Bathtub Refinishing
FAQ

There is no difference. Bathtub refinishing, reglazing, and resurfacing are three terms for exactly the same process, repairing and recoating an existing bathtub to restore its appearance and function without removing or replacing it. You may hear any of these terms depending on who you ask, but the service is identical. At Blackstone Tub Refinishers, we use all three terms interchangeably.

Most bathtub refinishing projects in Calgary completed by Blackstone Tub Refinishers range from $600 to $900. This is typically 70% to 75% less than the cost of a full tub replacement, which, when you include demolition, the new tub, plumbing adjustments, and retiling the surround, commonly runs $3,000 to $5,000 or more. Contact us for a free, precise quote for your specific tub and situation.

Yes, in most cases, refinishing is significantly more cost-effective than replacement and produces a result that looks and feels like a new tub. For a structurally sound tub with a worn, chipped, or outdated surface, refinishing restores it in one to two days at a fraction of replacement cost. The only situation where replacement genuinely makes more sense is severe structural damage to the tub body itself, and if you're unsure, we'll tell you honestly which option is right for your specific tub.

Blackstone Tub Refinishers works on all common bathtub types, including porcelain enamel on cast iron, acrylic, fiberglass, cultured marble, and steel tubs. We also refinish one-piece fiberglass and acrylic tub-and-shower units. If you're unsure what material your tub is made from, contact us, we can usually identify it from a brief description and advise whether refinishing is appropriate.

Yes. Refinishing allows you to update the colour of your bathtub. The most common colour change is from an aged or discoloured off-white to a clean, bright white, but other colours are available. Changing from a dark colour to white is straightforward; more unusual colour combinations should be discussed with us before booking. Colour change is also available for tub surrounds through our tub and tile refinishing service.

In most cases, the refinishing work is completed within one to two days. After the work is done, the coating requires a 24-hour cure period before the tub is ready for regular use. Most Calgary homeowners have their tub back in service within 24 to 48 hours of our technician arriving.

Our technician begins with a thorough surface preparation, cleaning the tub, removing any soap scum or mineral deposits, and treating the surface so the coating bonds properly. Any chips, cracks, or surface damage are repaired and smoothed at this stage. Surrounding fixtures, tiles, and flooring are protected. The highly durable UV resistant coating is then applied to the prepared surface. Once application is complete, the coating begins curing. Most jobs are finished within one to two days, after which the 24-hour cure period begins.

To help your appointment go smoothly, we ask that you take care of a few things before our technician arrives:

1. Please remove all items in and around the bathtub area, including shower curtains.
2. Please remove any items on the floor of the bathroom.
3. Please remove all items on the vanity top. There is no need to remove items from inside the vanity cabinet.
4. Please provide access to a window in an adjacent bedroom for our ventilation system.
5. In order for our materials to cure and dry properly, we ask that you maintain a temperature of 21°C in the home. This also helps speed up the process and gives better results.

No special cleaning is necessary; our technician handles all surface preparation as part of the job.

You need to wait 24 hours after refinishing before using the tub. During this period, no water should contact the refinished surface. After 24 hours, the coating is fully cured and the tub is ready for regular daily use. Your technician will confirm the specific cure time and leave care instructions before departing.

Yes, the highly durable UV resistant coating materials used in bathtub refinishing have a noticeable odour during and shortly after application, similar in character to paint fumes. This is normal and expected. Our technicians bring their own ventilation system, and in order to limit the dust factor we recommend keeping the windows closed, unless the tub is on a different floor. The odour dissipates as the coating cures and is typically no longer noticeable within 24 hours. If anyone in your household has respiratory sensitivities, we recommend they spend time away from the home during and shortly after the application.

