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!
When it comes to installing a new bathtub, many homeowners first look to materials that are affordable while also offering quality and reliability—materials like fiberglass, for example. Fiberglass offers all the above traits along with easy installation, a range of color options and the fact that it’s simple to care for. Choose a fiberglass tub for your bathroom and enjoy a sleek, easy-to-maintain surface every time you hop in for a bath. If you have fiberglass bath tubs in Glendale, AZ, take note of the following maintenance tips to ensure a long-lasting and good-looking tub.
Frequent cleaning
Like other areas of your home, you may wait until the bathtub is overly gross before deciding to clean it. Depending on the season, the area where you live and whether you have proper ventilation to remove bathroom moisture and odors, you should plan on cleaning your tub and other bathroom fixtures every other week to once a week. We know your life is busy, but pencil in time to clean for a germ-free and sparkling bathroom because, when you think about it, the bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in your home.
Use gentle cleaners and cleaning tools
Whether you have soap scum buildup or mildew forming around the edges of your tub or you wipe it down on a regular basis, avoid using abrasive cleaners and don’t use harsh cleaning tools that will scratch your fiberglass bath tubs in Glendale, AZ. Pair a gentle cleaning solution—like diluted dish soap or a non-abrasive cleaner manufactured for fiberglass tubs—with a soft cloth or sponge. As fiberglass is rather susceptible to scratching, never use a scrub brush or coarse pads.
Keep heavy or sharp objects from falling
Cracks and scratches can be unsightly, and they may even require repair work. So consider what shower and bath items you have stored in your bathtub area. Shower caddies, loose soap dishes, heavy bottles, razors and shaving supplies, children’s toys—secure all these items from falling down into the tub. If you have to use any tools near your fiberglass tub for maintenance purposes, lay a thick blanket down to protect its floor and surface from heavy or sharp objects that may get dropped or knocked over.
Fix damage immediately
Should your fiberglass tub sustain damage, such as cracks, deep scratches, gouges or a small crater from a dropped heavy object, you need to call in the professionals—and quickly—for an assessment and repairs. Don’t wait to call the pros—even if the damage appears small, it has the potential to expand. So that little crack on the side of the tub could spider out causing further, more costly damage. If the damage is not a mere surface scratch on the finish like you first thought, repairs may not be possible and you may have to replace the entire fiberglass bathtub.
Need repairs made? Have questions about how to maintain your bath tubs in Glendale, AZ? Interested in more information about new fiberglass bathtub installation? If any of these circumstances apply to your situation, contact A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service L.L.C. today.
Remodeling your home’s bathroom can be exciting and terrifying all at the same time. And while you might be ready with an idea of what you want, you may not know where to start when it comes to choosing the fixture material you want to use. Three of the most common materials you will find in bathrooms across America are fiberglass, ceramic or porcelain. Take a look at the differences between these three common materials:
Fiberglass
When used as a material for bathroom fixtures, fiberglass—a reinforced composite material of woven glass fibers—proves that it can handle the job. Not only is fiberglass lightweight, but it is surprisingly strong and can easily be shaped to your bathroom’s size to accommodate your needs.
Described by pros as an economical choice for your sinks, toilets or bath tubs in Glendale, fiberglass is on the easier side of available fixture materials to repair if it cracks or chips. It’s a low cost material that comes in a variety of colors, but be aware that discoloration can occur over time in fiberglass bathroom fixtures.
Don’t like cleaning the bathroom? Well, you won’t need to put in much elbow grease to clean your fiberglass fixtures, however, be aware that fixtures with the gel coat and ones that are matte-finished textured are not resistant to abrasive cleaners and they can scratch or leave marks.
Ceramic
Bathroom fixtures made of ceramic or ceramic title can add beauty and freshness to an otherwise simple room. Ceramic is fired clay that can create dense and durable bath tubs capable of locking in and regulating warm bath water. However, if you use ceramic tile for your tub, the irregular floor surface (individual tile spacing) of the bath tub may be uncomfortable on your bare skin, making it difficult to relax in a bath.
Depending on the type of fixture you want to be ceramic, you may or may not want to glaze it, but once it is glazed, it’s waterproof. Ceramic fixture like tubs and sinks are constructed to last you a long time. Use any type of bathroom cleanser on ceramic to keep its glaze bright, but if left unmaintained gross grout can form in the spaces between the tiles.
Porcelain
Like ceramic, porcelain bathroom fixtures are also made out of fired clay, but the difference is that they’re non porous which makes this material waterproof without needing a glaze. Porcelain is easy to clean and made of a hard glass-like material and while dense, is very resistant to cracking and chipping.
While a much heavier fixture material than most, its durability and resistance to wear makes porcelain a great choice for frequently used fixtures like tubs and toilets. Similar to ceramic, it can be clear or color glazed, yet showcases a natural white translucent look.
Thinking it’s time to remodel your home’s bathroom, but not sure where to start? Don’t jump into such a large project without a solid plan. If you need assistance selecting the right material for your bathroom sinks, toilets and bath tubs in Glendale, contact the professionals at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass for guidance and more information.
