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!
The two materials most commonly used for walk-in bathtubs for senior citizens are acrylic and fiberglass. Both of these materials provide plenty of strength and can be customized to give some aesthetic appeal as well.
For seniors, there are plenty of good options in both of these types of materials to bring into your home, but our team specializes in providing fiberglass tubs in Glendale, AZ, for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few of them:
Affordability: Perhaps one of the biggest benefits associated with fiberglass tubs is their affordability, especially when compared to options such as copper, cast iron, brass and various stones. Even acrylic bathtubs, which tend to have lower price tags, will still generally cost more than fiberglass. This is especially ideal for senior citizens, who tend to be living on fixed incomes and aren’t as likely to splurge on luxury amenities for their bathrooms.
Easy to install: Fiberglass tubs are very lightweight, which allows for some pretty easy installation. Whenever you have to deal with heavier bathtub materials, such as metals or stones, it can be difficult to maneuver the tub into the place you need it to sit in the bathroom. Fiberglass is lightweight and can be carried to where it needs to be installed, and there’s no need for installing additional supports in the floor, no matter where in the house the tub is located.
Reparable finishes: While fiberglass does have a surface that is more easily scratched than some other types of tub materials, it is also easier to repair. You won’t have to worry about replacing your tub if it sustains damage. Just sand down the surface, use a filler and some epoxy-based coating and you’ll create a smooth surface so it looks brand new. You can also purchase a fiberglass repair kit that contains everything you need to clean and repair the surface.
Style range: You’ll be surprised at just how wide a range of styles there is with fiberglass bathtubs. You can find them in all different styles, sizes, forms and aesthetics. This is one of the main reasons why they’re so often marketed toward seniors—there are many different styles available that cater specifically to seniors who might have issues with mobility, who need extra slip protection or who have any other special needs that might not be as easy to find with other types of tub materials.
These are just a few of the biggest reasons why fiberglass tubs are our specialty and why we so often recommend them for senior citizens. If you’re interested in learning more about how to choose from our large selection of fiberglass tubs in Glendale, AZ and the types of features in these tubs that are most conducive to the lifestyles and needs of senior citizens, we encourage you to contact the team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., LLC today. One of our sales professionals will be happy to answer any questions you have. We look forward to assisting you soon!
The bathtub is one of the most important features of your bathroom, so it’s important that you do what you can to keep it in good condition for years to come. Regular use of the bathtub will, over time, result in some wear and tear and discoloration, and if you fail to keep it properly clean, you could start to see some mildew growth as well.
The good news is that, if your bathtub gets to the point where its appearance has been significantly affected, you can refinish or reglaze the bathtub to restore its appearance. These processes typically involve stripping off the original finish, and then applying a new finish. You can do this to either bring the tub back to its original color or appearance, or to change its appearance entirely.
Of course, if you’ve refinished your bathtub, it becomes even more important to keep up with your cleaning and general maintenance to make sure all your hard work doesn’t go to waste. With this in mind, here are some tips for refinished bathtub maintenance in Phoenix, AZ that you should be sure to keep in mind as a homeowner:
Keep it clean: As we mentioned previously, keeping your bathtub clean will help you to slow discoloration and avoid issues with mildew and mold. In the curing phase that occurs after you’ve refinished your tub, you should make sure to clean the tub regularly with a sponge and soap to prevent dust from settling into the finish while it’s drying.
Waxing: After you’ve reglazed your bathtub, one of the best things you can do to keep up its appearance is make sure you’ve regularly waxed the surface. You should do this first within two weeks after the new finish has been applied, being sure to clean the surface beforehand. You can use standard auto wax, and apply it with a damp cloth. After that first waxing, you can continue to wax once every one to three months as needed to keep it looking pristine.
Ventilation: You should always be sure to keep your bathroom well ventilated. If your bathroom does not have an air vent and fan in the ceiling, you should strongly consider installing one. This will help to prevent moisture from just sitting on surfaces in your bathroom and will cut down on humidity levels, both of which will help prevent the formation of mildew and mold.
Keep surfaces dry: Again, if you want to prevent mildew from forming, you should make sure to keep all the surfaces in your bathroom dry. After you use a bathtub, use a dry towel to wipe out the inside of the tub. Do not leave wet washcloths or sponges lying around.
Quick repairs: If any chips or cracks form in the surface of the tub, repair them immediately. Otherwise water will be able to get into the cracks, which could result in a breeding ground for mold.
For more information about refinished bathtub maintenance in Phoenix, AZ, contact the team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., LLC today.
