Hard water is water that contains large amounts of minerals, like calcium, magnesium and limestone. While it’s not unusual for residential homes to have hard water—and it is perfectly safe to use—this kind of water supply can negatively impact your house over time. The most worrisome problem associated with hard water is lime scale buildup. This type of buildup will eventually form inside your plumbing and create a roadblock for water flow. Then there’s mineral-enriched water, which leaves hard water stains on everything it touches. Dishes, toilets, sinks, showers, glass, tubs, clothes and more can spot and/or tarnish.
The best thing you can do to save your home from hard water stains is address them as soon as possible. Here’s how to get rid of and prevent hard water stains in showers and bath tubs in Glendale.
Watch for blemishes
Hard water stains may be found in many parts of the home, but mostly in the bathrooms. If you have hard water, look in your sinks, showers and bathtubs—especially porcelain, plastic and glass features—for a thin film of rough powder. This powdery substance is there because mineral-based water has a hard time dissolving soap. Hard water with high iron content can do a number on metal, leaving behind slime or rust, but the biggest problem is minerals clogging appliances and pipes and staining water fixtures.
Removing hard water stains
You can buy any number of hard water stain cleaners at the store, but there are many home remedies worth trying first. For starters, you might try spraying lemon juice on hard water stains in showers and tubs, then letting it stand a few minutes before wiping clean. Vinegar solutions and ammonia mixtures are other popular home cleaning products, but you’ll have to play around with the ratio to get it just right for your specific stains. Also, before applying any solution to your bathroom fixtures, look up how to dilute and use products safely.
Hire a pro to clean or make repairs
Do you know you have hard water and regularly keep up with shower and tub cleaning? Whether you can use some assistance, an extra pair of eyes or someone who knows the business of hard water stain removal, a maid service may be right for you. Alternatively, you might need a plumber to handle pipe issues, or a service to help repair porcelain or fiberglass showers and tubs damaged by hard water buildup.
Prevention tips
Ultimately, you want to take preventative measures to avoid lime scale buildup. Clean your showers and bath tubs in Glendale on a regular basis, preferably weekly, and spray the entire shower with a store-bought cleaner or homemade vinegar solution. Never use soap and water on lime scale buildup—it will only make things worse.
Whether you need tub repairs or recommendations for cleaners to use on your home fixtures, the team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. can help. Call us today to learn more or schedule an appointment for service!
Many people include cultured marble fixtures in their home. That’s because it’s easy to clean while having that unique, upmarket look of more expensive stone. When cultured marble cracks, you might not know exactly what to do. You can refinish cultured marble, but it’s a bit of a complicated process. In fact, you have to get rid of that shiny finish using sandpaper first before you can restore the gleam.
If you’re considering finding a company to handle your countertop finishing in Glendale, AZ, you want to pick a name you can trust. You should only entrust your home to the highest-quality professionals out there. A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. will get the job done right the first time, every time. Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of refinishing cultured marble:
Clean the countertop: Put on some gloves and goggles and give the countertop a thorough scrub. You’ll want to use warm, distilled water and a gentle cleaning solution. Use a sponge and a soft-bristled brush to clear off the dirt. Then rinse the countertop. Be careful doing this process, as hard bristles or too much force could result in additional damage to the cultured marble.
Fix surface damage: Repair small scratches and cracks using a polishing powder designed for marble, along with an epoxy-based glue. The tin dioxide powder will fill the scratches and the glue will be used on the cracks.
Tape the countertop: It’s important to surround the countertop with painter’s tape, especially around the sink. This will ensure polish and refinishing materials won’t get in the sink.
Sand it down: It’s time to use sandpaper with even pressure. This is to create a smooth surface. Wipe down the surface with a sponge again following this step.
Add primer: Find a paint roller to apply a primer layer on the surface. Let it sit for one hour and dry.
Use a stone-finish solution: You can find this at hardware stores. Use the spray on the countertop to restore its original shine.
