Bathtub rust, chips and peeling: what can be fixed
Rust at the drain, black chips in the enamel, an old reglaze coming off in sheets. All three are repaired as part of refinishing the tub — not patched one spot at a time.
- Rust cleaned out, treated and filled
- Chips leveled so they disappear under the finish
- Old failing coatings removed
What causes each one, and what we do about it
Rust
Water gets under the enamel at the drain, the overflow or a chip, and the metal corrodes. We grind out the loose enamel and rust down to sound metal, treat it, level the area and coat over it.
Chips
Impact knocks a piece of porcelain off and exposes dark metal. Each chip is cleaned, filled flush with the surface and sanded so it cannot be seen or felt under the new finish.
Peeling
A previous refinish — usually a thin sprayed one — has lost its bond and is lifting. The peeling coating is removed, the tub is sanded again and refinished properly.
We do not do spot repairs — here is the honest reason
People often ask us to fix just the chip, or just the rust ring at the drain. We understand why: it is one small spot.
The trouble is that a patch is a different material from the porcelain around it. It never matches in color or gloss, its edge is always visible, and water works under that edge. On a tub that is used daily, a patch at the drain typically fails within months — and the rust underneath has kept spreading in the meantime.
When the whole tub is refinished, the repair is sealed under one continuous layer with no edge for water to find. That is why the repair lasts, and why it is the only way we do it.
What is included, what costs extra
Included in the flat $475: chips, scratches, surface rust and flaking enamel around the drain or overflow.
+ $100: a tub that was refinished before and is peeling — removing the old coating takes real time.
Priced from a photo: rust that has gone right through the metal, leaving a hole or soft steel at the drain.
A close-up photo of the damage is enough for us to tell you which applies.
What refinishing cannot fix
- A leak. If the drain or overflow leaks, a plumber should fix that first.
- A cracked tub. Cracks through cast iron or steel keep moving and will show again.
- A loose or sagging tub. A tub that moves under your weight needs to be supported from below.
- Damage on an acrylic or fiberglass tub. We do not work on plastic tubs at all.
About rust, chips and peeling
Can a rusted bathtub be saved?
In most cases, yes. Rust looks dramatic but is usually confined to the area around the drain or a chip. It is removed and repaired before the tub is coated.
Will the rust come back?
Not from the repaired area, as long as water cannot get under the finish. That is why we also ask you to fix dripping faucets and leaking drains.
Why is my reglazed tub peeling?
Almost always poor preparation or a coating that was applied too thin. On a thin sprayed finish, bath mats and abrasive cleaners speed it up.
Can you fix peeling without redoing the whole tub?
No. Once a coating starts to lift, the rest will follow. The peeling coating is removed and the tub is refinished as a whole.
Send a photo. Get a real price today.
No home visit needed for a quote. A photo of the tub is enough for us to confirm the price and offer a date.
- Text a photo of your tub to (602) 733-0000, or use the form.
- We confirm the price — $475 for a standard tub — and a day.
- One visit of about 3 hours. The tub is ready to use 24 hours later.