Bathroom renovations question

Z28Canuck · 03-01-07, 08:06 AM

With the way things happen to me no doubt this will eventually end up in the Comedy section under the true stories after the job is all done.

We are about to renovate our bathroom. The Tub surround on the wall is a one piece that still looks like new (about 20 years old surprisingly) so we would like to keep it of course and try to re-finish or change the bathtub which is also in excellent shape but it's a green colour (From the 50's). We got the guy in to estimate one of those bathtub liners which only comes in a couple of colours.

Well! The liner on it's own and using our exisitng Moen taps ... it's about $900 installed BUT they cannot fit the liner in without ripping out and destroying the tub surround which will be another $1500 installed .... total about $2500. Now for that I think I'd rip it all out and put in a tub with jets etc for $2000 - 3000. But my brother-in-law mentioned that many tubs are installed in new homes before the walls are all finished so we might have to cut up the old heavy one to get it out and might have trouble getting a new one down the hall and into the bathroom!. Hmmmmmm!

So now we are considering the people who come in and coat your tub (Re-finish) but I've heard it doesn't last or hold up for very long and people do it when they sell etc for "Quick fix". This would save a lot of work and big $$$.

Has any of you ever had this done or know of someone who had this done? How it turned out? Did it hold up to daily use etc? My gut tells me it probably doesn't last as it's not baked but nowadays there are some amazing epoxy products out there. I don't want to do this and get a new sink unit , toilet etc and redo all the bathroom to be a year down the road and have to ripout the tub or replace the surround and line the tub after the bathroom was finished. Your comments would really be appreciated and no now that Bob has moved away I can't just go over and use his instead, I already thought of that!

arcticvette · 03-01-07, 08:38 AM

don't know about the re-finishing but you can get a 3 piece tub that either clamps or bolts together to look like a 1 piece tub(walls and lid). you can get these jetted will fit in place of old tub and should fit down your hall provided there aren't any real tight turns. your old tub is likely steel enamel and won't be that heavy and should come out without much problem(remember to disconect the drain before pulling it out). would also recomend that you install new taps while at it and have everything open. changing them later would mean opening up a wall and trying to find taps that match the existing holes in tub or tub surround. hope this helps Mike

Ezmunie · 03-01-07, 09:09 AM

Doug, my son had their bathtub refinished about 3 or 4 years ago and it is holding up well. I don't know the name of the product that was used, but it was some type of epoxy stuff. Like any re-finishing work, whether it be painting Corvettes, houses, bathtubs, furniture, etc., the key is in the preparation.

Z28Canuck · 03-01-07, 12:50 PM

Thank you very much for responding so fast. I really don't want to replace the tub if I can help it of course and the existing tub surround is a 1 pc which was "State of the art" 20 yrs ago ,(Cost us almost $1000 back then with the Moen hardware), and still looks like new, that's why we are trying to keep it. The Moen shower unit has a pressure drop thing in it so you don't get any fluctuation in the shower pressure if someone flushes a toilet or turns on the tap etc. (Works perfectly too and is expensive to replace it unnessessarily). This all comes about because we want to repaint, get a new toilet and sink and sink vanity and medicine /mirror cabinet. Amazing how these things can run away on your budget so easily. I'll let you know what happens and I'll be checking out Home depot for the rest of the stuff so I'll check out and see if they have the units you spoke of at the same time.

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond and believe me I really do value your input on this it is helping with us looking at various options at this time and considering which way we go. Thanks for the drain reminder and the controller that lifts the plug up and down is also attached to the tub (50 yr old design!). I think this might have the potential for the "True stories" if I'm not careful eh?

