Acrylic Liners vs. Bathtub Reglazing
Bathroom renovation can be an expensive venture if a complete tear-out necessitates the purchase and installation of new tile and fittings. Your bathroom may be out of commission for a week to 10 days while renovation is in progress. Quicker, more cost-effective options for updating your bathroom include either reglazing your existing bathtub and tile or installing an acrylic bathtub liner and tub surround. Either process will transform the look of your bathroom in just one day and the tub will be ready for use the next evening. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Reglazing Process
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Reglazing is a viable option for worn, discolored tubs or bathtubs requiring a color update. A delaminating solution cleans the surface of the tub and removes any remaining porcelain glaze. The delaminating material is washed away and a primer coat containing a bonding agent is applied. The tub surface is thoroughly cleaned using a tack cloth. Several applications of a finish coat are applied followed by a final coating of glaze. The bathtub is polished and left to cure for approximately 10 hours before use.
Acrylic Liner Installation
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If you go the acrylic liner route, a local installer sends photos and exact measurements of an existing bathtub and surround to a liner manufacturer. The factory vacuum-forms a sheet of 1/4 inch acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, acrylic to create an exact mold. The installer returns to prepare the area for installation. The existing surface is cleaned with denatured alcohol, and the old drain and overflow are removed. The liner is placed over the old tub and tile and attached with double-sided butyl tape and silicone adhesive. A new drain and overflow are installed and all seams are caulked. The installation process typically takes six to eight hours.
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Cost Comparison
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Reglazing initially costs less than installing an acrylic liner but may last only half as long with normal use and careful maintenance. A reglazing project may cost approximately $500 and last 10 years. The same area covered with a liner will cost approximately $1,000 but last for 20 years. Reglazing involves the use of potentially harmful solvents, while the relining process is completed with relatively benign adhesives. Both methods are completed in approximately one day.
Where Certain Products Should Be Used
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Severely damaged tubs may be too worn to reglaze economically. In these cases, relining may be your only option. Claw-foot or other stand-alone bathtubs do not lend themselves to relining as there is no under-support for the thinly-structured acrylic liners. Fiberglass tubs must be reglazed, as manufacturers do not produce liners to cover fiberglass. If your existing bathroom tub surround has chipped or cracked tile, an integrated wall reliner is an economical fix to improve the appearance of the entire area.
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References
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