Bathtubs are easily one of the longest-lasting items in any home. Unlike many fixtures, a tub can last for twenty-five years or longer. The long life of a bathtub can make it especially disheartening to discover chips, cracks, or other surface problems. Since your tub will be a part of your bathroom for years to come, it can feel like you will be stuck living with these imperfections for quite some time.
Luckily, this is rarely the case. Although repairing a bathtub is not necessarily an easy do-it-yourself job, an onsite surface repair specialist can usually help to resolve most problems. Here are just three examples of bathtub surface damage that can be repaired either by your own methods or with the help of a professional.
1. Peeling Finish
The outer finish on your bathtub keeps it looking clean and attractive, but it's usually the first victim of wear and tear. Peeling tub finish often begins as a relatively localized problem, but it can quickly spread. In most cases, the finish will start to peel near an existing crack or chip, or in another compromised surface area. Running water usually exacerbates the problem, causing more peeling to occur.
When it comes to peels, there are usually two solutions: spot repairs or reglazing. Reglazing may be the only option if the problem is severe, but small sections of peeling finish are good candidates for spot repair. Kits are available to sand down the damaged section and apply a new finish, but a perfect surface repair usually requires a professional.
2. Chips
Peeling finish is an advanced form of damage, but it usually starts with something more acute: a chip. Tub chips typically occur from hard impacts, such as heavy objects dropped into the tub. If left unaddressed, water may pool in and around the chip, causing more of the tub's glazing to wear off over time.
In most cases, surface repair professionals will use epoxy to fix relatively minor chips. Epoxying a damaged section of your tub serves two purposes: it covers up the unsightly chip, and it seals it against further water damage. Although applying epoxy may look easy, achieving a perfectly smooth finish by sanding down the repair requires care and expertise.
3. Cracks
By far the most severe form of damage, crack repairs are still often possible. When a fiberglass tub cracks, it is crucial to stop using the tub immediately. A professional can evaluate the structure of the tub to determine if a repair is possible. For cracks that do not affect the structure of the tub, epoxy repairs are the most common solution.
For most serious cracks, professionals use reinforcement kits to restore the strength of the tub's overall structure. Repairs of this type will prevent the break from spreading and ensure that your tub remains safe to use for many years to come.