If you’ve had your tub for a long time, it’s probably starting to look a little unpleasant. After all, tubs are in constant use, and they take a lot of wear and tear over the years. It’s to be expected that after some time, there will be chipping, staining, mold and rust buildup. If you’re ready for an upgrade, it’s time to consider bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ. Here’s why.
A new tub is probably unnecessary
You might be thinking, “Forget refinishing, I’ll just buy a brand new tub.” This is understandable, but hold on for a minute before you rush out to the store. First of all, it’s easier than you think to restore the tub you currently have. Second of all, a new tub usually ends up being more expensive than the initial sticker price. You might be able to find a new tub for a few hundred bucks(if you’re willing to get a pretty basic model, but the work involved will add up in real money.
Why a new tub costs so much
To start with, most tubs aren’t moved into an existing house—they’re installed during the building process. Getting an old tub out and a new one in is actually pretty difficult. Surrounds, tiles, plumbing and trim will probably need to be torn out, and you’re apt to get dinged for the cost of cutting the tub into manageable pieces just to fit it through your doorway. And then there’s the fact that you’ll have to then re-plumb the tub, put back in the tiling, and possibly widen or shorten the tub surround space. Before you know it, you’re spending thousands on a bathroom remodel, when all you initially wanted was a prettier tub.
How refinishing can be better
When you opt for bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ, you’ll be getting what looks like a brand new tub for a fraction of the cost. Instead of showering in the basement tub for weeks or months while work on a new tub installation is in progress, you can get back into that refinished tub in a matter of days. The cost of refinishing—usually three or four hundred dollars on average—will be far more affordable than the thousands you could spend on a brand new tub.
Steps to refinish your tub
If you look online, you’ll probably find some DIY tutorials. Don’t get sucked in, though, because this type of work is best left to the pros, such as the crew at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC, who have years of experience in the field and will make sure the job is done safely and professionally.
Steps include: sanding down the current finish on the tub; repairing any damage (such as cracks, chips, rust spots or unsound areas); priming the tub; applying a new surface layer; and lastly, applying a new sealing top coat.
When an experienced company performs your bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ, you can expect another 10 to 15 years of good use before another refinishing is required. Now that’s money well spent! Call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC today to learn more!
If you’ve noticed your bath tub is cracked, chipped or even leaky, your first thought may be to go out and buy a new one. Not so fast! There’s no reason to go out and spend thousands of dollars on a new bath tub. Often times, bath tubs in Glendale can be repaired for a much lower price than a complete tub replacement. Here are some common bath tub problems that don’t require replacement, and which can instead be treated with professional repairs:
Rust in your bath tub: The orange-red rust color that can build up in bath tubs in Glendale is unsightly, and most people think it’s kind of disgusting. Since rust is caused by dissolved iron in tap water, it’s unavoidable if you don’t take proper care of your bath tub. We recommend wiping your bath tub down with a towel after each use to get rid of any iron residue that is left sitting in a wet tub. If you neglect to do this, you’re going to have a rusty tub after a while. If you’re sick of having a rusty tub in your bathroom, don’t just go out and buy a new one. Instead, consider repairing it for a much lower price. Our professionals can clean your tub and get out any rust stain to make it look as good as new.
Cracks or chips in your bath tub: Whether you have a fiberglass or porcelain bath tub, it runs the risk of chipping or cracking over time. But fear not—most cracks can be repaired, no matter how bad they seem. With the proper equipment, our professionals can fix your bath tub in a matter of hours and also ensure that the repaired area blends in seamlessly with the original color of the bath tub. It’s pertinent to call us as soon as you notice any crack or chip in your bath tub. Cracks and chips will only get worse as time goes on, and will also run the risk of developing mold inside the crack. We pride ourselves on our ability to repair cracked fiberglass bath tubs, but we also have decades of experience repairing porcelain bath tubs, too.
Leaky bath tubs: Leaks can happen in bath tubs for a variety of reasons. From small cracks to bad plumbing or even old caulking, bath tubs can spring leaks at any time with little to no warning at all. When that happens, you need to call a professional to fix it right away. What may seem like a minor problem at first can quickly turn into a major issue. We’re able to fix and stop any type of leak you could imagine.
Most bath tubs in Glendale can be repaired for a few hundred dollars. Compare that to the cost of a new tub and give A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC a call today. If your tub isn’t in need of repair, but you could use a new look, give us a call to find out how we can refinish your tub to totally transform its appearance.
When it is time for bathtub refinishing or tiling, the problem is not the lack of ideas—it is choosing the one that looks best in your bathroom! Restoration work and bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ helps your bathroom look better, and it is also a good time to add new embellishment. You can add a few tile features or go for a completely new look. Take advantage of this opportunity with these new trends and ideas:
The Mediterranean look: Old World style is making a big comeback with its elegance and simplicity. Offer a nod to ancient cultures with these designs inspired by the décor customs of Spain, Morocco and Portugal. You can also choose unique shapes that interlock neatly. Metallic surfaces are popular, as well as painted terra cotta designs. This is a classic look that is unlikely to go out of style and will maintain the value of your home.
Mosaics: This is a favorite among people who like to do their own design or who have an artistic streak. Use tiles of different shapes to create simple pictures, like repeating stars or flowers. You can do this on an entire bath or shower wall, or just add them in as accent pieces. If you see many shapes before you, let your imagination go wild. You will create a bathroom look that is uniquely you and unlikely to have a duplicate anywhere else.
Classic white: Perhaps you are renovating a rental property or you believe less is more. The classic white subway tile look never goes out of fashion, and that is due to its flexibility. You can highlight your bathroom in different ways with a different colored floor, or add mosaic accents throughout the white. Going classic allows you endless decorating possibilities.
