A dull or chipped tub in Ithaca does not need a demolition crew. It needs one technician, one day and a sprayed finish that shines.
One number reaches the technician who would hold the gun. The figure comes on the call, not after a visit.
(866) 951-0558The voice on the line belongs to the trade, not to a switchboard reading a script. Two minutes of plain description are enough to price a standard tub.
Are you tired of staring at that stained tub every single morning? Well, your worn-out wash basin can actually get a fresh new look without a messy teardown. This lets you save thousands of dollars while avoiding weeks of annoying construction noise right inside your home.
Most local homeowners think ripping out a porcelain basin is the only way forward. However, a specialized surface renewal process fixes chips, cracks, and dullness in just a single afternoon. Which means you get to enjoy a pristine bathing spot by dinnertime without dealing with contractors tearing up your bathroom walls.
Living right here in Tompkins County means dealing with older houses that have unique character. But that character often includes worn fixtures that desperately need some modern attention. By choosing our local trade service, you keep your vintage charm while upgrading your daily routine.
Before any new coating touches your tub, the crew scrubs every square inch with industrial cleaners. This removes decades of soap scum, body oils, and hard water minerals that prevent bonding. Consequently, the upcoming layers stick tightly and last for many years to come.
Next comes a careful sanding phase to roughen up the original glaze. Etching the porcelain creates microscopic grooves that lock the primer in place. Therefore, you never have to worry about peeling or bubbling down the road.
Once the prep work finishes, our technicians spray a high-grade aliphatic polyurethane coating across the entire fixture. This modern material cures into a hard, glossy shield that resists stains and scratches effortlessly. As a result, cleaning your tub on the weekend becomes a quick and painless chore.
Matching your exact bathroom aesthetic is simple because we offer multiple color tints. Whether you want classic white or an off-white almond shade, the final result looks remarkably smooth. This gives you high-end luxury without the absurd price tag of total replacement.
Budget constraints are real for families living in the 14850, 14851, 14852, and 14853 ZIP code areas. With a median household income sitting around thirty-two thousand dollars, spending ten grand on a bathroom remodel hurts. Therefore, opting for a professional surface respray preserves your hard-earned savings for other important life expenses.
Buying a brand-new tub requires paying for plumbers, tile setters, and drywall repairmen. On top of that, disposal fees for the old heavy iron or acrylic shell add up fast. Bypassing those extra labor costs lets you keep your remodeling budget completely under control.
| Option | Average Cost | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Full Replacement | Five Thousand Dollars | Two Weeks |
| Surface Respray | Five Hundred Dollars | One Day |
Looking at those numbers makes the smart choice pretty obvious. Why drain your savings account when you can achieve the exact same visual impact for a fraction of the price? This lets you invest your money into other home upgrades like kitchen cabinets or fresh flooring.
Throwing away a heavy porcelain tub sends massive amounts of non-biodegradable waste straight to local landfills. But keeping your existing basin right where it is reduces unnecessary environmental clutter. Consequently, you play a direct role in keeping our planet a little bit cleaner.
Manufacturing new bathroom fixtures burns fossil fuels and consumes vast amounts of natural water resources. Restoring your current setup demands a tiny fraction of those production energy requirements. Thus, surface revitalization stands out as a genuinely eco-friendly home improvement decision.
Sustainability matters deeply to our community here in New York. Protecting our local environment while beautifying your interior space is a win-win scenario. By choosing to restore instead of replace, you actively support green practices right in your own neighborhood.
Many folks worry that sprayed-on coatings will peel off after just a few months of daily showers. Modern bonding agents and industrial resins create a molecular grip that laughs at hot water. Because of this technological breakthrough, your refreshed basin stays intact through years of heavy family use.
Another myth suggests that the chemical smell during the application process lingers forever in your house. Professional contractors use industrial exhaust systems to pull fumes straight out of the window. This means your home stays safe and breathable while the new layers dry completely.
Some people believe that repaired chips will eventually show through the fresh glossy topcoat. Expert technicians fill those damaged spots with waterproof body filler before spraying the main color. Therefore, the repaired surface looks completely uniform and hides past damage seamlessly.
With a population hovering around thirty thousand people, word travels fast about who does good work in town. We built our local reputation on honest pricing, punctual arrival times, and immaculate cleanup. Because we live right around here too, treating your home with utmost respect is our top priority.
