Giant showers might be all the rage these days, but do you still need to have a bathtub to successfully sell your home at a profit? Like any home fixture, they are subject to the trends of the day. (Remember the whirlpool tubs of the 1980s?) It might not make or break your house sale, but knowing what buyers are looking for always helps. Some buyers don’t mind getting what they consider “fixer uppers,” but some will balk at needing to add new fixtures after the sale.
Real estate agents and home appraisers are torn on whether you need at least one bathtub in your home. Regardless of what you decide, when you need home or bathtub upgrades in Phoenix, AZ, be sure to call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. to handle the job. We can help you repair or refinish your home fixtures so your house will be ready to sell.
Pros of having a bathtub
The more amenities, the better: When you’re selling a home, the home with the most amenities wins, and that includes tubs. When you give a buyer more options, there’s less of a chance that one fixture will make or break a sale.
Appeal to families: Naturally, families with small children will want a bathtub—it just makes it easier to bathe children without making a mess. If you’re living in a neighborhood that has plenty of family appeal, having a bathtub is going to make your home far more attractive to prospective buyers with young families.
Appeal to luxury homeowners: Of course, if you have a home with multiple or large bathrooms, you’ll also appeal to luxury homeowners. Many people consider bathtubs a great source of relaxation and self-care, so bathtubs will be expected in these types of homes.
Cons of having a bathtub
Your bathroom is too small: Sometimes your bathroom is just too small for a tub, and you have to make a choice. We see this often in condos and small apartments—there’s no sense in having a tub if it makes the bathroom impractical to use. That will turn a buyer off, too.
You might rarely use it: Family-oriented neighborhoods practically require bathtubs, but what about living in apartments or condos downtown? These neighborhoods usually cater to adults, so your home sale may not depend on whether your place has a tub.
Whatever you decide, it’s most important that your shower or tub is beautiful and inviting. If your fixtures look dull and dingy, consider having them refinished or repaired.
Get help with home upgrades in Phoenix, AZ
For over 40 years, A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. has offered a wide variety of repair and refinishing services. We work on all the fixtures in your bathroom, from tubs and showers to sinks and tile. You’ll get our quality work and excellent customer service no matter the size of the job. Call us today to schedule your bathtub upgrade or learn more about any of our other services.
Porcelain tubs can be difficult to keep clean. Without proper upkeep, the somewhat fragile surface can look dingy, scratched and dirty. Typically, porcelain tubs are made from cast iron and then coated in porcelain. Although they’re designed to last for decades, the coating is sure to eventually show some signs of wear. Furthermore, using certain cleaning products can exacerbate the damage and take years off its finish.
With this in mind, here’s a guide to the best ways to clean a porcelain tub in Phoenix, AZ:
Don’t use abrasives: When you’re cleaning enamel, you need to take care not to chip, crack or abrade your porcelain’s surface. Avoid steel wool, scouring pads, scouring powder and vinegar. All of these can break down the gloss that makes your porcelain tub so beautiful.
Use gentle cleaners only: Warm water, ammonia and baking soda should be all you need, unless your porcelain tub came with deep stains already on the surface.
Scrub with warm water: Fill a large bucket with warm or hot water, and add a quarter cup each of ammonia and baking soda. Using a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge, soak the cloth in the mixture and apply it to the tub. Keep dipping and scrubbing as necessary, making sure to focus on any stains. When you’re all done, rinse the tub with clean water and use a clean rag to further rinse and polish the surface.
Treat tough stains naturally: When you have tough stains that ammonia and baking soda can’t eradicate on their own, use the juice of a lemon and some salt. Cover the stain with salt and then squeeze the juice of a lemon on top, then let it sit for at least a half an hour. Another great solution is to use a paste of two parts baking soda and one part hydrogen peroxide. If this doesn’t work, try the lemon juice and salt method, but leave it on for an hour this time.
