Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Need some bathroom remodel advice

We have just discovered that our tile surround is leaking. It is the original tub/tile when the home was built in 1969. We recently purchased the home and had planned to remove the pink tub and it's matching tile but hadn't planned on doing it now. If we just removed the tiles and replaced them with a 3 piece surround, how hard would it be to replace the tub at a later date. Or, would it be just as easy to replace the tub now? Any idea what a job like this will cost? Money is tight!! Thanks for any help.

I don't think it is a good idea to do half the job now, i would do all or nothing.

I was in your boat a few months ago - My house was built in 1968 and I had a yellow tub with yellow tile.

I am planning on being here for about 4 more years, therefore my decision was to take all the tile down and replace with an abs tub surround. The tub I am going to have re-glazed by a professional.

I already removed the tile and put up the new surround which was not that difficult. The only thing I have left is to get the tub re-glazed.

My tile wrapped around the entire bathroom, I replaced the tile on the other portions of the bathroom with beadboard that I painted white.


Good luck

Fred

I was in the same position a few months ago as well, house built in '67 with a pepto pink tub and tile. I did some research and found it was cheaper to replace the tub with a new steel tub than refinishing the old one. New steel white tub was $90 at HD, plus new plumbing $25. Refinish in my area was 250-350 with only a garuantee of 2-5 yrs. If you shop around you can find nice ceramic tile for $1 to $1.5 per ft and I think it personally looks much better (my opinion).

I had two tubs I replaced and found a plumber doing side jobs and charged me $80 a tub so the new tub was actually cheaper than the refinsh and I have piece of mind over the refinish that could chip or dull.

Do your research on the refinish vs new and read the tile fourm for great tips and an inexpensive tile job can look awesome.

Wow, I did not see any tubs that were $80 - anyway, for me it would be an extreme hassle to rip the tub out of the cubbie that it is wedged in. therefore, the re-glazing was the way to go - Also, like anything else you have to find someone who knows what they are doing

Good Luck!

Fred

:)

Good point on the hassle of getting the tub in and out. I was lucky b/c the tub area was 10in longer than the tub so I could slide it back and out w/o any issues. Just to clarify I got a Eljer tub at HD for $90 plus the $25 in pipes plus the $80 for the labor. So the new tub cost $195.

I have seen great refinishing jobs but the fine print says, you should not bang up against the tub with items such as plastic toys. I have a little one so just made me a little nervous. The longevity is with the new enameled stell tub.

Like any project, planning and research will give you piece of mind and a quality finish.

Help for your particular problem is also ( Listen up people) at the John Bridge forum. WWW.Johnbridge.Com, from there there will be a link to the forum. These are all pros who provide tile how too assistence because they want to help people .

Doc