Acrylic Tub Refinishing
Scratched, yellowed or crazed acrylic tub? Acrylic tub refinishing — also called reglazing or resurfacing — repairs the damage, preps the surface with a method suited to acrylic and sprays a new glossy coating, finished in about one day.
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Save up to 75%
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Finished in One Day
use it in 24 hours
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What is acrylic tub refinishing?
Acrylic tub refinishing — also called reglazing or resurfacing — restores the surface of an acrylic bathtub in place. Acrylic tubs are vacuum-formed from a sheet of acrylic and reinforced with fiberglass from behind. The acrylic layer is the color and the gloss; once it scratches, dulls, yellows or crazes, no amount of polishing brings it back. Refinishing repairs the surface and seals it under a new coating.
Acrylic became the standard tub in homes built or remodeled from the 1980s on, including most soaking, garden and corner tubs and nearly every jetted tub, so it is common across Orange County, the Inland Empire, Contra Costa and the newer neighborhoods of Santa Clara and San Mateo. It is lighter than cast iron and a little harder than plain fiberglass, but it is still a plastic: it scratches, yellows in sunlight and flexes if the floor was not well supported.
Not sure whether your tub is acrylic or fiberglass? Look at an unfinished edge or under the rim: acrylic is the same color all the way through with a smooth back; fiberglass shows a thin colored gel coat over a rough, fibrous backing. A magnet sticks to neither. Either way it can be refinished; see fiberglass tub refinishing for the differences, or the general bathtub refinishing page.
Replacement
- Demolition & new plumbing
- Weeks of disruption
- $5,100–$9,900+
Refinishing Best value
- Keep your existing tub
- Finished in a single day
- Just a few hundred dollars
Acrylic tubs we refinish:
Ideal for homeowners with a 1990s or 2000s master bath, landlords turning over units and anyone whose acrylic tub looks tired but is structurally sound.
Real acrylic tub refinishing results
Scratched, dull and discolored acrylic restored to a smooth, glossy white across Southern and Northern California.
Why homeowners refinish acrylic tubs
The shell underneath is fine. Refinishing replaces only the worn surface layer.
Save up to 75%
A fraction of the $5,100–$9,900+ a replacement runs, with no demolition.
Finished in one day
Refinished in a few hours and ready to use in about 24 hours.
Scratches and crazing gone
Fine scratches, spider-web crazing and worn patches are filled and sanded before coating.
Yellowing erased
UV-yellowed and stained acrylic comes back bright white, or in a custom color.
Soft floors made solid
A flexing floor is reinforced or fitted with an inlay before refinishing so the finish lasts.
Prep suited to acrylic
The surface prep is adjusted for acrylic so it deglosses the tub without harming the sheet.
Ready for a like-new acrylic tub?
Get a free quote5 Simple Steps to a Like-New Finish
Acrylic follows the same five steps as every tub we refinish, with the surface prep adjusted to the material.
*Repairing chips, cracks and other damage may carry an additional cost, quoted upfront before we begin.
Inspect & Clean
~30 minWe inspect the fixture and deep-clean the surface to remove soap scum, body oils and residue.
Acid Wash
~20 minAn acid wash strips and opens up the surface so the new coating can bond permanently.
Surface Refinishing
~90 minThe heart of the job, done in three stages. Repair: every chip, crack and worn spot is filled and repaired for a smooth, solid base. Sanding & surface prep: the entire surface is sanded and prepped so the new finish grips and lasts for years. Deep wash: a final deep wash removes every trace of dust and residue so nothing interferes with the coating.
Prime Coating
~30 minA bonding primer is applied as the foundation for a durable, lasting finish.
Reglaze
~60 minMultiple coats of commercial-grade coating are sprayed on for a smooth, glossy, like-new finish.
What is different for acrylic
Acrylic is a plastic, not a fired enamel. Three adjustments keep the prep effective without damaging the sheet.
Prep adjusted for acrylic
The acid wash used on porcelain and cast iron is not what an acrylic surface needs. On acrylic the wash and etch are adjusted to the material: strip residue and degloss the surface so the primer bonds, without attacking the acrylic sheet itself.
Scratches and crazing filled
Acrylic scratches rather than chipping, and older tubs develop a web of fine crazing lines. Every scratch and craze is filled, sanded level and blended so it does not show through the new finish.
Soft spots and inlays
If the floor flexes underfoot, coating over it will crack. Moderate flex is reinforced before refinishing; a cracked or badly sagging floor gets a permanent bathtub inlay. A quick photo tells us which you need.
Professional Equipment & Techniques
Our technicians use commercial-grade spray systems and premium coatings for a factory-new finish every time.
Acrylic tub problems refinishing solves
Acrylic fails in predictable ways. Every one of these is repaired before the new coating goes on.
