Did your bathtub look nice way back in the day when it was originally installed? What about now that times have changed a bit, and probably your tastes as well? Wild colors like bright pinks and blues were very much in style back in the day for a while, but these days it’s more about more plain colors and simple styles. The great thing about bathtub refinishing is that it isn’t JUST to be used when your tub is cracking, chipping and looking bad, it can also be used exclusively to change the color and look of your tub! You’ll never have to look at that horrible color again after refinishing, you just get to enjoy your nice new tub!
Bath Tub Remodeling
As with most things, you always have the option to either call in a professional service on give a DIY try. With most things it is great to try DIY first if you think you can successfully get it done. But with something like this, you have more things to take into consideration. One big thing is ventilation, some of the materials used in the refinishing process are not good to be in an enclosed space with. Before you can even start you’re going to need to get protective equipment and proper ventilation set up, whether than just be opening windows or getting an air vent run to the outside of your home. Next is just the quality of products used, professionals are going to be able to get and use higher quality materials than you can. They tend to use acrylics and urethane products, while DIY kits are generally constrained to paints and simple epoxies. Lastly, and most importantly, is just having prior knowledge and paying attention to details. Pro’s are going to have that knowledge to lean back on, and know the things they’re looking out for. Something as small as not having just a small spot of your tubs surface ready to take to the refinishing can result in it failing in just mere months. And once a spot goes bad, it’s just going to keep growing until you do something about it.
When you’re looking at refinishing your bathtub, you first need to have the old glaze stripped off so you’re starting from the base again. A professional is typically going to use something quite harsh like hydrofluoric acid to do this, it’s important that if you are stripping the tub you get it completely cleared up. They then want to rinse all of that away and do some sanding. They don’t want it completely smooth, but they want a lot of small imperfections for the refinishing coat to grab on to. If you’re refinishing on a completely smooth surface, it’s not going to have anything to grab onto and will thus be more prone to falling apart. Next, all crack, chips, burns etc. need to be repaired and filled in completely. Professional refinishers typically apply two coats of fast-drying epoxy to ensure the finish coat adheres properly, and finish the process with a polyurethane topcoat to act as a final seal and layer of protection on top of it all. Instead of painting with brushes or rollers, a professional will probably paint with a spray gun, this just offers a smoothest and cleanest coat possible, avoids all brush marks and imperfections. You’ll get that nice glossy clean appearance that everyone loves and wants for their tubs.
Bathroom Refinishing
Now that your tub has been refinished, it is NOT automatically indestructible. It will require cleaning and care to maintain it and prevent any further scratching, discoloration, or damage. You should never use abrasive cleaners or tools like steel wool, bleach, rough brushes, or anything else that could cause abrasions on the surface anywhere. You need to always ensure that you’re using things like bleach-free cleaners, washcloths, and just things that aren’t going to be abrasive on the surface of the tub. You don’t have to, but we suggest you avoid using bath mats with suction cups, as they can tear up your coating. You can re-coat with a urethane polish every six months or so to keep it preserved as long as possible. As long as you are careful, your refinished tub should last you at least 10-15 years, that’s a fantastic return on your initial investment!
Bathtub refinishing is one of the simplest and affordable things you can do in your home, and it can also greatly increase the value! It can be done in less than a day and last you for up to 15 years after that with the proper care. Bath tub refinishing Raleigh NC will make sure the refinishing is done right! Don’t settle any longer with that ugly tub that you don’t even want to use, get the bathtub you’ve always wanted and will actually feel confident using!