Tub reglazing vs. lining

[DrRod]

Greetings,

Just bought another place and the tub is rather yucky. Several people has suggested reglazing or putting on a custom molded vinyl liner. Reglazing is $350, the liner is $850. Anyone have any experience with these options or even just an opinion? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[2nstonge]

If it's just 'yucky' & you have someone reputable doing the re-glazing it should come out fine. If the 'yuck' includes rust spots or rusting around the drain hole or other fixtures that go thru the porcelain then I'd probably go for lining it. From what I've seen the rust is never entirely abated and it comes back to haunt you in the not too distant future.

Good luck, -Norm

 

[DrRod]

Thanks for the thought. Since posting this I took a look at some websites and found that bathtubs start at about $250. Even with a slight upgrade -- say a $350 tub -- and two man-days of install labor I should come out at or below $850. Makes me wonder why the liner makes any sense.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have never had any luck with "Re-glazed" tubs...they look great for a while until the glaze starts coming off...usually around the drain.

About 10 years ago, we began replacing bad tubs with Kohler Cast Iron...and it has proved to be money well spent. The only downside is the weight and moving it into position.

 

[2nstonge]

Must have to do with labor rates in our area - pretty pricey up here, lots of 2nd homes, etc. A re-lining guy wanted $2500 to do a tub and shower surround for one of my customers (less than 2 days work). The plumber (the 4th one they called, the only one that actually called back) wanted almost twice that to replace the tub & use a corian-type material on the wall. They went the liner route.

-Norm

 

[rozett]

I had a neighbor reglaze their tub and they were very pleased with the result... even a couple of years later. The thing that worrries me about the liners is mold. How do they prevent mold from growing between the old tub and the liner?

 

[dfeck]

I just had a fiberglass tub/shower combo reglazed due to a crack on the bottom of the tub. The cost to fix the crack and re-graze the entire combo unit was $425. The crack wasn't leaking but I was worried it may in the future and damage the ceiling below. I also looked at replacing the whole tub/shower unit but I figured the cost to replace the tub and new surround would be a min. of $800. The tub looks great and the only issue will be how long it last.