What to Do with Your Old, Unusable Bathtub

Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom and replacing an old tub with a modern, sleek new model or simply need to make a bathtub upgrade, there’s an overarching question that comes with a new one: what should you do with and old, unusable bathtub?

What To Do With an Old Bathtub: 3 Smart Options

Option 1: Get Rid of The Bathtub

A new bathtub can cost you north of $3,000 when adding in the cost of:

• Fixtures
• Installation
• Removal of the old tub.

You can offset that by selling your tub for scrap and reclaiming a couple hundred dollars depending on the tub’s material and condition, but if it’s too far gone to be reused for it’s original purpose, there’s not a lot of value to be had on the secondhand market.

Old bathtubs, however, take up a tremendous amount of space in landfills and certainly aren’t biodegradable, so tossing it into a heap isn’t the recommended course of action here. 

Option 2: Bathtub Resurfacing / Refinishing It 

If a bathtub has any chance of being rescued and reused for its intended purpose, it’s only thanks to a professional bathtub repair specialist.

Not only can they assess the damage to your tub, but they can safely and effectively extend its life and return it to a beautiful, consistent state. Sure, it’ll cost you a bit of cash, but it’s nothing compared to the cost of ripping out and replacing an entire bathtub in your home.

It’s worth having a conversation before you make a decision, so if you’re on the fence, give Seattle Bathtub Guy a call.

Option 3: Reuse It

This is one of the most interesting and creative solutions to an old, worn-out bathtub on your property: reusing it!

Plenty of homeowners (especially those with natural, overgrown landscaping aesthetics) use old bathtubs and wash basins for:

• Gardening pots
• Flower beds
• Decorative additions to their outdoor areas.

If you have the DIY know-how and the inclination, some homeowners have even turned their old tubs into cute and cozy loveseats and park benches. Architecture Art Designs has a great collection of ideas for reusing your old tub – check out all 13!

Not sure what to do with your old tub? Seattle Bathtub Guy can help with high quality refinishing and personalized customer service. Give us a call today to assess the state of your tub and get expert advice as to whether bathtub repair & refinish, replacement, or reuse is the best option.