When a bathtub starts to show its age; chips, stains, discoloration, or outdated colors, the go-to solution for many homeowners is replacement. It feels like the most obvious fix: remove the old, bring in the new, and enjoy a clean, updated bathroom. But the hidden cost of replacing a bathtub isn’t just financial, it’s environmental.
The Waste Factor
A typical porcelain-on-steel or cast iron bathtub weighs anywhere from 250 to 350 pounds. Once it’s removed, all that material has to go somewhere — and most often, it’s a landfill. And the tub isn’t the only thing being tossed. Removal almost always involves breaking up surrounding tile, tearing out sections of drywall, and disconnecting plumbing fixtures. Those materials add hundreds more pounds to the total waste created by a single bathroom renovation.
Multiply that across thousands of bathroom remodels happening every year, and the environmental burden is staggering. Perfectly functional tubs, with nothing more than cosmetic flaws, are buried under layers of trash, taking up space and contributing to landfill overcrowding.
Why Refinishing Makes a Difference
Refinishing takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of discarding the existing tub, you restore it in place. With Ekopel, there’s no demolition, no hauling debris to the landfill, and no need for heavy machinery or major construction work. The coating bonds directly to the existing surface, creating a fresh, durable finish that can last 10 years or more.
This approach keeps existing materials in use, which means far less construction debris and fewer raw resources being pulled from the environment. Since everything is done on-site, you also avoid the ripple effect of replacing surrounding fixtures or finishes.
A Greener Choice Without Sacrifice
Some people worry that refinishing means compromising on quality, but modern coatings like Ekopel prove otherwise. The finish is thick, long-lasting, and free from toxic chemicals, offering a safer, more sustainable way to update without cutting corners.
When you choose to refinish, you’re making more than a design choice — you’re making an environmental one.
A smaller footprint. A better finish. And a choice the planet will thank you for.