Kent · England
Bath chip & crack repair in River, Kent
Bath repair across River and nearby, usually in one visit.
- Repairs from £95
- An old repair that has yellowed or come loose
- Rust by the waste and overflow
Bath repair at your home in River
Repairing baths is what we do most. Chips on the rim, rust around the waste and cracks in acrylic are all fixed without removing the bath, normally in one visit. Whether it’s snagging damage from a refit and cracks in an acrylic bath, we can normally put it right.
We stand behind the work with a one-year guarantee, so you’re covered after the visit.
- Location
- River (CT17, CT16)
- Region
- Kent
- Warranty
- One year on every repair
- Quote
- From £95. Fixed and free, based on pictures
- Telephone
- 0345 017 0787
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Questions from River
Do you work for landlords and businesses?
Yes. We work for landlords, agents, builders and businesses as well as homeowners across Kent.
Can you quote from pictures?
In nearly every case. We only ask to see it in person if the pictures can’t show what we need.
Is it messy?
Dust sheets and masking go down before we start, and we clean up when we have finished.
Do I have to be there?
Someone needs to let us in and show us the job. You don’t need to watch us work.
I tried a repair kit. Can you fix it?
Yes. We take out the old repair and do it properly. Mention it when you send photos.
Is a repair better than a new one?
Typically, if the item is otherwise sound. Repairing avoids the cost and disruption of replacing. We’ll tell you honestly if replacement makes more sense.
Is it OK to have pets in the house?
We ask you to keep children and pets out of the room while we work and until it has cured. Everywhere else in the home is fine.
Can you repair a hole in a bath?
Often, if there’s access underneath. We back the hole, fill it and refinish the surface.
What else we do in River
Materials and what they mean for the repair
Cast iron
Cast iron baths are thick and very strong, finished with fired enamel. A chip down to the iron can rust, but the bath itself lasts for generations, which makes it well worth repairing.
Acrylic
Acrylic is light and warm to the touch, but it needs firm support underneath. Repairs to cracks are reinforced from the back.
Landlords, agents and businesses in River
Builders, developers and site managers book us for snagging repairs, putting right damage done during fitting so nothing needs replacing. We hold CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor accreditations.
Rented homes see more wear and tear, and replacing items every time a tenant leaves is expensive. Repairing between tenants keeps the property presentable for less.
Repairing versus replacing in River
Replacing a fitted bath typically means a plumber, removing the old bath, making good the tiles and panel and disposing of the old one. A repair deals only with the damage in a single visit. Repairs from £95, with every job priced individually. Every job is a little different, so we price each one individually. What’s damaged, how badly and how easy it is to reach all make a difference, and doing several things on one visit costs less than separate visits.
Why choose Surface Doctor in River
- Everything repaired in place
- Fixed prices from your photos
- Accredited with CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor
- Every repair guaranteed for a year
Take a look at our prices page or guide to resurfacing and replacement costs.
How to care for the repair
So the finish stays in good condition:
- Do not scrub with anything abrasive
- Don’t leave razors or cans standing in the bath
- Cover the bath during DIY or decorating
- Have new chips seen to early
Clean with mild, non-abrasive cleaners and avoid dropping heavy items on the repaired area. Deal with new chips early, before rust sets in.
If water is getting through a crack, stop using the bath. Leaks under a bath can damage floors and ceilings.
About River
River is about 1 mile north-west of Dover, in Kent. Book a date that suits you, and you will know when to expect us, so there’s no waiting around. Our technicians cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 64 miles away.
Our repair technicians cover all of the CT17 and CT16 postcode area and the streets around it. From Lower Road, Minnis Lane and London Road or anywhere nearby, a technician can come to you. Neighbouring places we cover include Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile north-west), Dover (1 mile south-east), Whitfield (1 mile north-east) and Maxton (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles south-west) and Walmer (7 miles north-east).
Landmarks near River
In River, that means homes near Dover Christ Church Academy, Church of St Peter and Old Park Hill and the streets around them. Nearby too are St Edmund's Catholic School (1.4 miles south-east), Royal Oak Cottage The Royal Oak Public House (less than half a mile south) and River Primary School (less than half a mile south-west). For rail, the closest station is Kearsney station, roughly 0.5 miles north-west of the centre. Further afield, we also cover the area around Crabble Corn Mill (less than half a mile south-east) and Dover Castle (2.2 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
The process
On the day itself, there is little for you to do. Let us in and show us the room, and we will get on with it. The job generally runs to a few hours, tidy-up included.
- First, we check the damage against your photos and agree the plan.
- Any rust and loose material comes out, and the area is degreased.
- We build up the filler in layers, shaping it to the bath.
- We tint the finish by hand to match the bath.
- Finally, it’s polished to match the shine and left to cure.
How to prepare
- Open a window if you can
- Let us know which floor the room is on
- Tell us about any previous repairs or coatings
Getting a price
To get a price, send a couple of photos through our quote form or call us. We will tell you honestly whether it can be repaired.
Related advice
What affects the price in River
Prices start from £95. Quotes are free and the price is fixed. What we take into account:
- Where the damage is and how we get to it
- The material
- How much damage there is
- How hard the colour is to match
Our prices are the same across the UK, so there’s no premium for River. The job itself decides the price: the material, the amount of damage and how many items.
Getting a price from pictures
Photographing the damage takes a minute. Try to send:
- Daylight if possible, and no flash reflection
- A photo taken from further back
- Whether it’s been repaired or coated before
- The material, if you know it
A quote takes minutes to ask for: photograph the damage, then the whole bath, add your postcode and send them to us. You’ll get a fixed price, not an estimate.
When a repair isn’t the answer
Honesty matters more than a booking, so here’s what a repair can’t fix:
- A whole bath that is dull or worn, where a full re-enamel is the better fix
- A bath that moves underfoot, until its support is fixed
- Acrylic cracks with no access behind them
Send us photos and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Materials we repair
- Roll-top & freestanding
- Whirlpool & spa baths
- Acrylic
- Pressed steel enamel
- Cast iron enamel
DIY kit or professional repair?
We understand the appeal of fixing it yourself. The risk is that a kit repair hides the damage for a while, then fails, and the old filler has to come out before a proper repair.
If you are set on a kit, follow its instructions closely and work on a clean, dry surface, and do not use it until it has fully cured. If it does not work out, we can still repair it properly.
About our accreditations · Every repair comes with a one-year guarantee.
