What refinishing does to
a tub.
We prep the existing surface, repair chips and rust, and apply a bonded acrylic coating. Stains, worn porcelain, and an outdated color go away. The tub stays in the same place. No plumber, no tile demo, no dumpster. Light use in 4-6 hours; regular use in 24 hours. Details and ranges live on bathtub refinishing.
Victorian and Edwardian flats in San Francisco, 1950s ranches in Santa Clara, and condos where HOA rules make a tear-out miserable are the jobs this was built for.
When refinishing is
enough.
The tub holds water. The floor is firm. You hate the color, the chips, or the rust stain at the drain. Cast iron is the easiest substrate we work - original porcelain can look finished after one day. Acrylic tubs can be refinished too when they are still rigid.
Tile walls can be coated in the same visit when you want the surround to match. That is still not a tile-only trade; it is part of the bathroom refinish. Shower pans follow the same logic as tubs: sound pan, tired surface.
When you should replace
the tub.
The waste-and-overflow is leaking in the wall or the floor. The subfloor is soft. The tub flexes when you stand in it. You want a walk-in shower in that footprint. Refinishing will not fix plumbing you cannot see, and it will not change the shape of the bath.
If a plumber already opened the floor, finish that work first. Then decide whether the remaining tub is worth coating. We will not refinish over an active leak.
Cost and downtime
compared.
A typical tub-only refinish is $500-$850. Tub plus tile walls is $850-$1,100. A full bathroom project band on the homepage is $500-$2,500 depending on scope. Replacement means demo, a new unit, possibly tile, possibly a plumber - and days to weeks of a closed bathroom. For rentals, same-day refinishing between tenants is the usual play.
Kitchen cabinets are a different decision: see refinish vs replace kitchen cabinets.
