DIY kits promise the same result for a tenth of the price. The difference shows up in the prep, the tools — and about eighteen months later.
Why the kit struggles
Roll-on and brush-on coatings go on thinner than a professional spray system, and the hobby kits skip the industrial etch that makes enamel bond. Most kit finishes start bubbling or peeling within a year or two.
The part nobody enjoys
A good reglaze is 80% preparation: stripping soap film, repairing chips, acid-etching, masking and ventilating. It is messy, chemical-heavy work — and exactly the step weekend projects cut short.
What a pro changes
Commercial coatings, sprayed application, forced ventilation and a written warranty. The finish cures harder, lays down smoother, and if anything ever goes wrong, someone comes back to fix it.
A kit can change the color of your tub. Making it stay changed is the professional part.