I felt compelled to jump in here, since I do this for a living. While some folks have been unhappy with tub refinishing, I've found that most of them did it "on the cheap". Very few people can get good results with a Home Depot kit. The materials are nothing like what I use. And there are some guys who learned how to do a quick, cheap process by working in maintenance for an apartment complex, which is not designed to last. And I've even seen some done by a "handyman" that was just a few coats of enamel paint.
Believe me, I have stripped and re-done all sorts of these inferior jobs. If a tub is refinished by an experienced professional with quality primer and topcoat, and thorough preparation, it can look fantastic, and provide many years of service. Will it be like new? No. I always give my customers realistic expectations. This is an affordable alternative to replacement. I charge around $350 to refinish a tub, and it takes 5 to 6 hours. Having a contractor rip out your tub and surrounding tile, and having the tile and plumbing replaced can run between $1500 - $3000 and can take a week or more. Can you expect the same results by spending $350 as you would by spending $1500 or more? Of course not. But a professionally done tub should last 8 - 10 years on average, and some have been known to last as long as 20 years. And if it starts to peel it can always be stripped and refinished again.
Bottom line is I can restore a tub in one day for a fraction of the cost and time as replacement.
You might try:
Bay To Gulf Perma-Glaze
Decker, Greg
Tampa FL 33615 (US)
Phone: 727-421-0606
Website:
www.baytogulfpermaglaze.com
I'm not sure if they service your area or not, but if not, they may be able to recommend someone.