Bathtubs: Refinish or Replace?

bathtub finish or replace

At times, you may want to pull out your old bathtub and replace it with a new one. Here’s what you should consider before you make the purchase.

Why Are Bathtubs Relatively Inexpensive?

When you think about getting a basic bathtub, you might find that it is quite a bit less expensive than you expect. Prefabricated bathtubs, assuming that the space for your bathtub is a common size, are pretty easy to find. The issue lies in the installation. Sometimes, your plumber basically has to hack out the current bathtub, particularly if it is surrounded by hundreds or thousands of small tiles. The bathtub itself might be only a few hundred dollars, but installing a new bathtub is often much more expensive for this reason.

What Is the Condition of the Plumbing?

This situation might make you think that just refinishing your current bathtub is usually the way to go. And it might be, depending on the condition of your plumbing. A lot of your home’s plumbing is not particularly easy to access, and might require some digging around in your home or yard. If there is a leaking pipe or old, faulty pipework behind your bathtub, it might make sense to replace the bathtub at the same time that you get the plumbing repaired. That way, your Sacramento plumbing expert can easily reach the plumbing around the bathtub, after the old unit has been removed.

Is Your Bathtub in Good Repair?

In some cases, your bathtub is in good condition, and you just do not particularly like the look of it. The finish on a bathtub can degrade over time, chipping, cracking or flaking off into your bathwater. If the structure itself is fine and you like the size and shape of the bathtub, you might save some money by simply refinishing the bathtub instead of paying for the purchase and installation of a new one. Just make sure that you find a reputable company to do the refinishing, because a poor installation of a new finish can quickly create some of the same problems you face with an old finish.

What Is Your Budget?

Ask yourself what you want out of your fixtures in the bathroom, and how much you are willing to pay to change it. You might be envisioning turning your boring master bathroom into a spa haven that is an absolute delight to spend hours within. In this case, you may want to completely redesign the placement of the bathtub and get a new one in the process. But if your budget is fairly limited, and you hope to limit the revision of the bathroom to hundreds of dollars, you might be better off paying to refinish the bathtub and save that money for new faucets.

Making the decision to refinish or replace your bathtub depends on a firm discussion of your overall plumbing, your budget and your plans. By answering these questions and getting professional plumbing installation from Ace Plumbing, you truly can get the bathroom of your dreams.