Cast Iron & Clawfoot Tub Refinishing
Refinish your cast iron bathtub instead of hauling out several hundred pounds of iron. Whether you call it cast iron tub refinishing, reglazing or resurfacing, we repair the rust and chips, restore the porcelain-enamel surface and hand back a glossy, like-new tub in about one day.
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From 500+ reviews
Save up to 75%
vs. replacement
Finished in One Day
use it in 24 hours
2-Year Warranty
on bathtubs and showers
Free Estimates
no obligation
One Day
start to finish
What is cast iron tub refinishing?
Cast iron tub refinishing — also called reglazing or resurfacing — restores the porcelain-enamel surface of a cast iron bathtub in place. A cast iron tub is a heavy iron casting with porcelain enamel fired onto it. Decades of scrubbing thin that enamel until it looks gray, feels gritty and rusts wherever it has chipped. The iron underneath is nearly indestructible, so we repair the surface, prep it and spray a new commercial-grade coating that bonds to the old enamel.
These are the original tubs in the Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Revivals and prewar apartments of Pasadena, Long Beach, Riverside and Redlands, and in the Victorians of Alameda, San Francisco and Marin. Homes built from the 1920s through the early 1960s almost always have one. They hold heat far longer than a modern fiberglass tub and feel solid underfoot, which is why homeowners keep them. Removing one means breaking it apart with a sledgehammer and opening the wall.
Refinishing keeps the tub, the plumbing, the tile and the character of the bathroom. Our bathtub refinishing process is the same at heart for every material, with extra rust and chip work for cast iron. The lighter steel version of the same enamel has its own page: porcelain tub refinishing.
Replacement
- Sledgehammer demolition & new plumbing
- Weeks of disruption
- $5,100–$9,900+
Refinishing Best value
- Keep the original tub
- Finished in a single day
- Just a few hundred dollars
Cast iron tubs we refinish:
Ideal for owners of older homes, landlords with prewar units and anyone restoring a clawfoot tub who wants the original iron, not a lightweight replacement.
Real cast iron tub refinishing results
Rusted, chipped and gray cast iron brought back to bright white across Southern and Northern California.
Why refinish a cast iron tub instead of replacing it
The iron is the best part of the tub. Refinishing keeps it and replaces only the worn surface.
Save up to 75%
A fraction of the $5,100–$9,900+ a replacement runs, and cast iron removal is the expensive kind.
Keep the heat retention
Cast iron holds bath water warm far longer than fiberglass or acrylic.
No sledgehammer, no wall repair
The walls, tile and plumbing stay untouched.
Rust and chips repaired first
Rust at the drain and overflow is ground out and chips are filled before any coating goes on.
Back to white, or a custom color
Erase a pink, green or almond enamel or match a new color scheme.
Original character, new gloss
The tub keeps its shape, depth and rolled rim. Only the finish is new.
Ready to save your cast iron tub?
Get a free quote5 Simple Steps to a Like-New Finish
Cast iron goes through the same five steps as every tub we refinish, with more time spent on rust and chip repair.
*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 cast iron
Three things we do on nearly every cast iron and clawfoot job that a fiberglass tub never needs.
Rust at the drain and overflow
Water sits at the drain and behind the overflow plate, and that is where cast iron enamel fails first. We grind rust back to sound metal, treat it and fill it flush before prep. Heavy rust adds repair time and is quoted before we start.
Chip and gouge repair
Dropped bottles and old faucet handles leave deep chips in porcelain enamel. Each one is filled, sanded level and blended so it disappears under the new coating.
Clawfoot exteriors and feet
The outside of a clawfoot tub is painted iron, not enamel, so it is prepped and coated separately in white, a matching color or an accent. The feet can be masked or coated to suit. Exterior work is quoted on inspection.
Professional Equipment & Techniques
Our technicians use commercial-grade spray systems and premium coatings for a factory-new finish every time.
Cast iron and clawfoot tubs we refinish
From a 1920s built-in to a freestanding slipper tub, the casting under the enamel is the same, and so is the result.
