Can You Paint a Fiberglass Tub?

Is your fiberglass bathtub looking a little worse for wear? Or are you ready to update your bathroom, and the avocado green bathtub won’t cut it? If replacing the tub isn’t in your budget, you can paint a fiberglass tub for a money-saving update. Of course, not every tub is a good candidate for painting. If you want results that last longer than a few years, replacing or reglazing might be a better option.

Reasons to Paint a Fiberglass Tub

Fiberglass bathtubs can discolor with age or exposure to direct sunlight, while colored fiberglass tubs can trap the bathroom in a past decade. However, fiberglass bathtubs cost between $200 and $800 to replace, plus an additional few hundred dollars to dispose of the old tub.

Painting a fiberglass tub can save money and prolong its life by three to five more years. If you’re updating the entire bathroom, painting the bathtub can refresh the room and keep your renovations within a tighter budget. 

Options and Costs for Painting a Fiberglass Tub

There are two options for painting a fiberglass bathtub: DIY kits or reglazing with a pro. Your budget and how long you want the bathtub to last can help you decide between these two options.  

DIY Bathtub and Tile Refinishing Kits

DIY kits include everything you need to paint fiberglass. Bathtub and tile refinishing kits cost around $100 and include:

• Liquid primer

• Hardener

• Paint

• Etching cleaner

• Sandpaper

• Tack rag

• Tray

• Rollers

• Foam brush

• Nonslip additive

An all-in-one kit saves money and ensures you don’t miss vital steps in the painting process. For example, you can’t directly apply paint to fiberglass without roughening the surface so the paint can adhere to it. DIY kits include sandpaper and etching cleaners that clean and roughen the surface. Kits also include nonslip additives to create a safer bathtub surface.

Reglazing With a Pro

If you decide to hire a pro, a local bathtub refinishing pro can reglaze your bathtub. Reglazing and painting are similar, and some people may use the terms interchangeably. However, bathtub reglazing adds a new layer of enamel, which creates a stronger bond than simply repainting the fiberglass. Consequently, the results are more durable and last longer.

The good news is that reglazing takes less than a day, so labor costs aren’t high. However, refinishing a fiberglass bathtub costs $500 on average, but it can reach up to $1,000.

When You Should and Shouldn’t Consider Painting

Painting your fiberglass tub makes sense in some, but not all, situations. You should consider painting the tub if:

• You need a short-term solution to upgrade the bathtub

• You have a small budget

• The bathtub is in good condition

• You have some DIY experience

You might want to pass on painting if:

• The bathtub has cracks or flexes, which could crack the paint

• You want a solution that will last over five years

• You have the budget to replace the bathtub

• You have no DIY experience

How Long Does a Painted Fiberglass Tub Last?

Painted fiberglass doesn’t last forever, with a lifespan of three to five years after painting. Of course, if the bathtub is not frequently used, it could last longer. It’s still a viable option if you’re planning to replace the bathtub at the end of that time frame anyway. Something to keep in mind is that some people find that the painted surface of a tub may show marks more easily when items are dropped or set in the bathtub.