Every single project comes with a solid satisfaction guarantee to give you total peace of mind. If anything ever looks less than perfect, our crew comes right back to fix it. This dedication to customer care ensures you feel fully supported throughout the entire process.
Taking care of historic homes throughout Tompkins County requires a gentle and experienced hand. Our team understands the unique plumbing quirks found in older properties around the area. This lets us navigate tricky installations without causing unexpected leaks or structural headaches.
First, you need to clear out all your shampoo bottles, bath toys, and soap dishes. Removing personal items gives our technicians an open workspace to move around freely. That simple prep step speeds up the morning appointment so you get your bathroom back sooner.
Second, keep pets and small children away from the active work zone for safety reasons. Fumes and equipment hoses require a clear perimeter while the spraying takes place. Following this rule keeps everyone happy and lets the pros focus entirely on their craft.
Third, let the newly applied finish cure undisturbed for at least twenty-four hours before filling it up. Rushing this waiting period can ruin the chemical bonding process and shorten the lifespan of the coating. Patience right now guarantees a gorgeous surface that lasts for well over a decade.
Can you change the color of my avocado green tub from the nineteen-seventies? Absolutely, we spray any custom color you pick over that outdated hue. This transforms your dated bathroom into a bright, contemporary space overnight.
Will the new coating scratch easily when my dog takes a bath on Sunday? The cured polyurethane stands up well to normal paws and scrubbing tools. However, you should always avoid abrasive scouring pads to keep that glossy shine looking brand new.
How long can I expect this freshly sprayed surface to last with daily use? With proper maintenance and gentle cleaning products, your renewed basin easily hits twelve to fifteen years of service. That longevity rivals the lifespan of a brand-new factory-made tub.
Stop hiding your embarrassing tub behind a dirty shower curtain every time guests come over. You deserve a sparkling clean washing area that makes your morning routine feel like a spa retreat. Reach out right now to claim your completely free quote and start your bathroom transformation.
Getting an estimate costs you absolutely nothing and takes just a few minutes of your time. Our friendly local team will evaluate your worn basin and explain all available options clearly. Give us a call or send a message today to schedule your no-obligation consultation right here in Ithaca.
Three quiet stages carry the whole result. They are also the ones nobody sees in the after photo.
Stage 1 of 3
A reglaze fails or lasts on what happens before the gun comes out. The old surface gets scrubbed of soap film and silicone, etched or primed so the new material has something to grip, then wet sanded until it feels like fine paper. Skip any of that and the prettiest coat in the world lets go within a year, which is exactly the story most peeling tubs tell us.
Stage 2 of 3
Chips, rust blooms and worn drain rings are ground back to sound material and rebuilt with polyester filler, then sanded flush until a fingertip cannot find the spot. Coating over damage only photographs well on day one; a repair you cannot feel is what keeps the finish honest for years.
Stage 3 of 3
The topcoat goes on in fine sprayed passes with an extractor pulling air out the window the whole time. Sprayed layers flow together into one even skin, which is why the result reads as gloss rather than as paint. Brushes and rollers leave the texture that gives cheap refinishing its reputation.
Three real ways out of a worn tub. We only do the first one, so the other two columns are simply what we would tell a friend.
| The question | Reglazing in place | Acrylic liner | Full replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| What a standard tub costs | $350 to $800 | $1,600 to $4,000 | $3,000 to $10,000 once walls and plumbing join in |
| Bathroom out of action | One day, then the cure | Weeks of lead time, then a fitting day | One to two weeks of trades |
| Demolition involved | None at all | None, but the old tub is sealed inside | Walls opened, floor patched, debris hauled |
| Honest life expectancy | Five years and up when cared for | Long, unless water creeps between the shells | Decades |
| Watch out for | Prep shortcuts by cut-rate crews | A spongy feel and hidden moisture | The budget doubling mid-project |
If your tub is cracked through, actively leaking underneath, or you simply want a different fixture, reglazing is the wrong tool, a verdict you will hear on the very first call.
Pass 1
Soap scum, silicone and old wax stripped, then the surface etched or bonded so the coating can bite.
Pass 2
Every ding ground out, filled and sanded flush. The repairs disappear under the coating instead of through it.
Pass 3
Tile, faucet, floor and glass papered off. Overspray lands on masking paper, never on grout or chrome.
Pass 4
Primer, then gloss coats laid on in thin passes until the surface reads as one poured skin.
Pass 5
The finish hardens on its own clock, 24 to 48 hours. We tape the door and leave the tub in peace.
