Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. If your bathtub has seen better days, make sure you know your options before you break out the crowbar. Bathtubs and their surrounding walls are one of the most likely places you ll find water damage. If you see cracked tile or failing grout or caulking, there s almost certain to be water damage of some sort to the wall, the subfloor or even your home s structure. If you know your tub surround has been leaking for a while, you should never just cover it up with a new tub wall and liner. Mold and mildew trapped behind the walls and floors can multiply and continue to damage your home s structure and your family s health even if you can t see it. Serious mold eradication may require the help of a professional to be sure it s completely gone before you renovate. Let s say you remove the old tile and substrate and find no water damage. You can renew your tub or shower area without the expense, effort and environmental cost of junking your old tub. If it s stained or chipped or you don t like the color, having your existing cast-iron tub re-glazed can save you 70 percent over the cost of buying and installing a brand new one. Acrylic or fiberglass tubs can also be repaired and re-coated for a fresh start. If you do decide to replace your tub, there are lots to choose from. Acrylic, fiberglass and porcelain on steel are the least expensive, and cast-iron is very durable and popular. Vintage clawfoot tubs are seeing a revival. If you ve got the space and the budget, you could sink a tiled roman tub into the floor. Or, check out the new designer stand-alone sculptural tubs. With champagne bubbles, hydrotherapy jets and even TV screens, your tub may become your favorite piece of furniture. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob moves on to the third floor of the Melrose nursery remodeling project to review what has been done in preparation for the baby. The third floor will primarily be a kids' floor and, accordingly, at the top of the staircase a baby safety gate has been installed. Bob reviews the painting work done in the bedroom and then moves on to a room that was previously a home office but is now being renovated to become a child's bathroom. The room has the original beadboard and sits under the eaves of the roof. A small bathtub has been installed in front of the dormer window that has been replaced with a Pella window to prevent cold drafts. Bob reviews the unusual shape of the room. The new, freestanding Vintage bathtub has an antique style. A series of clips shows how the plumber installed the tub and connected the supply and waste lines. Bob then talks with Tara Dick of Vintage Tubs about the bathtub. Dick reviews features of the tub and explains how molds are made from older tubs so that new tubs of the same style can be manufactured. The porcelain finish is made to be one of the most durable in the industry and is capable of resisting cleaning chemicals. The ball-and-claw feet on the tub are made of solid brass with a chrome coating. Fixtures for the tub can be bought from many companies. Dick adds that free-standing tubs offer great flexibility in design and can accomodate any bathroom layout.

Bob disucsses the process and chemicals used to clean and restore the home's vintage bathtub. A new finish of synthetic porcelain is applied to the pedestal sink once it has been prepped.