Reglazing vs. Replacing your Bathtub? Pros, Cons & Hidden Costs
Make the right decision for your bathroom—and your wallet—before you start swinging the sledgehammer
It is the classic homeowner’s dilemma. You stare at your bathtub, and it stares back at you—worn, chipped, or perhaps a shade of “harvest gold” that hasn’t been in style since the Nixon administration. You know something has to be done.
The immediate reaction is often, “Let’s rip it out and buy a new one!” But before you commit to a full-scale demolition, you need to look at the numbers. The battle between Reglazing (Refinishing) and Replacing isn’t just about the tub; it’s about the hidden costs, the construction chaos, and the final result.
Here is the honest breakdown of the Bathtub reglazing pros and cons, and the costs they don’t tell you about on the home improvement shows.
Bathtub Reglazing Pros and Cons
| Feature | Reglazing (Refinishing) | Replacing |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Low ($) | High ($) |
| Time | 1 Day | 1-2 Weeks |
| Mess | Minimal | High (Demolition dust) |
| Durability | 10-15 Years | 15+ Years |
The Option to Replace: The Iceberg Effect
Replacing a bathtub seems straightforward. You buy a tub, you put it in. However, in the construction world, the price tag on the shelf is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Pros:
Layout Changes: If you hate the location or the size of your tub (e.g., you want to switch from a standard tub to a soaking tub), replacement is your only option. Refinishing changes the surface, not the shape.
Structural Issues: If your tub is leaking from the bottom or the floor underneath is rotting, you need a full tear-out to address the sub-floor damage.
The Cons & Hidden Costs:
This is where the dream often turns into a nightmare.
The “Exploding” Budget: A $400 tub can easily turn into a $4,000 project. Why? Because bathtubs are often installed before the tile and door frames. Getting the old one out often requires cutting it into pieces.
The Domino Effect: Tearing out a tub damages the surrounding tile, the drywall, and the flooring. Now you aren’t just paying a plumber; you’re paying a tiler, a drywaller, and a painter.
Time: A replacement project renders your bathroom unusable for days, sometimes weeks, while you wait for different tradesmen to finish their part of the job.
The Option to Reglaze: The Smart Renovation
Reglazing (also known as refinishing) involves chemically bonding a new, durable finish (like the polyurethane or epoxy systems used by Duraglaze) onto your existing fixture.
The Pros:
Massive Cost Savings: Refinishing typically costs a fraction of the price of replacement—often saving you up to 75%. There are no demolition fees, no plumbing costs, and no landfill fees.
Speed: Duraglaze can typically complete a project in a single day. You aren’t hosting a construction crew for a week; you’re just hosting us for about 7-8 hours.
Versatility: Stuck with a pink, blue, or brown tub? You don’t have to live with it. We can refinish those dated colors to a brilliant, modern white, or any other color of your choosing.
Repair, Don’t Despair: If your tub has chips, scratches, or burns, we repair those imperfections before applying the new finish. The result is a smooth, glossy surface that looks brand new.
The Cons:
It’s Not a Shape-Shifter: We can make a standard tub look like a brand-new standard tub, but we can’t turn it into a Jacuzzi.
DIY Danger: “Do-it-yourself” kits sold at hardware stores often peel within months, giving reglazing a bad name. Professional refinishing by Duraglaze, however, is a completely different industrial process backed by an industry-leading written warranty.
The Verdict
Unless you are knocking down walls to expand your bathroom or the tub itself is structurally compromised, refinishing is almost always the superior choice.
It solves the aesthetic problems—the ugly color, the worn surface, the chips—without triggering the cascade of costs associated with demolition.
Why choose the headache when you can choose the easy way?
If you are ready to see how much you can save, Contact Duraglaze USA today. We’ll give you an honest quote so you can compare the real numbers for yourself.