Scratches & scuffs
Abrasive cleaners and scouring pads leave a haze of fine scratches that grab dirt. Filled, sanded and sealed.
Crazing
A web of hairline cracks in the acrylic layer, usually from age, heat and harsh chemicals. Filled and coated over.
Yellowing & dated colors
Sun-yellowed, almond, blue or gray acrylic from the 80s and 90s comes back bright white in the same visit.
Dull, chalky surface
Once the gloss is worn off, the surface turns porous and never looks clean. The new finish is non-porous.
Soft or flexing floors
Reinforced before coating, or fitted with a permanent inlay if the floor is cracked through.
Stains and failed DIY kits
Hard-water rings, dye stains and peeling epoxy kits are stripped or sealed and the tub is done properly.
The trusted name in tub refinishing
How much does acrylic tub refinishing cost?
Most acrylic tubs cost between $350 and $500 to refinish. Oversized garden, corner and jetted acrylic tubs have more surface and are quoted by size.
Typical acrylic tub · your exact price depends on:
Minor scratches and worn spots are included. Heavy damage or an old coating that has to be stripped carries a $35–$175 repair surcharge, quoted before we begin. A cracked floor that needs a bathtub inlay is a separate repair, priced on inspection.
Request a Free EstimateReglazing vs. Replacement
Replacing an acrylic tub usually means cutting out a unit installed before the walls went up, then re-tiling and re-plumbing. The bathtub replacement cost guide walks through every line item; refinishing skips nearly all of them, and unlike a liner it adds nothing on top of the tub.
Acrylic tub refinishing across California
Acrylic tubs are everywhere in the homes built since the 1980s across Orange County, the Inland Empire, Contra Costa and the South Bay. Searching for “acrylic tub refinishing near me”? If you are in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo or Santa Clara county, we are already nearby, usually with next-day appointments.
County guides: Los Angeles · Orange · Alameda · Contra Costa · San Mateo · Santa Clara · San Francisco · Riverside · San Bernardino · Marin
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles · Pasadena · Glendale · Burbank · Santa Monica · Torrance
Orange County
Anaheim · Irvine · Santa Ana · Huntington Beach · Newport Beach
Riverside County
Riverside · Corona · Eastvale · Moreno Valley · Temecula
San Bernardino County
Ontario · Rancho Cucamonga · Chino Hills · Fontana · Redlands
Santa Clara County
San Jose · Santa Clara · Sunnyvale · Mountain View · Palo Alto
Alameda County
Oakland · Fremont · Hayward · Berkeley · Pleasanton
San Francisco County
San Francisco & all neighborhoods
Contra Costa County
Concord · Walnut Creek · Richmond · San Ramon · Antioch
San Mateo County
San Mateo · Redwood City · Daly City · South San Francisco · Menlo Park
Marin County
San Rafael · Novato · Mill Valley · Sausalito · Tiburon
Don’t see your city? Contact us — we likely serve your area.
Acrylic tub refinishing questions
Yes. Acrylic refinishes very well. Scratches, crazing and worn spots are repaired, the surface is prepped with a method suited to acrylic, and a new commercial-grade coating is sprayed on. Most acrylic tubs are done in a few hours and ready to use the next day.
Look at an unfinished edge or under the rim. Acrylic is the same color all the way through with a smooth back; fiberglass shows a thin colored gel coat over a rough, fibrous backing. Acrylic also feels slightly warmer to the touch. A magnet sticks to neither.
Most acrylic tubs cost $350–$500. Heavy damage or stripping an old coating adds a $35–$175 repair surcharge, quoted before any work starts. Oversized garden and jetted tubs are quoted by size.
We adjust the surface prep for acrylic. The goal on acrylic is to strip residue and degloss the surface so the primer bonds, using a method suited to the material rather than the etch used on porcelain and cast iron.
Yes. Moderate flex is reinforced before refinishing so the new finish does not crack. A floor that is cracked through or badly sagging gets a permanent bathtub inlay instead of a coating alone.
Yes. Yellowing and UV fading are in the old surface layer. The new coating covers it completely and the tub comes back bright white, or in a custom color.
With proper care a refinished acrylic tub lasts 5–10 years and can be refinished again after that. Clean with a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft sponge, skip scouring pads and harsh chemicals, and do not leave wet mats on the surface. Every job is backed by our written 2-year warranty.
Yes. A one-piece acrylic tub and surround is refinished in a single visit, and doing both together is cheaper than two appointments.
Other tubs and surfaces we refinish
Fiberglass Tubs
Cast Iron & Clawfoot
Porcelain Tubs
Jacuzzi & Whirlpool
Shower Refinishing
Tile & Wall Refinishing
Bathtub refinishing · All refinishing services · Surfaces we refinish
Ready to restore your acrylic tub?
Text us a photo of the scratches, crazing or soft spot and we will tell you what it needs and quote it before you book, or request a quote online.
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