If you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, one of the best ways to make your home more appealing to potential buyers and get a great return on investment is by fixing up your bathroom. Research has shown that you don’t have to completely remodel your bathroom to impress a potential buyer. The bathtub is a major component of any bathroom, but having your existing tub removed and replaced with a new one isn’t always an affordable option. But if you have a tub that’s worn and damaged, there are affordable ways to fix it.
One very budget-friendly way to fix up your bathroom is by having your bathtub refinished. Also referred to as bathtub reglazing, this process involves completely removing the existing finish from the tub, filling in any scratches or dents, and refinishing the tub with a new paint. Not only does this help get rid of unsightly scratches and dents and make the tub look brand new again, you can even change the color of your bathtub if you like. It’s also very affordable, typically costing just a few hundred dollars on average. The biggest downsides to refinishing a bathtub is that it’s the type of job best left to a professional and you need to be careful not to use abrasive cleaners on it, since they can damage the surface.
Bathtub liners are more expensive than bathtub refinishing, but are still less expensive than completely replacing your tub. Instead of removing the finish of the existing tub, a technician comes out to your home to take exact measurements of your bathtub. The manufacturer then makes a custom acrylic liner based on the specifications of your tub and once the liner is ready to go, it’s simply installed over your existing tub. If your walls could also use some help, the company that makes your bathtub liner can also create a treatment system for your walls, too. Although refinished bathtubs can be damaged by abrasive cleansers, it’s fine to use them on bathtub liners. However, bathtub liners can only be placed over tubs made of some type of metal like iron or steel, not acrylic tubs.
Regardless if you choose bathtub refinishing or a bathtub liner, you have a great way to completely change the look of your bathroom. Just be aware that both of these options are purely cosmetic fixes. If there’s a larger issue with your bathtub, like cracks or problems with water, you’ll either need to fix those problems or, depending on the issue, completely replace the bathtub.