Finish the process: Use a few drops of polymer resin on the countertop. Spread them across the surface using a paintbrush. Let the resin dry, then coat the surface with a high-gloss varnish appropriate for use on cultured marble.
If you’re willing to sink yourself into a long-term DIY project, then this one’s for you. If you’d rather skip the hassle and uncertainty of doing it yourself, you’ll be looking for the best in countertop finishing in Glendale, AZ. In this case, you need to go with A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. We’ve been the region’s leader since 1975, offering professional and affordable services that keep customers coming back. Our technicians are skilled in any project you could dream of and will work on bathroom fixtures, tub repair, showers and sinks. We specialize in repairing cracked fiberglass tubs.
We will also refinish tubs, showers, sinks, tiles and vanities. Our company offers a wide variety of services, from repair to refinishing of tubs and showers. We provide quality service no matter how simple or difficult the job. Call today for your free estimate!
Stains and surface damage on a bathtub often fill homeowners with dread, as they anticipate replacing their bathtubs and other fixtures. However, less expensive types of bathtub repair in Phoenix, AZ often reduce anxiety and save money. At A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC, we have restored a number of seemingly hopeless cases, and can bring our skills to your home. Here are five common bathtub issues and their repairs that can help you avoid purchasing a new tub:
Flaking and peeling: This unsightly damage can also lead to leaks and wet rot. Those conditions will not just necessitate a new bathtub—you will likely have to take apart your entire bathroom and reinstall sub-flooring and other essential structure. Flaking and peeling indicate that your bathtub was refinished before, but the job was not done correctly. The solution is simple: refinish your bathtub again, but this time, hire someone competent to do the work! We will remove the entire finish, acid etch it, prime the surface and add the finish, but this time, it should last up to 15 years.
Bubbles: This development also arises from a poor finishing job. If the coating is not allowed to cure properly and the old finish is not entirely stripped before treatment, you will see bubbles appear. Like with flaking and peeling, the only solution is to start over. The current finish, plus any previous finish left behind, will need to be completely stripped. Only then can the new finish bond correctly and offer a smooth surface.
Fading: If you notice spots where the color is fading—or, with a white bathtub, there is discoloration—then the refinish coating was not mixed well. Finish can be a picky material, and if it is too thin or the incorrect mixture, that will show in a few years with a bathtub that fades or discolors. Also, abrasive cleaners will wear down the surface and cause discoloration. Fortunately, this is solved easily by a surface refinishing. Once that is completed, use soft cleaners and avoid harsh brushes on your tub.
Roughness: The surface of your bathtub should not feel like sandpaper—it should be smooth. No one wants to sit in a bathtub with a rough surface, so this issue is often noticed quickly. The rough texture develops because the surface was not sanded thoroughly, or it was sanded but not cleaned before applying a finish. A refinishing contractor must remove the old finish, sand the tub down and clean it multiple times before adding a finish.
Tacky feel: Once the new finish is applied, it must have time to cure. If this is not done, the tub will be left feeling sticky or tacky. Poor mixes can also prevent curing. If you find your tub feels sticky after being treated, leave it alone—it may just require more time to cure. However, if that tackiness persists, call your contractor to investigate.
Before you look for a replacement, consider investing in bathtub repair in Phoenix, AZ. Call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC today and allow us to work our magic and restore your bathtub to nearly new condition!
Real DIY-ers literally like to do everything themselves. They change their oil, they paint their home and they fix all of the appliances around their house. Doing it yourself can save you a lot of money and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Bu there are some things that you should never try to fix yourself, including your porcelain tubs and sinks. Here are just a few of the reasons to leave porcelain repair in Phoenix to the pros:
You likely don’t know what you’re doing: Unless you have as many years of experience as our team members, you don’t know how to repair porcelain! Sure, there are tons of instructional videos online that’ll attempt to teach you how to fix your porcelain, but those are just videos. They can’t help you in a pinch when something goes wrong. Make sure you call a professional who can flawlessly complete the repairs without any hiccups.
