Acrylic Bathtub Liners Vs Bathtub Refinishing

Posted on Friday, January 6th, 2012

There are three ways to renovate a bathtub: refinishing, installing an acrylic bathtub liner, and replacing the tub altogether. Replacement is a more expensive solution that can take more than a day but liners and refinishing are done within a day and much more affordable.

Bathtub liners are an acrylic covering that can be installed over an existing bathtub. Once installed, they make your bathtub look brand new. Refinishing a tub applies a layer of paint for even cheaper, but there are some serious drawbacks. While a liner system may be more expensive initially, its the better value.

The Drawbacks of Tub Restoration

Refinishing a bathtub doesn’t perform as well as you might imagine. Reglazing a tub used to be really popular but the party is over. In 1978, the EPA stopped allowing the use of lead in paints and glazes – which was a good call. Lead was the key ingredient in the durability of paints and glazes and was great in this type of application. But eventually, it would began to chip or flake which posed health risks to children. Since paints can no longer contain lead, refinishing a bathtub isn’t a good option.

Comfort

A major advantage of acrylic tubs is that they are more comfortable to bathe in. The material is warm to the touch and retains heat longer. If you take long baths, you will notice a major difference in how long your water stays warm. Repainting a tub does not provide this same advantage.

Cleaning

A liner is much easier to clean than a painted surface. Acrylic is non-porous like glass so it cleans up easily. Most household cleaners will be able to clean your tub and you won’t have to worry about wear. Paint eventually breaks down, becomes porous and stains. You can have a clean tub that looks dingy with paint even when it is clean.

Bathroom Remodeling

Quality companies that provide liners, like Dixie HomeCrafters, also provide a full line of plumbing services for your bathroom. If you want to update the entire look of a bathroom, you can us remodel it for you.

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