If your bathtub is looking a little past its prime, you may be considering your options. Cracks, dirt, rust and chips can all conspire to make your tub a less-than-relaxing spot. What should you do? You can replace your tub, of course, but that’s an expensive and time-consuming option. Alternatively, if the damage is cosmetic, you can refinish your tub to make it look brand new once more.
Here’s how to decide whether tub refinishing or replacement in Phoenix, AZ is right for you.
Refinishing your bathtub
Refinishing your bathtub is also known as reglazing, recoating and resurfacing. This is best for tubs that just have cosmetic issues like minor cracks, chips, stains and other surface problems. It’s not a permanent fix, but it can help you get years’ worth of enjoyment out of an otherwise old and outdated tub.
The refinishing process is easy. A tub refinishing contractor will come to your home and sand down the existing surface to make it smooth. Any cracks or chips are filled in and smoothed once again. Then the surface is primed and coated. You’ll need to wait 24 to 48 hours after the process to use it again, but once the new surface has cured, you’re good to go.
This option is far less expensive than replacing your bathtub entirely, but keep in mind that it can only be done once. When you have an old tub or just want to spruce it up on a short-term basis, refinishing is a great option.
Replacing your bathtub
If your bathtub is suffering from major damage like cracks, sinking and undefeatable grime, it might be time to scrap the whole thing and start fresh. As you might imagine, this is far more expensive. First, you’ll need someone to remove your existing tub from the bathroom and haul it away for disposal. This often involves removing wall tile and may require plaster or sheetrock repairs at the same time. If there are plumbing issues or your new tub requires different fixtures, that will add to the cost.
Next, there’s the cost of the new tub itself, which can range from budget fiberglass options to heavier porcelain or cast iron tubs. If you choose a heavier tub, you will probably need to add structural reinforcements, especially if the tub is being installed on an upper floor. The average cost runs about $3,000, but the benefit is that you can take the opportunity to totally renovate your bathroom at the same time if you want to. If you hate your old tub’s size or shape and plan to stay in your home for a long time, this is a good solution.
Knowing when to replace or refinish your bathtub in Phoenix, AZ is basically dependent on the damage to your tub and what your renovation goals are. For a fast, flawless finish on lightly-damaged tubs, refinishing is a great option.
Refinishing your bathtub and shower is a low-cost way to enhance the beauty of your bathroom, but like any remodeling project, it takes time and care to get the job done right. That includes drying and curing time, which can have a massive effect on the quality of your results. The number one question our team gets after a bathtub refinishing project is, “How long will it be before I can use my bathtub or shower again?” Read on to learn more about bathtub refinishing and the duration of time you’ll have to wait before enjoying your Phoenix, AZ investment.
Preparing for refinishing
When you decide to refinish your bathroom fixtures, call your contractor as soon as possible to get on their schedule—expect at least a seven- to 10-day wait period. During that time, clean your bathroom as much as possible to minimize dirt and debris that may fall during the refinishing process.
How long to wait afterwards
A typical bathtub refinishing project only takes a few hours to complete. Your bathtub contractor will strip the current finish and address any deeper damage that may be present. At that point, it will be ready for the reglazing process.
After bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ, most contractors will tell you that it’s okay to use your tub within 24 to 48 hours. This is because the glaze needs enough time to dry fully, so standing or sitting in the tub won’t ruin the smooth surface or allow any debris to lodge itself into the glaze. However, the glaze itself won’t fully cure (harden) for seven to 10 days. That means it’s imperative that you prevent objects like bottles, razors and bath toys from falling into the tub or dropping them while you’re in the shower—it could permanently damage your brand-new finish.
After seven to 10 days, the glaze will be fully hardened and you’ll be able to use your tub normally, although it’s advisable to exercise the same level of caution anyway.
It’s important to note that during the 24- to 48-hour drying time, you must not clean your bathtub. The chemicals from bathtub cleaners as well as the act of scrubbing could damage the finish, requiring you to start the entire process over again.
When you have a bathtub or shower refinished, your technician will leave you with a set of care instructions designed specifically for the finish and fixtures you chose. Be sure to follow them to the letter to maximize your results. Of course, if you have any questions about the procedure, be sure to ask your contractor. They’ll be happy to help, and you’ll minimize any potential damage.
Bathtub refinishing in Phoenix, AZ
A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C. is your source for bathroom, shower and vanity refinishing in Phoenix, AZ. Instead of replacing your bathroom fixtures, refinish your porcelain or fiberglass so it looks as good as new. We can help you extend the lifespan of your bathroom for a fraction of the cost. Let us put our 45 years of experience to use when you call us for a refinishing quote today.
Replacing your bathroom fixtures can be a costly and messy experience, to say nothing of the time it takes to pick out, demolish, install and clean up after a replacement process. However, there’s another great option that many homeowners love: refinishing.
Refinishing your fixtures isn’t just about getting a nicer-looking bathroom in less time, for a lower cost—there are other great bathtub and shower refinishing benefits in Phoenix, AZ:
It’s cheaper than replacing your fixtures: Not only is picking out new fixtures, removing and disposing of the old ones and installing the new fixtures a time-consuming process, but it’s more expensive. When you factor in the cost of a plumber and replacement of surrounding tiles or other surfaces, it gets downright costly. Plus, if you have to take time out of your valuable workday or weekend to oversee or complete the project, you might be losing more than you realize. Refinishing is much faster (some projects may only take a single day to complete) and less expensive, plus it produces far less product waste.
Make everything look its best at the same time: Refinishing your bathroom fixtures doesn’t just mean the shower and bathtub—you can also get your sinks, vanities and other fixtures refinished at the same time, so that everything looks shiny and brand new.
Avoid lead poisoning: If your porcelain bathtub was manufactured and installed before 1984, you could be experiencing the harmful effects of lead. Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater (and the tub itself), getting your tub refinished and reglazed can provide a safe and effective barrier between you and the lead content.
Save the environment: Reducing waste is a simple way you can show you care about the environment and keep the world a safer place for future generations. If your bathroom fixtures aren’t broken—just dingy, stained or chipped—then refinishing will help keep them out of the landfill while saving you time and money.
Extend the life of your fixtures: Even if you install a new fixture, that’s no guarantee that it will stay pristine forever. Ultimately, there comes a time where every fixture suffers damage, and you’ll need to consider whether it’s worth it to replace it. When you choose refinishing, however, you can add years onto their life. In fact, they can last up to 10 to 15 years longer, so your small investment now will pay off for over a decade.
When you’re ready to revitalize your bathroom fixtures, be sure to call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C.
Discover more shower and bathtub refinishing benefits in Phoenix, AZ
At A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., L.L.C., we have been providing beautiful shower and bathtub refinishing services for over 30 years. We make sure to always provide superior service, from your first call to the final fixture polish. Our technicians are trained and prepared to take on all aspects of your repair or refinishing project. Call us today to get your bathroom fixture refinishing project started!
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!
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!