Thanks again and please take care
Cheers

Doug

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticvette

don't know about the re-finishing but you can get a 3 piece tub that either clamps or bolts together to look like a 1 piece tub(walls and lid). you can get these jetted will fit in place of old tub and should fit down your hall provided there aren't any real tight turns. your old tub is likely steel enamel and won't be that heavy and should come out without much problem(remember to disconect the drain before pulling it out). would also recomend that you install new taps while at it and have everything open. changing them later would mean opening up a wall and trying to find taps that match the existing holes in tub or tub surround. hope this helps Mike

Z28Canuck · 03-01-07, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezmunie

Doug, my son had their bathtub refinished about 3 or 4 years ago and it is holding up well. I don't know the name of the product that was used, but it was some type of epoxy stuff. Like any re-finishing work, whether it be painting Corvettes, houses, bathtubs, furniture, etc., the key is in the preparation.

As we spoke earlier I really do appreciate your comments on this also. We are trying to decide but all options are open so I will be trying to get a quote from the people who do this professionally rather than the Do it yourself version that I would do! We shall see though. I will let you and Mike know what we finally decide but I have to do something very soon .

On the epoxy topic: Funny though, when we were in H.D. last week we were looking at an epoxy that can be used on your cement floors in the basement or a cement garage floor and it looked pretty good, big difference from the stuff my Dad painted his cement floor in the house with years ago (Peels consistantly). Preperation is a very big part of these applications for sure!

Thanks for taking the time to respond to the post and the PM, you guys don't know how much I do appreciate your input and any experience you have with this stuff.
Thanks and cheers

Doug

ROCKETBLOCK · 03-01-07, 02:19 PM

We had two bathrooms in our home renovated and added 1 new bathroom on basement level. The first thing I learned is they cost $$$. I got writer's cramps from signing all the checks!

We used a 3 pc tub/shower upstairs and it worked fine. There was no way a 1 pc tub was going in or out of there. They busted the existing tub up and hauled it out. There are some great 3 pc tubs. This might require some minor plumbing changes too.

I will only add that a bathroom is important. We use ours first thing in the morning and usually last at night. Make it the way you really want it. Spend a little money and get it right. You'll be looking at it and enjoying it every day for many years. I like new stuff. I've seen some refinishing jobs that didn't hold up. Money down the drain, if you'll pardon the pun.

What every you do, have fun doing it. All the best.

G Winter · 03-01-07, 03:16 PM

A couple yrs ago we installed a two piece fiberglass tub-showerbay in my daughters bath. The bath was 6 ft by 7 ft and we managed to get it in just fine. The elimination of vertical seams is a big plus. I don't know if you are intrested in fiberglass,they do hold up well if you buy quality.
We found the two piece at Home Depot for under $400.

Glenn

Mac · 03-01-07, 03:39 PM

I've renovated a couple of bathrooms over the years. My experiences lead me to believe it's easier and cheaper in the long run to go with new tub & surround. The new fibreglass products aren't that expensive.

-Mac

67HEAVEN · 03-01-07, 04:12 PM

Doug,

As you know, I renovated the bathroom at the old place in your neighbourhood. I also redid the main one here and am part way through the en suite as well.

So, here's the poop (no pun intended).

1) If yours is still the original tub, it's cast iron and weighs about a million pounds. I know, I dragged the old one out. These days, I'd put on some safety goggles and bust in up in place and carry out the pieces.

2) I installed a three-piece Mirolin tub/shower/surround in the new place and it was a freakin' nightmare to get it into the space where I took the original tub from. I even ended up having to move the drain, move the plumbing to the taps and moved a wall stud to get it in place.

It was NOT an easy job. In new construction.....piece of cake. Fitting it where an old tub was.......not so easy.

If I can help you, let me know. I've got a very large sledge hammer.

67HEAVEN · 03-01-07, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROCKETBLOCK

I will only add that a bathroom is important. We use ours first thing in the morning and usually last at night.

Holy crap, Rod, you must have a cast-iron prostate. I usually can't hold it that long.

Whatever you're taking, I want some.

Dirtfarmer · 03-01-07, 06:02 PM

FWIW, I'm not a big fan of the 3 piece surrounds. As stated earlier, thay can be tough to get aligned properly and look good. The other problem is if you do get it set up perfectly, it can all change over time if the house shifts or settles.

When I redo my bathrooms I'm using Cultured Marble for the shower and tub.