The bathtub is a place in which you clean yourself; and no one enjoys bathing in a tub that is dirty, cracked, stained or even just outdated. When considering remodeling your bathtub, there are several ways to approach it: you could either replace the entire tub, resurface it with liners, or re-glaze it to make it look like new. And as these options vary greatly from one another, I will discuss each briefly. When it is time to make changes to your bathtub, you can make a better decision that fits with the situation you are in.

Replacing your Tub
Replacing you tub is the most complete way of bath remodeling. When done correctly, it will last the longest, and you will not need to worry about problems afterward such as leakage due to cracks/holes. However, it requires the most work. The project will take weeks to complete and it will cost you the greatest amount of money as you would be required to purchase a new tub, as well as flooring and bathtub surroundings if they are damaged during the removal of the old tub.

Reglazing
Also called re-enameling, this is a process where cracks or chips are first filled in and covered up, and then the surface is re-glazed to a strong and shiny finish that looks as good as new. This process may also be called refinishing, and will cost the least, and take the least amount of time overall. However, the drawback is that the renewed look will last the shortest compared with other options. Also, there are health concerns coming from the immediate use of the bathroom after it has been re-glazed the chemicals are harmful to humans' respiratory system.

Acrylic Tub Liners
This process is basically fitting a new bathtub liner on top of the existing tub. With this option, there is no need to tear out the old tub and buy an entirely new tub. It costs less and is faster than replacing the tub, and will last longer than the reglazing method. Also, although the overall time for renovation will take longer than when reglazing (because additional time is required to fabricate the liner), the liner is usually made off-site and thus on-site work is brief and does not disrupt your routine.

Simply put, bath resurfacing has some of the benefits of both replacing and refinishing, in terms of time, cost and durability. The only drawbacks of this method appear when fabrication or installation is not done by a professional, as an improperly fitting bathtub liner may cause cracks and develop holes, which may ultimately lead to standing water and consequently mold issues. Thus, it is highly recommended that professionals are the ones working on the project when choosing this option.