It is not unrealistic to expect a properly refinished tub to last 7 to 10 years under normal use conditions. How you look after the tub is what determines where you land in that range. The coating is durable, but it is not indestructible, and how you clean it matters more than anything else. Customers who use gentle, non-abrasive products and rinse the tub after use get the most years out of the finish. Customers who reach for abrasive powder cleansers like Comet or Ajax, or rough scrubbing pads, will wear the coating down faster, sometimes within a few years. We give you specific care instructions after every job, and following them is the single best thing you can do to protect your investment.

This is the thing people get wrong most often, so it is worth being straight about. A new coating is not as durable as the original factory finish, and you should not expect it to be bulletproof. On a steel or cast iron tub, the factory finish is porcelain enamel that was baked on under high heat at the foundry. A refinished tub has a finish that is sprayed on and chemically cured on site. Both look great and both perform well when cared for properly, but they are not the same thing, and honest expectations up front make for a much happier result down the road.

Use gentle, non-abrasive liquid bathroom cleaners or a mild dish soap such as Dawn diluted in warm water. Apply with a soft cloth or non-scratch sponge. For mineral deposits from Calgary's water, diluted white vinegar used sparingly and rinsed thoroughly works well. Always rinse the tub after cleaning and wipe it dry to prevent buildup. The simplest way to think about it: would you take sandpaper to your car finish? Abrasive cleaners do the same kind of thing to a tub, factory finish or refinished, and neither will last long if you use them.

Avoid anything abrasive. The specific things most likely to damage a refinished surface are: abrasive powder cleansers such as Comet or Ajax; steel wool and rough scrubbing pads; regular use of bleach-heavy cleaners; strong chemical drain cleaners poured directly into the tub (always pour drain cleaners straight into the drain opening instead); and suction-cup bath mats, which pull at the coating surface when removed. Use a non-suction bath mat instead.

Call us promptly. A small chip repaired early stays small. If water gets under the edge of a chip and is left unaddressed, it can work its way beneath the coating and cause the damage to spread. We offer repair services for chips in refinished surfaces. Catching it early is always less expensive and less involved than addressing a chip that has been left to grow.

Yes. Our tub and tile refinishing service covers both surfaces in one to two visits, producing a uniform, matching finish across the entire bathroom surround. This is the most effective way to refresh a dated bathroom without replacing the tub or retiling the walls. We work on ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and common one-piece fiberglass and acrylic surround units.

Yes. Refinishing your tile surround allows you to update its colour, for example, changing harvest gold or avocado green tile to a clean, modern white or off-white. Contact us to discuss the colour options available for your specific tile and surround type.

No, grout lines remain visible after tile refinishing. The coating is applied to the tile surfaces, covering discolouration, staining, and surface wear on the tiles themselves. The grout lines are completely sealed. The overall appearance of the surround is significantly refreshed, but the tile-and-grout structure remains intact.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers provides specialist clawfoot tub refinishing across Calgary and southern Alberta. We refinish the interior basin, the exterior shell, and the claw feet, returning the tub to its original character with a fresh, durable coating. We have restored clawfoot tubs from everyday residential pieces to historically significant antiques, including a 1911 cast iron clawfoot tub removed from the Cecil Hotel in Calgary.

Yes. The exterior of a clawfoot tub is a visible, design-forward surface and one of the most rewarding colour change projects we do. Classic options include a white or cream exterior matching the interior, or a custom colour, deep charcoal, navy, sage green, or gloss black are popular choices. The interior and exterior can be finished in the same colour or in contrasting colours according to your preference. Contact us to discuss the options available.

Almost certainly yes. Cast iron clawfoot tubs are among the best candidates for refinishing regardless of age. The cast iron body of a century-old tub is typically in excellent structural condition, cast iron does not corrode, flex, or weaken the way modern materials do. It is the surface porcelain enamel that wears over time, and that is precisely what refinishing restores. We have refinished cast iron tubs over a century old with excellent results. The older the cast iron, the better the underlying material typically is for holding a refinishing coating.

