Bathtubs have looked vastly different over time, some massive and pink, others small and plain white. If one thing changes over time it’s taste, styles are constantly changing and evolving. In the past you would have been stuck with your tub, but now we have this thing called refinishing. Refinishing can take even the ugliest tubs and in just a few days have them looking exactly as you want, refinishing will make you not even consider full on replacement. With proper care, your tub can last you years and years before you’ll even have to think about refinishing again.
Bathroom Repair
Reglazing your tub yourself at home with a DIY kit will generally use lower quality materials than professional will. Professionals are able to source and use the top of the line materials and process, they know from experience what is going to work best. You on the other hand, are only able to use whatever you can get your hands on, and chances are good that you have no or very little actually applicable experience. Not to say DIY kits are completely useless, but they just aren’t near the quality of what professionals are going to give you. The small parts of refinishing are what determine if the job is going to last for a long time or wash your money down the drain. Things like having proper ventilation while you’re working, getting the surface of your tub perfectly ready to take the refinishing, and other small things. One small missed spot during the refinishing can quickly turn into a large foot wide spot of missing coating, and that’s the last thing anyone wants to happen.
Bathtub refinishing starts with the old tub surface being stripped off completely, generally done with an acid of some kind to ensure consistent results. You have to have all of your old finish taken off if you want to refinish to stay on well. A few things must be fixed before refinishing can be done if you want good results – if you notice any chips or cracks they’ve got to be taken care of. Once all is ready to the pros will use their spray gun to spray on two coats of epoxy for a strong base. After that a layer of epoxy is sprayed on to ensure a good clean finish. You may ask why a spray gun and not just a brush? Well that’s to avoid streaking or any other imperfections that those leave.
Durham Bathtub Repair
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!
When it comes to increasing the value of your home, bathtub refinishing Durham is one of the most worthwhile and impactful things you can do. It can be done in a day or two and last you for 10+ years easily! Don’t torture yourself with that horrid tub you’ve always hated any longer, go ahead and get the bathtub you’ve always wanted!