Three-dimensional tile: Are you feeling up to adding a new texture? Raised surfaces and monochromatic appearances give these tiles a simple yet elegant look. It creates an inviting space while also giving a nod to the funky days of the 1970s, when three-dimensional tile was last popular. There are many interesting patterns available in circles, symmetrical patterns and classic looks. It is very likely that one of these approaches will appeal to you if you are looking for something different, but do not want to put in the effort required by the mosaic.
Accessibility: As the population ages, ways of making bathrooms safer are developing quickly. Tile is not excluded in this realm. Textured tile can make it harder to slip in the bathtub, and tiles made to work around hand railings can combine aesthetics with function. While resurfacing, you can even take the opportunity to install a tile shower bench or lower the rails to help you age in place better at home. Making things a little easier does not mean sacrificing beauty.
When it is time for new tile or bathtub refinishing in Glendale, AZ, call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC to start work on your home. We can fix cracks and blemishes or give your bathroom a whole new look!
Arizona’s hot, dry climate must be taken into account when choosing building materials during new home construction and remodeling projects. This includes bath tub materials, which need to be able to withstand the wear and tear associated with everyday use as well as environmental conditions.
For many homeowners, ceramic and porcelain tiles are among the most attractive options for bath tubs in Glendale, AZ, as they offer an array of benefits as well as considerable diversity of choice. Let’s take a closer look.
Recognizing the general benefits of tile
Even before you start thinking about the different varieties of ceramic and porcelain tiles on the market, it’s useful to get acquainted with some of the reasons why these materials can be so attractive, particularly in Arizona.
One of the nice advantages of using tile for bath tubs in Glendale, AZ is that tile is naturally durable as well as water resistant—in other words, it’s perfect for using in situations when you don’t want to deal with repair and replacement needs and when frequent, sustained water exposure is going to happen.
Another benefit of tile is that it stays naturally cool, which can provide welcome relief when temperatures rise into the triple digits. But even better is the fact that this cooling effect can even have an impact on your utility costs. Because tiles don’t retain heat, they don’t contribute to the strain put on your air conditioning system even on the hottest days.
Finally, there’s the ever-important matter of cleaning and maintenance. Tile is relatively impervious to the effects of sand and dirt, as it is exceedingly simple to clean, regardless of the material from which it’s made. For those with little time or energy for frequent bouts of intense cleaning, this can be a major advantage of going with tile.
Ceramic vs. porcelain
When it comes to bath tub tiles, ceramic and porcelain are unquestionably the leading options, and with good reason: they’re both outstanding materials. In fact, the differences between the two are far less notable than their similarities. Porcelain tiles tend to be smoother and denser, and thus less absorptive, than ceramic tiles. But it’s also possible to purchase ceramic tiles that have been glazed, which reduces these differences even further. What this means is that if, you’re considering bath tub tiles, there’s no good reason to automatically eliminate either ceramic or porcelain from your list of possibilities.
Ultimately, it’s important to recognize that, when it comes to tile materials for bath tubs in Glendale, AZ, you can’t really go wrong with either ceramic or porcelain. Both options offer durability and require little maintenance, and both come in a variety of colors and styles that will work with just about any overall bathroom aesthetic.
The team at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. has been working with Arizona homeowners for more than four decades to give them the bathroom repair and remodeling services they need. If you’re building a custom home or considering a bathroom remodel and want to know more about bath tub tile options, we hope you’ll give us a call!
If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” and haven’t heard a response, you may have a fogged up mirror. Fogginess after a hot shower is normal, but your mirror shouldn’t have constant foggy or cloudy appearance.
Not being able to see yourself clearly in the mirror to get ready in the morning can be very annoying. If your mirror is too foggy or cloudy it may require vanity refinishing in Glendale, AZ.
Why is it fogged?
Mirrors lose their brilliance over time for a variety of reasons. First of all, they get cloudy from not being properly wiped down after getting fogged up by condensation from showers. Mirrors also tend to take a beating from toothpaste and shaving cream splatter. If not cleaned with a window or mirror cleaning product regularly, that residue builds up and can eventually make the mirror cloudy and unusable. Also, if you happen to own an old mirror with a silver backing, cloudiness is just a natural part of the aging process.
Homespun remedies
If your mirrors get foggy either from lack of proper care, or if they’re just old, don’t fret! You’re clearly not the first person to encounter this problem. Homemakers across the world have aggregated a variety of ways to cure your mirror’s fogginess without using harsh chemicals, just regular items that you probably already have at home.
Shaving cream: Putting some shaving cream on a lint-free towel and buffing the mirror is said to cure mirror fog. It’s important to use regular shaving cream, not the newer gel-style creams. If buffing the mirror doesn’t work on the first attempt, apply more shaving cream to the towel and try again. After a few rounds of buffing, the mirror should be spot free and stay that way for quite a while.
Vinegar and newspaper: This one may sound counterintuitive, as the ink from the newspaper seems like it’d rub off onto the mirror and make the situation worse, right? Apparently not. Homemakers swear that if you spray white vinegar on the mirror and rub it off with an old newspaper, your mirror will be cloudless and streak-free. Be careful to keep the vinegar off the frame, as it could do more harm than good and actually call for serious vanity refinishing in Glendale, AZ.
Paint scraper: Obviously, you must be careful as to not scratch or break the glass with this technique. But, if your mirror fogginess is really bad and hard, paint-like residue, you may be able to actually scrape it off using a flat knife blade. You can pick one of these tools up at any local hardware store.
While there’s no guarantee that your mirror will say you’re the fairest of them all, it’s sure to give you an answer after using one of these remedies. If none of the above work, consider hiring us for vanity refinishing in Glendale, AZ. We’ll professionally refinish your vanity and ensure your mirror lets you know you’re the fairest of them all.