Built-in alcove tubs
The standard prewar and mid-century cast iron tub set between three walls. Refinished in place, tile untouched.
Clawfoot tubs
Interior refinished like any cast iron tub; the exterior and feet are coated separately if you want the whole tub renewed.
Pedestal, slipper & roll-top
Freestanding and deep soaking tubs. Interior and visible exterior done in one visit; more surface, priced by size.
Color changes
Pink, mint, blue and almond enamel from the 1950s and 60s returned to white or changed to a new color.
Previously refinished tubs
A peeling coating from a cheap job or a DIY kit is stripped and the tub is refinished properly.
Enameled cast iron sinks
Kitchen and bathroom sinks with the same enamel-over-iron construction, refinished the same way.
The trusted name in tub refinishing
How much does cast iron tub refinishing cost?
Most cast iron tubs cost between $350 and $500 to refinish, the same range as any standard tub. Heavy rust, multiple chips or an old coating that has to be stripped adds a repair surcharge of $35–$175, quoted before we begin.
Typical cast iron tub interior · your exact price depends on:
Refinishing the painted exterior of a clawfoot or freestanding tub adds surface and is quoted on inspection; text us a photo and we will price the whole tub. Compare that with the cost of replacing a bathtub once demolition and plumbing are counted.
Request a Free EstimateReglazing vs. Replacement
A cast iron replacement is the expensive kind: the old tub is broken up on site and a like-for-like cast iron tub costs far more than a fiberglass unit. Refinishing keeps the tub you already own for a fraction of that, with a written 2-year warranty. Liners rarely fit cast iron at all; see bathtub liners vs. refinishing.
Cast iron tub refinishing across California
Cast iron tubs cluster in the older neighborhoods we serve every week, from Pasadena and Long Beach to Riverside, Redlands, Alameda, San Francisco and Marin. Searching for “cast iron tub refinishers 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.
Cast iron tub refinishing questions
Yes. Cast iron is one of the best candidates for refinishing. The casting is nearly indestructible, so once the worn enamel is repaired and prepped, the new coating bonds to a solid base and the tub looks new again.
Most cast iron tub interiors cost $350–$500, the same range as any standard tub. Heavy rust, multiple chips or an old coating that must be stripped adds a $35–$175 repair surcharge, quoted before any work starts. Clawfoot exteriors are quoted on inspection.
Almost always. A cast iron tub holds heat, feels solid and fits an older bathroom in a way no modern tub does. Replacing it means breaking it apart, opening the wall and paying $5,100–$9,900+ for a tub that will not feel the same.
Yes. Rust at the drain, overflow and any chips is ground back to sound metal, treated and filled flush before the surface is prepped, so it does not come back through the new finish.
Yes. The exterior is painted iron rather than enamel, so it is prepped and coated as a separate step in white, a matching color or an accent color. The feet can be masked or coated. Exterior work is quoted on inspection.
Yes. Pink, mint, blue and almond enamel from the 1950s and 60s is one of the most common reasons we refinish cast iron. The tub comes back bright white, or in a custom color if you prefer.
A magnet sticks to both. Tap the side: a dull, heavy thud is cast iron; a higher metallic ring is porcelain-on-steel. Cast iron tubs also weigh several hundred pounds and are usually found in homes built before the mid-1960s.
With proper care a refinished cast iron tub lasts 5–10 years and can be refinished again after that. It is ready to use 24 hours after the job, and every job is backed by our written 2-year warranty.
Other tubs and surfaces we refinish
Porcelain Tubs
Acrylic Tubs
Fiberglass Tubs
Jacuzzi & Whirlpool
Shower Refinishing
Tile & Wall Refinishing
Bathtub refinishing · All refinishing services · Surfaces we refinish
Ready to restore your cast iron tub?
Keep the tub your house was built with. Text us a photo of the rust, chips or color and we will quote the whole job before you book, or request a quote online.
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