Bathtub refinishing is the obvious solution. Many people decide to get it replaced, but this is a major repair that costs a lot of money. It's also wasteful. Why get a new tub when all you have to do is a little work on the old one?
(1) Walk-in tubs are a necessity, not a luxury. If you are in the home you hope to stay in, a walk-in covering old bathtub (or a slide-in or transition tub) is, without question, the single most important "first step" to being able to achieve independent living.
Bathtub refinishing is a process that involves stripping the reglazing tub of its current coating (including lime, mold, and rust), blasting it down for a smooth surface, and applying a new waterproof coating. By the time you're done it's hard to believe its not a brand new tub. However, its not a do-it-yourself project; it involves the use of strong chemicals and materials that are often beyond the skill and ability for most homeowners and untrained users. You can try it, but if it goes badly we suggest having a backup professional ready to step in and take over. DIY kits are limited in their strength, durability and way they are applied.
Just as you do when you have a fine rug, you should try to keep family or guests from eating or drinking anything in the room that could cause a serious stain in the event of a spill. But even in the most careful homes, stains to a hardwood floor are inevitable. First of all, clean up the spill quickly before the substance has a chance to stain the wood itself.
Changing your cabinets can be the most expensive part of remodeling your kitchen. When I wasn't able to change my cabinets I decided to do refacing or refinishing. If your cabinets are in good condition then you can make a huge difference by refacing. It was surprisingly cheap and I changed my cabinets from a light color wood to very dark. Everyone who came to my kitchen thought I had gotten new cabinets. I did this work on my own which helped me save bath tub restoration the money on labor.
To successfully refinish your own tub, you'll need to have good handyman skills, common sense, and patience. The job requires the ability to pay attention to minute details, clean the tub extremely well, work with chemicals, and spray paint smoothly and without drips.
As the economy continues to tighten, many hotels will be looking for ways to save money on bathroom renovation. Bathtub refinishing saves up to 80% of the cost of tub replacement.