The answer depends on the condition of the specific tub, which is exactly why we ask customers in this situation to contact us and, ideally, send us photos of the tub before we discuss the job. Exterior rust on a cast iron clawfoot tub is one of the most common conditions we are asked about, and the right approach varies considerably depending on how extensive the rust is, whether it has penetrated the iron, and what the rest of the tub looks like. In many cases, a heavily rusted clawfoot exterior can be properly addressed and the tub beautifully restored. In some cases, the damage may limit what is achievable, and we will tell you that honestly before any commitment is made. The best first step is to call us at 403 630 6534 or email photos of your tub to blackstonerefinishing@gmail.com. Photos of the exterior, the feet, and any areas of concern give us a clear picture of what we are working with and allow us to give you a realistic assessment of what restoration can achieve, and at what cost. We would rather see the condition of the tub upfront than give you an estimate that changes when we arrive.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers provides professional fiberglass tub repair services for chips, cracks, holes, and surface damage on fiberglass and acrylic bathtubs and one-piece tub-and-shower units. Our technicians repair the damaged area, blend the repair into the surrounding surface, and colour-match as closely as possible for a seamless result. In many cases, we combine the repair with a full surface refinishing in the same visit, which produces the most uniform and like-new result overall.

Our technicians work to blend repairs into the surrounding surface and match the colour as closely as possible. On newer tubs in good overall condition, repairs are typically very difficult to detect. On older tubs where the surface has yellowed or changed colour significantly over time, a perfect colour match is more challenging, and we will discuss expected results honestly with you before the work begins. Combining repair with full-surface refinishing in the same appointment gives the most uniform result.

Yes. We work on one-piece fiberglass and acrylic tub-and-shower units, standalone fiberglass and acrylic tubs, and fiberglass and acrylic shower pans. If you have a one-piece unit with chips, cracks, or surface damage, contact us to discuss the repair.

A fiberglass tub inlay is a precisely fitted fiberglass panel installed directly over your existing tub floor to permanently repair cracking, flexing, and leaking. It is the right solution when the tub floor has lost its underlying support and continues to flex when stood on, causing cracks to recur even after surface repairs. Blackstone Tub Refinishers supplies the inlay and installs it as a complete service. The result is a solid, stable, waterproof tub floor that eliminates flexing and stops the cracking permanently.

Yes, using a fiberglass tub inlay. A surface repair alone will not permanently fix a tub floor that is cracking because of lost support beneath it. When the floor continues to flex under weight, any surface repair will eventually re-crack along the same line. A tub inlay addresses the root cause by creating a rigid, reinforced floor surface that no longer flexes. The cracking stops because the movement that caused it has been eliminated.

No. The fiberglass inlay is installed directly into your existing tub. The tub stays in place throughout the process, no demolition, no tile removal, no plumbing disconnection. This is one of the key advantages of a tub inlay over full tub replacement: all the structural benefit at a fraction of the cost and disruption.

The clearest signs that you need an inlay rather than a surface repair are: the tub floor visibly flexes or feels soft when you stand in it; a crack has been repaired before and returned; there are multiple cracks or cracks following curved paths across the floor; or water has leaked through the floor into the space below. If you are unsure, contact us, we will assess your tub and tell you honestly which solution is appropriate.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers provides tub-to-shower conversions that transform your existing bathtub area into a walk-in shower. This eliminates the need to step over the tub wall, one of the most common points of dangerous bathroom falls, particularly for seniors. Contact us to discuss your specific bathroom configuration and what a conversion would involve.

Timeline depends on the specifics of your bathroom and the conversion required. Contact us with details about your bathroom and we will advise on the expected time to complete the work.

Yes, and this is the most common reason Calgary and southern Alberta homeowners choose a tub-to-shower conversion. The tub wall step is one of the leading causes of bathroom falls among seniors, and eliminating it significantly reduces that risk. A conversion combined with a slip-resistant coating on the shower floor provides a comprehensive safety upgrade. We work with residential homeowners, families preparing a home for an aging parent, and seniors retirement homes and assisted care facilities across Calgary and southern Alberta.

