Bathtub reglazing in Honolulu — without the spray.

Reglazing, refinishing, resurfacing — same job, three names

If you're searching for bathtub reglazing in Honolulu, you're in the right place. In our trade, reglazing, refinishing and resurfacing all describe the same service: preparing the worn surface of an existing tub and applying a new coating over it so it looks and cleans like new.

"Reglazing" is the older word. The original shiny surface of a steel or cast iron tub is porcelain enamel — a glass-like glaze fired on at the factory at very high temperature. That can't be repeated in a bathroom, so no one literally re-glazes a tub at home. What every company does, whatever they call it, is bond a new high-performance coating to the old enamel.

What actually differs: how the coating goes on

The name on the truck matters much less than the method. There are two:

• Spray reglazing — the common approach. A thin coating is atomized through a spray gun. It's fast, but it puts fine mist and strong solvent odor into the room, and the film is thin, especially on edges.
• Pour-on reglazing — what we do. The liquid coating is poured along the rim and flows down the walls under its own weight, leveling into a thick, even, glass-smooth layer. No overspray, no odor.

We explain the difference in detail on our pour-on method page.

What reglazing fixes

• Dull, rough enamel that never looks clean
• Rust stains and the dark ring around the drain
• Chips and scratches through the enamel
• Yellowing and discoloration
• An old spray-reglaze job that is peeling
• A dated tub in an otherwise good bathroom

What reglazing won't fix

A new surface can't repair a tub that has rusted through from underneath, a leak in the drain or supply lines, or a cracked acrylic or fiberglass unit — we don't work on acrylic or fiberglass at all. If a tub is truly at the end of its life we'll say so from the photos rather than take the job.

What it costs

A standard steel or cast iron tub is a flat $635, including repairs, the pour-on coating, fresh caulking and a 5-year warranty. See pricing for the few things that can change the number.