TUB REDUB

Reglazing, relining or replacing are options to improve your washroom.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
VOCADO GREEN, FLAMINGO pink and sunset gold -- these were the signature colors of the 1970s.
Although these shades of the rainbow were hip back when Sonny and Cher ruled the radio waves, they're hopelessly outdated in a 21st-century home.
Especially in the bathroom.
So what should homeowners do if their sink, bathtub and toilet scream avocado green?
Joe Tomak, of Perma Glaze Bathtub Refinishing in Boardman, suggests changing colors by reglazing or relining old bathroom fixtures.
"While it's usually cheaper and more practical to just replace a sink or toilet, reglazing or relining a bathtub is often a simpler and less costly alternative to buying a new bathtub and having it installed," Tomak said.
The reglazing process
Sanding and etching are the first steps in reglazing.
"The surface needs to be roughed up so the new glaze will stick, Tomak said.
After the bathtub has been sanded and etched, it must be thoroughly cleaned with three chemicals.
"If soap scum, shampoo and body oils are not completely removed from the old surface of the bathtub, the new glaze will not adhere properly," Tomak said.
After the bathtub has been sanded and cleaned, Tomak applies a synthetic porcelain glaze.
Tomak doesn't need to remove the bathtub from the home during any of these steps.
"In the old days when porcelain glazes were applied, tubs were heated red hot, and the porcelain was sprayed on, and the tub was instantly ready. Since we can't heat up the bathtub in your house to a red-hot temperature without starting a fire, the reglazing process we use takes longer to dry. I can complete the process in a day, but it will be two days before the tub will be ready for use," Tomak explained.
Tomak can reglaze any type of bathtub.
"There are basically three types of bathtubs: cast iron, steel and fiberglass," Tomak said.
All old-fashioned, claw-foot bathtubs are cast iron, and during the 1930s and 1940s, cast iron was also used to make many bathtubs without claw feet.
During the late 1930s, steel became the material of choice for bathtubs, and this trend lasted into the 1970s.
Most bathtubs manufactured after the mid-1970s were made of fiberglass or acrylic.
White ruled as the color of choice until about 1960 and beyond when greens, golds, pinks and blues became the rage.
Of course, reglazing works well not only for bathtubs of hideous colors. It's also ideal for tubs with cracked or pitted surfaces.
"Abrasive cleansers and cleaning agents can cause damage to the surfaces of old bathtubs," Tomak said. "What happens is that the white starts to wear off, and the cast iron or steel that's underneath starts to show through."
Since cast iron is black and steel is gray, the results are unsightly.
"Reglazing will create a surface that's smooth and white once again," Tomak said.
Tomak said homeowners will pay about $260 to $300 to have an old bathtub reglazed.
Tomak gives a five-year warranty on the new glaze but said customers can expect the glaze to last much longer.
"I've seen tubs that are still looking great 15 years later," he said. "The lifetime of the glaze depends greatly on how the tub is cared for. Don't use abrasive cleaners on the glaze."
The relining process
Having a bathtub reglazed costs less than having it relined, but a new bathtub liner will last a lifetime.
"I always tell people that reglazing is good, but relining is better, and having a tub replaced is best. Of course, you have to consider that the cost does go up with each option," said Tomak, who also installs new liners.
John Kovac, of Re-Bath in Boardman, said a bathtub must be constructed of steel or cast iron for it to support a new liner.
"We won't cover a fiberglass tub with a new liner because it just isn't strong enough to handle the weight," Kovac said.
The relining process can take about eight to 10 weeks.
The liners are made of acrylic and won't chip, crack, peel or stain, Kovac said.
When the new liner is ready, it is installed over the old tub.
"The tub does not have to be torn out during installation. It takes about four hours to install a new liner, and the tub is immediately ready for use," Kovac said.
New liners cost about $895, including labor.
"While a new tub can be purchased for about $800, the cost of tearing out an old tub and installing a new tub causes the price to jump up to about $1,500 to $2,000, so relining a tub is still a less expensive option," Kovac said.
Liners come in a variety of colors including white, gray and bisque, but despite their color, acrylic liners won't stand up to abrasive cleansers.
"You should use only liquid or gel cleaners," Kovac said.
Toilets and sinks
Tomak doesn't recommend reglazing old toilets and sinks.
"The cost of reglazing an old toilet or sink is about the same as buying a new one," he said.
It's also impractical to reglaze a toilet because the water sits constantly in the bowl, and this isn't good for the glaze.
"It will shorten the lifetime of the glaze," Tomak said.
Harsh toilet cleaners and wire toilet brushes also create problems.
"Toilet cleaners will eat away at the glaze, and toilet brushes will scratch it," Tomak said.
Although Tomak discourages people from having their old toilets reglazed, there is one situation in which he recommends it.
"Some people have old, wall-mounted toilets in their homes. These can be expensive to replace -- about $900 -- so in this case, it might be worth having the toilet reglazed since the cost will be much cheaper -- about $300," Tomak explained.