Bathtub Repair

Bathtub repair costs can vary widely based on the severity of the damage, the materials used, and where you live. For average repairs—like fixing a few cracks or chips—you might spend anywhere from $100 to $500. But if your bathtub needs refinishing or reglazing, you should budget between $300 and $1,000. Again, these are just ballpark figures. Bathtub repair costs can skew way higher if the situation calls for it and might also be lower if it doesn't. Getting multiple quotes from bathtub repair professionals is the best way to get a sense of what your situation will cost.

It is usually less expensive to resurface a bathtub than to replace it. When resurfacing, a new coating or finish is applied to the old tub. This is cheaper than taking out the old tub and putting in a new one. It also requires less labor and time, which makes it an overall cheaper way to get the tub looking good again.

Certainly! A bathtub can be made whole again. If there are cracks, chips, or unsightly stains, those are not insurmountable problems. Even if they seem like it, the bathtub can still be saved. The cost of repair depends on the type of damage, you see. If your tub is really, really damaged, you could be looking at a cost comparable to what could be a new tub, frankly, if you went that route. They're pretty much the same cost when you think about it. Hearing about the cost might when you just want a bath might make you want to skip it and use the shower instead.

On average, it costs about $300 to $600 to resurface a bathtub. Yet, this price can fluctuate based on several factors, including your geographic location, the current condition of your tub, and the materials that are needed to complete the job.

Bathtub longevity typically hinges on the materials used and the level of maintenance they receive, but most baths will serve well for 10 to 30 years. Those made of porcelain on steel and cast iron tend to last much longer, with an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years, and fiberglass bathtubs have the shortest lifespan of the common tub materials, around 10 to 15 years. Keeping the tub clean and making repairs when they're needed—as opposed to putting them off—will obviously help a tub live up to its average lifespan and maybe exceed it.

Bathtub crack repairs can be done by plumbers, but the success of such endeavors often hinges on the specific type and extent of the bathtub crack. If you have a minor, even unsightly, crack in your bathtub, it could well be that a plumber can repair it for you. However, if the damage runs deeper and is more serious, and we're talking about a structural problem, you may well need to call in a specialist for a bathtub repair or replacement job.

Replacing a bathtub can take a professional anywhere from one to three days, on average. Several elements factor into this range. First is the "bathtub complexity," or how challenging the specific tub is to remove and replace. If your job requires new plumbing or extensive tiling work, it may bump up the timeline. Another element is the tub style you've chosen to install. If you're going with a standard alcove model, it should go in fairly quickly after the old one is out. If you're opting for a freestanding model or a sunken tub, extra time may be needed for framing and reinforcement.

Due to their durable construction and resistance to chipping, scratching, and denting, cast iron bathtubs are known to last the longest among tub types.

Indeed, substituting a bathtub can be a daunting task because of its size and heft, as well as the involved plumbing. It frequently calls for the know-how of at least one professional to install the unit properly and to ensure that no collateral damage occurs to the areas adjacent to the tub.

The difficulty of bathtub refinishing can range from easy to hard, or even very hard, depending on your skills and the techniques you use. Most people don't do it often enough to be any good at it. Refinishing a bathtub requires preparation like cleaning and sanding, applying multiple coats of refinishing product, and permitting adequate drying time. When I tackled that project, it took me a week from prep to finish. Whether that makes me slow or speaks to the process's intensity, I'm not sure. But I do know that my satisfied wife, who was once a very unhappy bathtub owner, was worth the effort.