Pass 6
Old caulk goes out with the old finish. A new mildew-resistant bead seals tub to tile on the way out.
A reglazed tub is your old tub wearing a professional coating. That is a fine thing to be, as long as everyone knows it going in.
A sprayed acrylic urethane skin, bonded to prepared porcelain, steel or fiberglass. It is smooth, glossy, warm to the touch and fully waterproof. Done properly it gives five years and more of daily service, and plenty of our tubs sail well past that with nothing but gentle cleaning.
It is not factory enamel fired onto iron at kiln temperatures, and no honest refinisher will tell you otherwise. It can be scratched by grit, dulled by harsh powders and lifted by standing water in a spot where caulk has failed. It is a durable coating, not a new tub, and it is priced like one.
Two minutes
ZIP, what the tub is made of, what bothers you about it. Said out loud it goes faster than typing, and a photo can follow later if the case is odd.
The same call
The technician who would do the work asks his questions and names a firm figure for a standard job, then confirms it in writing before any van is booked.
You set the date
One van, one technician, drop cloths from the front door to the bathroom. Water off for nothing; only the tub is out of service.
Most of that day
Damage filled and sanded, the room masked, extractor running, then the primer and gloss coats go on in thin, even passes.
24 to 48 hours
The finish hardens untouched, the new caulk bead goes in, and you run the first bath knowing exactly what was done and what to expect of it.
| What we quote | Typical range | Reading the number |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bathtub, reglazed complete | $350 - $800 | Clean, etch, repairs, sprayed gloss and fresh caulk. |
| Chip or rust repair alone | $150 - $300 | When the finish is sound and only one wound needs closing. |
| Clawfoot tub, inside and out | $700 - $1,300 | Two surfaces, more masking, and paint-grade feet if you wish. |
| Shower pan or base | $300 - $550 | Same process on the floor you stand on every morning. |
| Caulk renewal with the job | $90 - $180 | Old bead cut out, mildew-resistant line laid in. |
| Small job minimum | around $250 | The van, the materials and the cure time exist even for tiny work. |
Heavy previous coatings that must be stripped, unusual colors and badly pitted iron push a job toward the top of its bracket. The written price reaches you before the van is even loaded, and it holds.
Ventilation is not a courtesy, it is part of the job. The extractor runs from the first solvent wipe to the last sprayed pass, pulling air out the window instead of through your hallway, and the technician wears supplied air even when the household has gone out for the day. By the evening the bathroom smells like a bathroom again.
The materials are the professional two-part systems made for this trade, mixed fresh on site, never the single-can kits sold next to the paint rollers. It is the difference between a finish that cures into a hard skin and one that stays soft enough to peel at the drain within a season, and it is most of the reason our work carries a written workmanship promise against peeling and loss of adhesion.
And the schedule respects the cure. We tell you in writing when the tub goes back into service, 24 hours for most jobs and 48 for the cautious ones, because handing a family a beautiful surface and letting them ruin it that same night helps nobody. If anything in our workmanship lets go early, the technician comes back and makes it right without a discussion about whose fault the water was.
Strong while spraying, gone surprisingly fast. The extractor vents the room to the outside for the whole job around Ithaca, so the rest of the home stays livable, and by the next morning the odor has left with the fumes. Pregnant households and bird owners get the frank version of this talk before booking.
Between 24 and 48 hours after the final coat, and the exact time is written on the paperwork you keep. The first bath is not a gamble; it is a date.
Any color. The most common request is retiring an avocado, pink or almond tub to white, and the coating is tinted before it is sprayed, so the new color is in the material rather than painted over it.
Yes. The prep changes, the primer changes, the result reads the same. Fiberglass with soft, flexing spots gets extra reinforcement talk first, because coating a moving floor is how warranties die.
Now the old coating comes fully off, which is honest work we price plainly, and then the job proceeds as if the tub had never been touched. Peeling almost always means the first crew skipped the etch or sprayed over silicone, not that your tub rejects coatings.
Five years is the floor we are comfortable promising out loud, not the ceiling. With soft cleaners, no standing mats and caulk kept sound, these finishes routinely serve a decade. What we refuse to do is whisper twenty and hope you lose our number.
Zoom for the lay of the land; the link lists further down name every community the van reaches from here.
The technician who picks up when you call works these streets, so the ledger below is home turf rather than trivia.
Somewhere under that worn surface is the tub you chose. One day brings it back.
Call (866) 951-0558