain when company comes. If they need a shower, so be it. We can't let you even think about doing this, especially you doing it yourself. Too many chemicals involved for your lungs. You'd be gone before the first day was over. Just stop it, you hear?