A professional job can last 10 to 15 years before it needs to be finished again. After about ten years, the refinished bathtub usually starts to dull a bit, but the finish will not peel up. A non-professional job doesn’t usually last as long, sometimes as little as three years.
There are things you can do in order to extend the life of your refinished bathtub, though. Using Comet, or another abrasive cleaner on the surface can quickly destroy the finish, meaning that you’ll have to get it redone sooner. Most professionals suggest using a bathroom cleaner like Scrubbing Bubbles, so that the surface gets clean without damaging the finish.
However, you might find that you don’t need to use such abrasive cleaners after refinishing your bathtub. One of the reasons that bathtubs require so much scrubbing is because of old finish. With a refinished bathtub, the scum comes right off, making cleaning far less of a chore.
The other thing that could impact how long your finish will last is what kind of finish is used. Most professionals use a very durable urethane, but if a less durable product is used, the finish won’t last as long. Make sure that you talk to your professional about how long you can expect the finish to last when getting your estimate, and ask how you should care for the surface.
A refinished bathtub is a great way to get your bathroom looking top of the line again, as well as making it easier to clean. Extend the life of your porcelain — it should last over a decade.