You've heard of a bathroom remodel, but what about a bathtub remodel? Replacing a bathtub can easily cost three to five thousand dollars if you have a contractor do it. If you purchase the tub and do it yourself, you can save a lot of money. But sometimes, especially in older homes, the logistics of removing the old tub and getting the new one in are prohibitive. Some homes even require that a bathtub be cut in two before it can be removed. If you want a new bathtub, but don't want to go through the hassle or expense of replacement, consider a bathtub remodel.

You have two options in a bathtub remodel. You can have the bathtub reglazed or you can opt for a bathtub liner. Reglazing involves the use of equipment and chemicals to smooth down the surface of the tub before it's reglazed. This eliminates the long amount of time it can take to have a bathtub replaced, so it's convenient. The average cost is around $500 to $600, so it's far less expensive than a bathtub replacement.

While some people do attempt to resurface their bathtubs, it's difficult to get a professional, long-lasting result, so an expert is really necessary if you don't want to have problems with the surface down the road. The chemical smell can last a little while, so that's also something to consider.

The other option in your bathtub remodel is a bathtub liner. This is a custom-made acrylic or PVC liner that goes over the bathtub. This, like reglazing, is convenient because you don't have to turn off the water to remove the bathtub. Your water can stay on as only the knobs need to be removed while the liner's being installed. Also like reglazing, this can be easily done in a single day.

A custom-made bathtub liner will cost more than reglazing, usually anywhere from about $700 to $1000. It can be twice that if you have a bathtub surround custom made and installed at the same time. Your bathtub will be measured and two or three weeks later they'll return to install the liner.

You could opt to save money and install a liner on your own. Standard bathtub liners are available at most DIY and home centers. A custom made liner will fit your bathtub perfectly, where a standard liner can't possibly fit exactly. This can lead to creaking and popping noises when you use the bathtub and other annoyances. A custom fit liner, however, will come with a guarantee from the professionals.

Since the liner used in a bathtub remodel is PVC or acrylic, it can stand up to a great deal of use and resist scratching and other problems. And the liners are available in a multitude of colors. You can make your entire bathroom look different just by choosing a new color for your bathtub. With a bathtub remodel and a few other small touches, you can make it look like your entire bathroom has been remodeled, but without the heavy price tag.

Photo Credits: Miss Shari

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Bathroom, Bathtub, Handy Man, remodel

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amount of time, bathroom remodel, bathtub liner, bathtubs, chemicals, hassle, insta, knobs, logistics, money, pvc liner, reglazing, replacing a bathtub, single day, thousand dollars