The Health Benefits of Bathtub Refinishing

Your bathtub is more than just a container that holds your bathwater. It’s also a place where you can relax and reflect after a long day at work. Because of this, you need to ensure it’s always in good condition. After all, who wants to unwind in a chipped, dirty, or stained tub?

And if you’re thinking of giving your old enameled cast iron tub a makeover, you should consider cast iron bathtub refinishing.

Bathtub refinishing or reglazing is suitable for all types of tubs. This process involves adding a brand new finish to your chipped or stained bathtub, such that it looks as good as new.

Many homeowners prefer bathtub reglazing since it’s cheaper than replacement. But what most professionals often forget to mention is that bathtub refinishing also has some health benefits.

So, here are four health benefits of bathtub refinishing.

1. No More Allergies

Your old bathtub may have mildew or mold stains that can cause allergies to people with sensitive skin. Too much scrubbing of a dirty tub can also expose chemicals that can cause skin sensitivity to some people.

Reglazing your tub will give it a clean look that does away with all the allergies and sensitivity issues caused by a stained tub. Besides, refinishing will also improve your bathroom’s air quality as it will remove molds and fungi attempting to grow in the tub’s grout.

2. Protects Against Lead from Old Bathtubs

Most tubs manufactured in the 1980s have unsafe lead levels. Exposure to even small amounts of lead is unhealthy for you and your children.

Lead poisoning negatively affects a child’s central nervous system development causing learning disabilities, muscle pains, and hyperactivity. Unfortunately, any damage to your child’s development due to lead poisoning is irreversible.

If your tub tests positive for lead, you don’t have to replace it. Refurnishing it is an acceptable option that will save you lots of money.

3. No Unhealthy Fumes

Bathtub refinishing when done by a professional eliminates the health issues often associated with fumes from reglazing chemicals. Such health issues often occur when homeowners take up their tub refinishing as a DIY project.

Professional bathtub refinishers understand all the chemicals used during the reglazing process. This allows them to plan and prepare your bathroom well to ensure dust and fumes from the refinishing process don’t spread to other parts of your home.

Some of the precautions professionals take include:
·         Covering the room with sheeting and heavy-duty plastic to contain the dust and fumes.
·         Using a fan or exhaust system to ventilate and contain the refinishing odor.
·         Using the sanding method rather than chemicals to remove the old finish from your tub.
·         Using the most efficient coating compounds to minimize health risks for the homeowners.

4. Less Noisy

Your bathtub was probably installed in your home during its initial construction. This may mean that the trimming and plumbing in your bathroom are built around your bathtub.

If you choose to replace your old tub rather than refinishing it, you will need to remove the bathtub surrounding and plumbing.  If the tub is too big, it may also need to be cut to pieces to fit through the bathroom door.

Undoubtedly, ripping out an old tub is messy and noisy. This noisy repair can go on for weeks as tub replacement isn’t a one day process.  If you have kids or a toddler who cannot withstand the noise, you may need to move until the repair is complete.

On the other hand, reglazing involves sanding down the old coat of paint, repairing any holes, and applying several layers of the refinishing coating. This process takes a day when done by a professional, and you can use the tub within two to four days. Refinishing is also less noisy and messy compared to replacement.

If you’re thinking of giving your chipped tub a new look, consider reglazing it. Bathtub refinishing is not only a cost-effective solution for a dirty, chipped, or old tub, but it also comes with some health benefits as outlined above.