Home improvement projects have become a vibrant element in popular culture. There are a number of television shows focused on the subject, and any of a number of videos online that will show you how to do just about anything. In our zeal to make the old like new again, some very valuable tubs get thrown out with the bathwater when all they really needed was a bathtub resurface.
These old porcelain tubs were given the boot by home builders in the 70s, but prior to this, they were found in nearly every home built. As lighter and cheaper materials became more standard, the porcelain was replaced with materials such as fiberglass and acrylic. Due to this change, those old-style, fancy bathtubs are sometimes worth a small fortune, and should never be overlooked.
The weight of the old tubs was unwieldy, as they were really made of cast iron and the porcelain was baked on. In homes with second-story baths, this can present real problems with the tub sagging and becoming unstable, even unsafe over time. The acrylic garden tubs were first introduced by the manufactured housing market, and eventually became standard.
As people tend to shower more often than lounging in a hot bath these days, the demand for tubs has lessened somewhat. In fact, many newer homes are fitted with a tub in the master bath, but only a shower in any additional bathrooms. If one is shopping for a one-bedroom apartment, they may need to ask if there is a tub, or merely a shower, before they sign their lease.
Home improvement buffs find it very easy, and reasonably inexpensive, to get modern acrylic shower or bath kits. In fact, this can be an excellent area to save on a home improvement budget, allowing one to spend more on stainless steel for the kitchen. It is unfortunate, however, that many old-style tubs have been junked before the homeowner had any idea that it was valuable.
Anyone who owns a home older than 1965 just might have a larger, porcelain tub underneath what appears to be their bathroom. Sometimes these very rare antiques have been walled in or covered up in prior remodeling. If you find such a thing in a home, it can be brought back very close to the original beauty with a kit that one buys in home improvement or hardware stores.
Should your tub turn out to be highly valuable, it can be taken to an artisan who will sandblast and re-coat the entire tub. This includes making the outside match the inside utilizing techniques that differ from the past, but the results are better than ever. Old-fashioned ceramic was baked onto the iron, but now they can use many other materials to make a fancy old tub the center of the room.
For those sad individuals who threw out a claw-foot tub, it is probably a sore subject. These antiques go for thousands of dollars, sometimes being valued that high when they have not been maintained. For those who do not wish to be bothered with any refinishing, they can still find eager antique collectors and dealers willing to show up, cash in hand.
These old porcelain tubs were given the boot by home builders in the 70s, but prior to this, they were found in nearly every home built. As lighter and cheaper materials became more standard, the porcelain was replaced with materials such as fiberglass and acrylic. Due to this change, those old-style, fancy bathtubs are sometimes worth a small fortune, and should never be overlooked.
The weight of the old tubs was unwieldy, as they were really made of cast iron and the porcelain was baked on. In homes with second-story baths, this can present real problems with the tub sagging and becoming unstable, even unsafe over time. The acrylic garden tubs were first introduced by the manufactured housing market, and eventually became standard.
As people tend to shower more often than lounging in a hot bath these days, the demand for tubs has lessened somewhat. In fact, many newer homes are fitted with a tub in the master bath, but only a shower in any additional bathrooms. If one is shopping for a one-bedroom apartment, they may need to ask if there is a tub, or merely a shower, before they sign their lease.
Home improvement buffs find it very easy, and reasonably inexpensive, to get modern acrylic shower or bath kits. In fact, this can be an excellent area to save on a home improvement budget, allowing one to spend more on stainless steel for the kitchen. It is unfortunate, however, that many old-style tubs have been junked before the homeowner had any idea that it was valuable.
Anyone who owns a home older than 1965 just might have a larger, porcelain tub underneath what appears to be their bathroom. Sometimes these very rare antiques have been walled in or covered up in prior remodeling. If you find such a thing in a home, it can be brought back very close to the original beauty with a kit that one buys in home improvement or hardware stores.
Should your tub turn out to be highly valuable, it can be taken to an artisan who will sandblast and re-coat the entire tub. This includes making the outside match the inside utilizing techniques that differ from the past, but the results are better than ever. Old-fashioned ceramic was baked onto the iron, but now they can use many other materials to make a fancy old tub the center of the room.
For those sad individuals who threw out a claw-foot tub, it is probably a sore subject. These antiques go for thousands of dollars, sometimes being valued that high when they have not been maintained. For those who do not wish to be bothered with any refinishing, they can still find eager antique collectors and dealers willing to show up, cash in hand.
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Learn more about the bathtub resurface process, today. You can also get more info about KB Bathtub Savers Ltd at http://www.bathtubsavers.ca right now.
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