Bathtub Refinishing – Don’t Replace Your Bathtub, Refinish It!
A bathtub is an object conventionally associated with rest and relaxation. It is meant to be a safe haven, where an individual can relax and unwind after a hard day of work. Additionally it is often seen as a child’s first ‘swimming pool’ where he or she learns to fall in love with water. Without even realizing it, a bathtub is a place where many beautiful memories are made.
However often enough tubs do tend to become both problematic and bothersome, when they get-
- Gotten worn out over the years
Whether we would like to admit it or not, even the most high end bath tubs do get worn out. Once they get worn out they simply become an eyesore to the bathroom and anyone who enters the room, ends up feeling a little uncomfortable.
- It has been damaged due to some accident
It is rather unfortunate that accidents in the bathtub are not uncommon. These accidents often lead to a part of the tub getting chipped or even developing cracks. Even the smallest of cracks do look unsightly and end up giving the bathroom a very shabby look.
- It is discolored due to prolonged usage or harsh cleaning products
Even if your take exceptional care of your bathtub, sometimes they do end up getting discolored. This discoloration could be for a number of reasons like too many chemicals being used in the cleaning process. A discoloured tub is truly a sight for sore eyes and it is bound to leave a bad impression in the mind of the guests who visit your home.
- It is in a color that doesn’t match the rest of the bathroom anymore
It’s indeed no major secret that people change their wallpaper or paint their house way more often than they replace the furniture. So, very often people change their wall paper or paint only to find out that the tub doesn’t match the rest of the bathroom anymore! A situation like this can well become rather problematic!
- Or it is simply too hard to clean
Do you find that your bathtub is made of a material which is just too hard to clean and upkeep?
Considerations like this, tend to make people think that they have no other option before them than to replace their bathtub. However doing this is simply not necessary. Instead of going ahead and replacing the tub. All you need to do is opt for bathroom refinishing to solve all your bathtub related problems. This is indeed a much better option because-
- It is much easier on the pocket
- You will not be generating unnecessary waste
- Much less time consuming
- Eliminates the effort involved in picking out a new tub
- Can be made into any colour you like (so as to suit the rest of your bathroom)
- A long lasting solution
- Permits you to customize your tub using whatever material you like
Tub refinishing is often referred to as- bathtub resurfacing, bathtub reglazing or even bathtub re-enameling. It is the name given to the process of refreshing the worn out or damaged surface of a bathtub. This process is effective in making the surface look as good as new without much trouble at all. This procedure conventionally involves just a few steps. They are as follows-
Repairing of the damaged spots
In this first stage, the cracks, dents or chips are tended too in a proper manner. This is done by making use of polyester putty. Once this step has been completed to perfection, then the surface is further prepped with an acid etching.
Etching
What etching does is that it provides a mechanical adhesion. What etching does is that it provides a porous surface which will permit proper adhesion. These two methods can be used at one times or independently from one another.
Application of the Primer
Once these two steps have been completed then the next step is the application of the primer. Once the primer has been applied, then it is finally time for the top coat to come on.
And finally – the Top Coat
The coatings which are conventionally used on a bathtub include- epoxies, urethanes, hybrid polyester-polyurethane, or polymers. Based on what the professional is comfortable with, he or she will either use a roller, brush it on or even spray the coating on. All three of these methods are equally effective. However it takes a very skilled hand to do the job in a satisfactory manner.
Though the process of refinishing, or reglazing the tub might involve just a few chief stages, yet if not carried out in a proper manner, it could well spell disaster for you. Nowadays, the market is also filled with DIY kits which claim to be able to do the job perfectly, but the fact of the matter is that the DIY kits do a very incomplete substandard job and they never provide the same level of bonding. When opting for a DIY kit, you might think that you are saving a lot of money, but in reality, you will just end up spending way more in the long run.
Therefore rather than hiring just any or anyone for the job or trying to do it yourself, it is always a much better option to avail of the services of a company that has stood the test of time and knows exactly what it is doing.