Get a perfect match: Most porcelain tubs and sinks are white. But as anyone who’s ever purchased paint knows, “white” isn’t just white. There are hundreds of shades of white, from eggshell to bone white. You wouldn’t want to repair your sink or tub with the wrong color porcelain—that’ll look bad for years to come. Everyone will notice that you did a poor job fixing your sink or tub. Avoid that awful situation by calling the pros for porcelain repair in Phoenix. We’ll seamlessly match your old porcelain with the repaired portions. After we’re done, you’ll never be able to tell the porcelain was damaged in the first place.
Make sure the repairs last: What could be worse than trying to fix your porcelain? How about having to do it again because the repairs didn’t hold up the first time! Repairs made by novices often need to be made once more because the porcelain cracks or falls apart. Instead of making a habit of repairing your tub over and over, call us once and ensure it’s done right the first time!
Don’t waste your time: As you can imagine, repairing porcelain isn’t exactly the fastest project you can take on. Repairing a cracked tub or sink can take up your whole day, especially if you’re fixing porcelain for the first time and aren’t sure what you’re doing. Instead of wasting your whole weekend, just give us a call! Our experienced professionals will fix your tub while you spend your day doing something more fun.
Save money by calling the pros first: Doing it yourself instead of calling someone can usually save you a bunch of cash. That’s not the case with porcelain repair, though. Going out and buying all of the necessary supplies to make repairs can cost a pretty penny. On top of that, you may end up having to call a professional after you’ve tried and failed to fix your tub by yourself. Instead of wasting your hard-earned money, just give us a call the first time to make all of your repairs.
The next time your tub or sink cracks, be sure to call the team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. for help. We’ll take care of your porcelain repair in Phoenix right away and have it looking as good as new in no time at all.
As we get closer to summer, temperatures are rising, which means more homeowners are beginning to fill their homes with fans or cranking up the air conditioning to stay cool. After long, hot days spent in the sun and sweltering heat, the last thing you might want to do is hop in a hot shower.
Rather than bathe in hot water during the summertime, try another trick to cool off: soaking in cold water! Few things feel more refreshing than returning from a hike, short walk with the dog or gardening session and relaxing in a cool tub.
In order to take advantage of this handy summer trick, though, you’ll want your bathtub to be in great condition. After all, who wants to lay in a cracked, discolored and worn-down tub? If your bathtub is looking a little worse for wear, now is the perfect time to call a professional for bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ.
Why bother to refinish?
Refinishing your bathtub will strip away all of the old caulk, paint, rust, soap scum and grime that has been building up in your tub for years and replace it with a shiny new glaze. Not only will the process totally revitalize your bathtub, but it can also improve the value of your home.
Even better, you’ll be able to enjoy long, relaxing soaks in your glistening new tub year-round. In summer, this is especially important, since soaking in cool water can help lower your body temperature on blistering hot days and allow you some quality time to decompress.
This time is made even more special when it’s done in a newly refinished, clean bathtub. Add some bath salts, bubbles and a glass of fruit-infused water, and you just might think you’re in paradise!
What to expect
A lot of customers hesitate to get their bathtubs refinished because they think it is an extensive process. Really, the process is pretty simple, and your tub will be ready for use in just 48 hours! Bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ is the perfect project for those hot summer days when you and your family will be enjoying the outdoors.
First, the bathtub refinisher will clean your entire tub, removing any rust or grime present, and then will remove the caulking. Using strong tub cleaning chemicals, the expert will etch the top layer of your tub away, then fill any holes or cracks evident on the surface.
Once all surfaces have been smoothed out, a few coats of paint will be applied, followed by a glaze and new caulking. Once everything sets after 48 hours, your newly finished tub will be ready for endless lazy summer night soaks.
A-1 Porcelain can make your summer relaxation even better
If your tub is looking worn down, call the experts at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. and ask about bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ. We have over 40 years of experience repairing and refinishing tubs, showers, sinks, tiles and vanities for homeowners all over the Phoenix area. We even offer maintenance services like caulking, installation and replacement of all bathroom fixtures! Call today for your free estimate!