Try weekly upkeep: The best way to keep stains from setting in is to keep up with your cleaning—it’s boring, but true! Use about a gallon of hot water mixed with dishwashing soap and scrub down the entire tub, then rinse with clean water. You should have a shiny and clean porcelain bathtub again in no time at all!
Refinish your tub: If you have stubborn stains that just won’t quit, it might be time to call in professional help to re-glaze your tub—and if you need help, call us!
A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. can help you with porcelain tub cleaning in Phoenix, AZ. For over 40 years, we’ve provided the Phoenix area with great service at affordable prices. If your bathroom fixtures are looking dirty, dingy or just run down, give us a call. Our team of skilled professionals specializes in refinishing and repairing porcelain sinks, bathtubs and showers. Reach out to us today to find out how we can make your bathroom look brand-new again!
Fiberglass sinks in Phoenix, AZ are durable and beautiful, but they do tend to be a little difficult to keep clean. Fiberglass is sensitive to acids, chemicals and other abrasive cleaning products and techniques. That can present a real problem if you’re dealing with stains or hard water!
Over time, fiberglass can turn dull or dingy and develop stains. That’s because it’s a composite material that’s prone to scratching. The more scratches your sink has, the easier it is for stains to permeate and get trapped in the tiny crevices. You’ll need to take a little extra care when you’re cleaning a fiberglass sink in Phoenix, AZ, but the pro tips below will help prolong its lifespan. If you try them all and still can’t get the results you want, it may be time to refinish your sink—at a fraction of the cost it would be to replace it. Call the pros at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. for more information on how you can revitalize your fiberglass tub or sink.
Cleaning fiberglass
Exercise caution when scrubbing your sink—too much acid and pressure can damage the material. Here are some approaches you can try:
Scrub with baking soda and warm water: Using a soft cloth or sponge, dampen the cloth and sprinkle baking soda over it. Scrub the sink using medium pressure, aiming to remove water deposits, dirt and mineral stains. Use another damp cloth to remove the baking soda.
Mild abrasives: If you’re still having trouble with stubborn stains, try a mild abrasive cleanser. We like Bon Ami, Brill-Glow or Soft Scrub. These should allow you to scrub away deeper stains without damaging the fiberglass’ surface. After you’re finished scrubbing, rinse with warm water.
Calcium removers: Products like CLR, Lime-A-Way and even simple 5 percent white vinegar are safe enough to use on fiberglass, sparingly. (Don’t use this trick in your weekly bathroom wipe-down!) Use according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and wipe down with warm water.
Oxygen bleach as a last resort: If you still can’t get those stains out after trying the above methods, you can use oxygen bleach as a last resort. Oxygen bleach can be purchased, but you can also make your own version. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide, one part baking soda and two parts hot water. Then simply apply to the stains (and only the stains), wait an hour and rinse away.
Other sources recommend solvents such as acetone (found in nail polish remover) for stains. Be cautious when using any abrasive, as they can shorten the lifespan of your fiberglass sink.
A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. can help you with care and maintenance for your fiberglass sink in Phoenix, AZ. For over 40 years, we’ve provided the Phoenix area with great service at affordable prices. If your bathroom fixtures are looking dirty, dingy or just run down, give us a call. Our team of skilled professionals specialize in refinishing and repairing fiberglass sinks, bathtubs and showers. We look forward to assisting you soon!
The one bad thing about fiberglass bathtubs is that they can be a little tricky to keep clean. Over time, soap scum builds up in the tub, turning the white surface into a less appealing brown color. The good news is that we’re here to help! Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about cleaning fiberglass in Phoenix, AZ:
Spray with vinegar: Your first step is to fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spray the whole tub with it. Be sure to get the entire tub, including any corners. The last thing you want is to have a clean tub except for one tiny corner that’s still brown and nasty.
Wait 30 minutes: After you’ve sprayed down the whole tub, you’ll have to wait about half an hour for it to work its magic. During this time, wet a cleaning sponge with more vinegar to prepare for the next step.
Sprinkle baking soda: When put together, vinegar and baking soda are fantastic all-natural cleaning agents. After 30 minutes is up, sprinkle some baking soda throughout the tub. Again, be sure to get all the nooks and crannies in your tub.
