Tile Reglazing vs. Tile Replacement

Do your bathroom tiles look old and stained? Are they peeling, chipping or appearing dull? Is the color of your tile out of style or boring?

If so, it might be time to restore or replace them.

Whether you’re dealing with damaged or dated wall tile, shower tile or floor tile, when it’s time for an update you might be wondering which route is best: replace or reglaze?

Let’s break both options down so you can decide which remodeling approach is right for you.

Tile Reglazing

Tile reglazing is a great way to update the look of your home without having to replace all the tiles or take on an expensive renovation project. If you’re looking for an easy way to spruce up your floors without breaking the bank, then tile refinishing is just what you need! 

Wondering what tile reglazing is?

Tile reglazing is a process of applying a new finish to the surface of an old, worn or damaged ceramic tile. It’s not as simple as painting your walls with a roller and brush. You can’t just slap on some paint and call it done. There are many steps involved in this process that require professional knowledge and experience to get right.

Is tile reglazing a DIY project?

Tile reglazing is not something that should be attempted by amateurs or DIYers because of the chemicals involved and needing the proper equipment and products, which are not sold in your neighborhood hardware store. It's important that you hire someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to this process because if not done properly, it could lead to permanent damage to your tiles in which you’ll have to replace them anyway.

How does tile reglazing work?

Tile reglazing is one of the most cost-effective ways to update your bathroom or kitchen. Reglazing starts with repairs of minor surface imperfections through sanding and filling. Then, the process continues with an acid etching to prep the surface for bonding to the final coating. Finally, a commercial grade enamel style glaze is sprayed carefully and professionally to the tile and grout, giving it a new color. You won’t believe how good they will look when it's done by professionals! Plus, this process only takes only a few hours so it's super quick too. 

Top Benefits of Tile Reglazing

• Far more affordable than replacement, even when hiring a professional
• You can change the color of the tile and even add texture
• Your bathroom is ready for use in just 1-2 days
• No demolition

Tile Replacement

Tile replacement is an investment in your home’s future. It not only improves the appearance of your space but also helps with resale value as well as making it more comfortable for you and your family.

What is tile replacement?

When the old tile in your bathroom is torn out and completely replaced with brand new tile, that is tile replacement. The process involves complete demolition of the existing bathroom tile and new installation of bathroom tile. Oftentimes, walls come down to the studs, especially if mold is present. 

When is tile replacement necessary?

If your tiles are damaged beyond repair with reglazing services, it may be time to replace them. Tiles can become damaged due to a variety of reasons including improper installation, water damage, or just general wear and tear over the years. If tiles are severely cracked, falling off or there is mold present beneath the tiling, then replacement is needed.

Tile replacement is far more costly than reglazing, requires messy demolition and will usually take anywhere from a week to several weeks to finish. However, the result is brand new tiling in the color, style, material and pattern your most prefer.

Top Benefits of Tile Replacement

• Original installation issues can be corrected with demo and new installation
• Limitless choice of tile material, color, texture and pattern to modernize in your style
• Less expensive than remodeling the entire bathroom or changing layouts, but has a huge impact on the look of the room

Which Is Best: Tile Refinishing or Tile Replacement?

How do you decide whether it's time for a new coat of paint or to replacing the tile in the whole room? Here are some things to consider before making that decision.

Condition: If your tile is in good condition and just needs a fresh coat of paint, then it may be worth doing a refinish instead of replacing the whole room. But if your tiles are cracked or chipped, then it’s probably time to replace them with new ones. We want to help you decide what option is best for you!

Budget & Time: Tile refinishing is a lot more affordable than full tile replacement. It’s also much quicker and easier to do, which means less time spent on your project. And the best part? You can get the same look as if you had replaced your tiles with new ones!

There are many advantages to doing this instead of replacing your tiles, including cost, look and effect on home improvement. You'll be able to save money by not having to buy all new materials and spend hours removing old tiles from the floor.

Mess: Replacement will involve full demolition, which is messy and results in debris. Refinishing does not require any demo or removal and all surrounding furnishings are full covered, so it’s a no-mes process.

Customization: You have a lot more flexibility in design choices when installing brand new tile than if you are just refinishing your existing tile. With reglazing, you’ll still have the same tile shape and layout, but you’ll get a fresh color and coating. With replacement, you can completely change the look, shape and pattern of the tiling.

Whichever process you choose, you can say goodbye to those old, outdated tiles that make your bathroom look drab and dated and, instead, usher in a new look that freshens things up and make you love your grooming space again.