When you think about what fiberglass looks like, you’re probably envisioning that pink fluffy stuff found in attics: fiberglass insulation. While insulation is one form of fiberglass called fiberglass insulation, in the case of items such as bathroom fixtures, it is an all-purpose reinforced composite plastic material of woven glass fibers, with relatively low weight and excellent strength that can maintain shape and stability.
The fiberglass in your home
Since fiberglass is affordable and known to be quick to repair, it’s a popular material used for the most utilized fixtures in many bathrooms. In this form, fiberglass is easy to handle and can withstand constant use and harsh environmental conditions, if used in an outdoor setting. The bathroom is a high traffic area, so you want to be sure that your sink, shower and toilet won’t fail the test of time… or your family! Therefore, knowing if you are in need of fiberglass repair in Glendale before a bathroom item completely breaks can save you a big headache later on.
Fiberglass bathtubs, toilets and sinks are fantastic when they are brand new and new-ish, but over time they begin to show signs of wear that may require some repair work. As one of the most used rooms in your home by family and guests, keeping up a bathroom cosmetically, as well as its inner workings, is vital and letting necessary fixes go for too long could indeed lead to major water damage when water leaks or seeps through cracks and stress fractures. Recognizing the signs of wear and choosing fiberglass repair in Glendale can save you from having to purchase more expensive, entirely new bathroom fixtures.
Spotting fiberglass damage
While brand new they may look great, over time a fiberglass bathroom fixture will take on a dull look and feel. In fiberglass showers, tubs, sinks and toilets, watch for dullness to the originally shiny surface; a lack of smoothness is likely to be coupled with a dull shine.
From tiny stress fractures and chips to larger cracks that need more immediate attention, fiberglass tubs are prone to cracking, chipping and even accumulating small dents from continued use over time. And, with cracking comes leaking, which is not good for the bathroom or the rest of your home. When leaking occurs, the bathroom can begin to smell musty and moldy due to the constant dampness. Discoloration is another sign that may signal it is time to repair those fiberglass fixtures.
Reinvesting in your home’s bathrooms through repairs to tired tubs, showers, toilets and sinks is a great way to breathe new life into a bathroom. For a very low cost you can potentially restore a bathroom back to that high level of form and function it once had.
If now is the time to reinvest in your bathroom with fiberglass repair in Glendale, consider contacting the professional fiberglass folks at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service for a free repair estimate.
Fiberglass was invented in 1932, and its creation was actually an accident. Games Slayter, an Owens-Illinois researcher, discovered the material when he unintentionally directed steam toward glass fibers. This caused them to melt together to create the material we know today. Since then, fiberglass has been used in everything from bath tubs to boats, and that necessitates services like fiberglass repair in Glendale. Learn more about this material to see how it is repaired.
Fiberglass structure
During manufacture, fiberglass forms through layers of glass fibers. Just like with its accidental discovery, these fibers melt and mold together. Filaments cross each other and build strength in the material from all directions.
However, since fiberglass contains these fibers, it is flexible too. You may notice that when you step into your fiberglass tub or shower, you feel a bit of give. This is the fibers flexing to accommodate your weight and prevent breaking under it.
When it wears out
While it offers a wide range of tension and flexion, fiberglass does wear out after being subjected to constant use and pressure. As it goes through this process, the fibers start to break and holes form in its surface. Some fiberglass bath tubs also contain a cloth reinforcement (also made from fiberglass) that will need to be repaired or replaced too.
The interesting part regarding fiberglass damage is that it will appear more like a tear than a crack. That is due to the nature of fiberglass and how it breaks down. As it is fibrous, its aging process is more like how your clothes wear out than the way your car sustains rust damage. Repairing it is more like weaving than filling holes in your wall.
What is involved with fiberglass repair
Repairing fiberglass involves helping the fibers reconnect, which makes the weaving analogy apt. It is a process of filling and bonding to restore the tension and flexion properties. This re-bonding application helps fiberglass restore its original strength.
Once the fibers reconnect, the final step involves hardening so the surface adds another layer of protection to the once-damaged area. Sometimes, customers will order resurfacing at the same time to not only repair their fixture, but also give it a like-new look.
Can I do the repair myself?
There are kits available for fixing fiberglass bathroom fixtures. If you catch the damage early or it is not that extensive, it is likely that you can effectively fix the damage yourself. Be sure to follow each step and allow enough time for your repair to dry. We recommend not using the fixture for 48 hours after repair and protecting it from dust particles. If debris sticks to the repair spot while your bathtub or shower is drying, it can affect the surface.
However, if there is extensive damage or multiple cracks, you may wish to contact a contractor. Not only may it be necessary to repair the damage, but your surface may require refinishing, too. Making a do-it-yourself repair when the damage is more serious can also result in higher repair costs in the future, so if you are not sure whether this is within your capabilities, it is best to call in a professional.
Do you need help with fiberglass repair in your Glendale home? Call A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service to arrange a visit and estimate.