Scrub: It’d be nice if the vinegar and baking soda alone were enough to clean your bathtub, but that’s not the case. You’ll still need to use a little bit of elbow grease to ensure that your tub is as clean as can be. Use your vinegar-soaked sponge and get to work scrubbing the tub. Vinegar’s cleaning and disinfecting properties combined with baking soda’s mild abrasiveness are sure to bring your tub back to its original glory.
Rinse: Finally, turn on the showerhead and hose down your tub. Be sure to rinse off all the baking soda, as it can be tough to remove if it hardens onto the surface.
Reasons to hire a professional
Following the tips above should help get your bathtub sparkling clean. However, the best way to get a clean tub is to pick up the phone and call a professional. Here are a few of the benefits of hiring a pro to clean your tub:
Spend your time elsewhere: You have better things to do with your time than spending it on your hands and knees cleaning your tub. Instead of wasting your day cleaning, just call us to take care of it! We’ll have your whole bathtub sparkling clean in no time.
Save yourself a hassle: Though cleaning fiberglass in Phoenix, AZ isn’t necessarily the hardest chore around the house, it’s still not a ton of fun. Let us take care of your tub cleaning needs and save yourself a lot of trouble.
Ensure it’s done right: If you want quality results, then be sure to hire professional tub experts! We won’t stop until your bathtub looks like new again.
Don’t choose anyone but A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., LLC if you need more tips for effective bathtub cleaning in Phoenix, AZ. Give us a call today to get a free estimate or to learn more about all of our fantastic services.
Few parts of your home are as critical to your overall well-being as your bathtub. It can be a place to relax, to unwind and, of course, to scrub up. When your tub is showing signs of age, however, it can be an eyesore in the middle of one of your home’s most commonly used rooms. Just because your bathtub is showing signs of wear and tear doesn’t mean it’s time to replace it. You could be a perfect candidate for bathtub refinishing.
Why Should I Refinish?
There are plenty of reasons to commit to bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ:
Your tub ties the room together: If you’re one of those homeowners who spends countless hours assembling the right decor for each room in your house, then you know the importance of any one, single element in a room. Replacing something as noticeable as a tub can be something of a headache. If you’ve already designed the perfect bathroom once, why force yourself to go through that hardship again? You’ve got the perfect tub already—it just needs a little work.
It’s cost-effective: Lots of people do not realize that replacing your bathtub is typically two jobs in one. The first job is replacing your tub; the second job is repairing the damage done to your bathroom floor. Worse yet, replacing your bathtub could require replacing, refitting or upgrading parts of your home’s plumbing. Refinishing, meanwhile, poses none of that potential hardship.
Consider the quality: If your existing bathtub is of particularly high quality, you might find that you have trouble replacing it with something that demonstrates equal craftsmanship. That’s especially true of antique tubs.
The solution that lasts: Anyone going through the hassle of replacing their bathtub rightfully expects 10 to 20 years of use out of the new model. What you might not be aware of when considering bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ is that, when properly maintained, a refinished bathtub can last just as long as the alternative.
Refinishing is a green alternative: Assuming you decide to go with a full replacement of your bathtub, there’s another inherent hurdle: what do you do about your old tub and the floor material damaged during the replacement? The inevitable answer is that the refuse ends up in a landfill.
It’s quick: Unlike a complete bathtub replacement, which can be obtrusive and take a long time, bathtub refinishing typically takes about one day. Your tub will look like new before you know it.
Your Hometown Pros
If your bathtub is starting to look a little worse for the wear, you don’t have to break the bank or put your whole bathroom out of commission just to make it right. It’s time to think about refinishing. The entire process is substantially cheaper than replacement, and it usually only takes one day.
When it comes to bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ, there’s no better name to enlist than A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. Our trustworthy team of pros is ready to walk you through the pros and cons of refinishing to determine the best solution for your specific needs. Visit our website and get your free estimate today!
