When it comes to bathroom remodeling, replacing the bathtub is one of the costliest upgrades. Refinishing the bathtub instead of replacing it saves thousands of dollars and time when updating bathrooms. This goes for resurfacing old cast iron bathtubs and fiberglass or acrylic shower pans too! When it comes time to resurface the bathtub, you want to make sure that you choose a good refinishing company. The following are some of the questions that you want to ask before you commit to refinishing your bathtub.
Before you let anyone anywhere near your home with refinishing products, make sure they have liability insurance coverage. If an accident happens, your insurance company will thank you.
Many companies claim to use the best products but make sure you ask. Most of all refinishing companies are using either acrylic urethane or epoxy. Most people think that only epoxy is used, but that would be wrong. Just about every company can apply acrylic urethane or epoxy bathtub refinishing products to your tub. Most companies use a two-part product that consists of an epoxy resin and a hardener in a can. The resin has the color, while the hardener makes it a little more durable and scratch resistant. The two parts are mixed together after application, and it cures quickly.
Acrylic is applied with three separate components – a resin, catalyst and thinner – but unlike epoxy it's more durable. When exposed to UV light, the epoxy paint will appear chalky and fade. Urethane paints are thinner than epoxy paints, but they are generally more resistant to chemicals, abrasion, and impact and last longer as a coating. Urethane paint is also UV-resistant and can be used as an exterior topcoat.
Contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the company that you are considering. Check with the BBB and Angie's List, or other online review sites. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a reputable contractor. Ask neighbors or family members who they used for their bathtub refinishing project and see if they would recommend them.
The company should also have a warranty for their workmanship or product being applied to the tub. If something was not done properly, they need to be there to fix it at no charge.
Typically, you do have to prep the bathtub before refinishing it. If you have a bathtub that has been previously refinished and it is peeling or appears chalky looking, then there are some things that you can do to prep the surface. Remove any stickers or adhesives from your tub with a cleaning product before the refinishing company comes out. Let the refinisher know if there are any hairline cracks or chips that need repaired. They can also sand down some rough spots on the tub with a mild abrasive pad and rinse well so there is nothing loose in your bathtub before refinishing.
The actual time that it takes to refinish bathtubs can vary. It typically takes about 4 hours, but sometimes it can take up to 6 hours depending on the number of coats that are applied. Bathtub refinishing companies will do their best to stay on schedule and get your job done in an efficient manner.
The bathtub refinishing process can make your bathtub look like new again. But bathtubs are made up of porcelain enamel. That means that the surface is porous and absorbs things. The bathtub refinishing company will fill in any chips or cracks prior to refinishing the tub.
Once your bathtub has been thoroughly cleaned and all loose dirt particles removed, the bathtub refinishing company will prepare your bathtub for refinishing by sanding it down to give a surface for adhesion and then etching the tub if it is porcelain. Then they should apply a liquid primer. After that a color topcoat refinishing product will be applied and then it's time to cure. After about 48 hours, the bathtub refinishing product should be cured and ready for use.
You should ask what is involved in refinishing the bathtub beforehand because each bathtub refinishing company does things slightly different.
There's no denying bathtub refinishing is an expensive procedure. The average bathtub refinishing cost can range anywhere from $350 to $1,000 depending on the size and condition of your bathtub. This price does not include any repairs that might need to be done such as chips or cracks. But compared to the alternative options it is much cheaper.
The bathtub refinishing should last for several years, so you can enjoy having your bathtub look like new again. But remember bathtubs that are refinished require certain care to stand the test of time. They must be properly maintained with non-abrasive products to help maintain the finish.
The bathtub refinishing company should have provided you with special instructions on how to care for your newly refinished bathtub, but if they didn't be sure to ask for them. To keep your refinished bathtub looking new, you should always use non-abrasive cleaners and non-scratching sponges. Never use any type of scouring pads or bristled brushes on your refinished surface as they can damage and scratch the finish. You should also never leave any type of water ring or soap scum on the surface as it can lead to dulling and damage.
We hope that this article has helped you gain some insight into bathtub refinishing and what you should expect from a reputable bathtub refinishing company. Bathtub refinishing is an effective way to restore your bathtub to its original beauty.
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