Bathtub refinishing is a necessary maintenance step if you wish to improve the appearance and structural integrity of your tub. The most dangerous part of the bathtub refinishing process is inhaling the fumes associated with the job. It’s also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. For these reasons, proper ventilation and a well-fitting respirator are essential if you’re considering tackling a bathtub refinishing project on your own.
Of course, you could also bypass all these concerns by hiring professionals for bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ instead. But if you’re planning on doing it yourself, read on to find out the risks and how to keep yourself safe:
Recognize the dangers: The sad reality is that fumes have taken the lives of people who have failed to prepare adequately for this hazardous situation. The CDC reports that 14 workers have died since 2000 as a result of using stripping agents in bathtub refinishing that contained methylene chloride. This is an extremely dangerous compound when not used in the right way. Methylene chloride is liable to affect brain function, reducing concentration. Exposure to this dangerous chemical may cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and eye, nose and throat irritation.
Ventilation: One of the main keys is ensuring that air is moving in and out of the bathroom so that the fumes don’t stick around for too long. A good start is to leave the bathroom vent fan running on high. If you’re able to open a window or otherwise encourage the circulation of air, you should do so.
Read the signs: If the fumes are a bit overwhelming at any point during the application process, you need to remove yourself from the room. The smell of the fumes will decrease as the products dry. Some people are more sensitive to the odor of refinishing fumes then others, so it’s important to respond to what your body is telling you.
Come prepared: No matter if you’re refinishing a tub or using a chemical stripper, you need to use organic vapor cartridges. A dust mask isn’t going to do the trick and will provide no benefits.
Do you want to hand over the potentially hazardous job of bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ to the professionals? Let’s face facts: it just makes sense to bring in experts who will do the job right the first time, all while staying safe.
Since 1975, A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. has provided competitively priced bathtub and shower refinishing services across the Phoenix metro area. We specialize in repairing cracked fiberglass tubs and will also refinish showers, sinks, tiles and vanities.
Our loyal customers call us for all their bathroom maintenance needs, including caulking, installation and replacement of all bathroom fixtures. Our team of expert technicians is ready to make your bathroom look beautiful and increase your property’s value. Reach out to us today for all of your bathroom repair and refinishing needs—we look forward to working with you soon!
When you’re working on a home design or remodeling project, it can be overwhelming just how many options are out there. Consider the typical bathtub—most tubs look generally the same, and you would think that it wouldn’t lead to many design choices. However, once you start designing a bathroom, you’ll find out you can choose between porcelain, ceramic tile, fiberglass, acrylic… and the list goes on. After weighing all these options, you’ll likely turn to affordable and reparable fiberglass.
Fiberglass is a great option, and there are plenty of great places to call for fiberglass bathtub repair in Glendale, AZ. Read on for more information on why a fiberglass tub is one of the best options for your bathroom:
It’s affordable: The biggest benefit of fiberglass for most families is that it’s reasonably priced. The material is budget-friendly, and cheaper than natural materials as well as other plastic, like acrylic. And when you’re doing bathroom upgrades or designs, you will want to spend money on the fixtures and features that hold the biggest design punch, like tiling, vanities and flooring—not the bathtub.
It’s easy to repair: One drawback of fiberglass tubs is that they do show wear and tear more than tubs made of something like porcelain or ceramic. The surface is fairly soft, so it’s prone to things like cracks and scratches. However, sanding down the surface makes the fiberglass look like new, and you can hire a company to do all the difficult work for you. It’s a huge benefit that you can repair your fiberglass tub, as it’s always more affordable to repair than to replace the tub, and you avoid things like delivery fees and the extra installation time that comes along with buying a new bathtub.
It’s lightweight: This might seem like an odd point to raise, but because fiberglass tubs are relatively lightweight, they can be installed in your home more easily. Other materials make for a very heavy tub that is difficult to carry and place properly. Another important point about the lightness of the material is that it means you shouldn’t have to install any extra support in the floor to handle the weight of the tub. That saves you a lot of money and a huge hassle.
If you have a fiberglass tub that needs some love, make sure to seek a quality company to provide your fiberglass bathtub repair in Glendale, AZ. One first-rate option in the Phoenix area is A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C., a company committed to making sure you get the bathroom you desire at the best possible price.
For over 40 years, the team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. has offered a wide range of services, including repair of tubs, showers and sinks and the refinishing of anything in your bathroom. On top of this, you can also call us for any type of maintenance you’d like to have done, including installations and caulking. Call our experts today for more information!