An accessible, walk-in shower is an increasingly valued feature, particularly as more homeowners are looking for age-in-place features. The practical safety benefits are significant regardless of resale value, and many homeowners find the conversion makes the bathroom more functional for the whole household.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers refinishes kitchen sinks including cast iron with porcelain enamel and acrylic sinks. Kitchen sinks take significant daily wear and refinishing restores the surface to smooth, glossy, easy-to-clean condition. The sink generally stays connected in place. Contact us for a free quote.

Yes. Cultured marble is one of the materials Blackstone Tub Refinishers specifically works with. We refinish cultured marble bathroom sinks and vanity surfaces throughout Calgary and southern Alberta.

Yes. Cast iron laundry and utility sinks are among the most refinishable fixtures available. The cast iron body is typically in excellent condition regardless of age, refinishing restores the worn porcelain enamel surface. We have refinished cast iron laundry sinks throughout Calgary for over 24 years.

Sinks typically carry a 1-year warranty, and in some cases no warranty is issued, depending on the sink and how it will be used. For tubs, the industry standard is 5 years for residential and 2 years for revenue and commercial properties, which is what we provide. If you have a specific sink in mind, get in touch and we will tell you honestly what we can offer on it.

Blackstone Tub Refinishers provides a written warranty on all bathtub and tile refinishing work. Residential properties receive a 5-year warranty. Commercial and revenue properties, including rental units, hotels, and care facilities, receive a 2-year warranty. The warranty covers spontaneous peeling, lifting, and cracking of the refinished coating.

The warranty does not cover damage caused by the customer or third parties after the job is completed. This includes damage from abrasive cleaners such as Comet or Ajax, rough scrubbing pads or steel wool, suction-cup bath mats, dropped objects, harsh chemical drain cleaners, bleach-heavy cleaners used regularly, or any other manmade cause. The warranty applies to defects in the coating and its adhesion, not to damage caused by improper care. Damage made by pets is not included on any of our refinished surfaces. This is why we provide care instructions after every job.

Because those are the things we can actually control. A warranty should only cover spontaneous peeling, lifting, and cracking, simply because the refinishing company has no control over how the tub or sink is used once we leave. We stand behind our preparation and application fully. What we cannot stand behind is what happens to the finish afterward, and an honest warranty reflects that. One word of caution as you shop around: be wary of lifetime warranty offers. Given how the coating actually behaves over time, a lifetime promise is not something anyone can realistically back up.

Sinks typically carry a 1-year warranty, and in some cases no warranty is issued, depending on the sink and how it will be used. For tubs, the industry standard is 5 years for residential and 2 years for revenue and commercial properties, which is what we provide. If you have a specific sink in mind, get in touch and we will tell you honestly what we can offer on it.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers is fully licensed and carries comprehensive liability insurance on every job. We have been operating in Calgary and southern Alberta since 2002, over 24 years of continuous operation as the area's established bathtub refinishing specialist.

Yes. Blackstone Tub Refinishers is based in Strathmore, Alberta, and serves the Calgary area as our primary market. We provide bathtub refinishing, tub and tile refinishing, clawfoot tub restoration, fiberglass repairs, tub inlays, tub-to-shower conversions, and slip-resistant coatings throughout Calgary, including all quadrants of the city and surrounding communities.

In addition to Calgary, we serve over 30 communities across southern Alberta including Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Strathmore, High River, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Canmore, Banff, Drumheller, Brooks, Crossfield, Didsbury, Innisfail, Olds, Carstairs, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Longview, Nanton, Claresholm, Fort Macleod, Vulcan, and many more. If you're not sure whether we cover your area, call us at 403 630 6534, if we can get there, we will.

Call us at 403 630 6534 Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or fill in the free quote form on our website. We respond to all quote requests within one business day. Quotes are free and carry no obligation. For most standard bathtub refinishing jobs, we can provide a firm price range over the phone based on your description of the tub.