Category: Porcelain Repair

At some point, a porcelain object in your home might crack, chip or otherwise break. In such a case, you may find it beneficial to know how to repair porcelain items, be they cups, figurines or even bathroom appliances and fixtures, such as porcelain showers in need of refinishing.

Here’s an overview of the steps you need to take when repairing porcelain items:

• Get an adhesive: You’ll need an adhesive designed to be used with porcelain. If the porcelain object will be coming into contact with food, holding hot liquids or need to be microwave or oven safe, the adhesive should be safe for those applications. If you’re simply filling chipped porcelain, you’ll need one designed for filling gaps. If you’re joining broken pieces together, you’ll need a clear-drying adhesive.
• Gather materials: Before you start applying the adhesive, make sure you also have the other materials you need to get the job done. Wear gloves and an apron to protect your skin and clothes from the adhesive, which could cause irritation and be difficult to wash off. Have paper towels to use to wipe the adhesive.
• Get the pieces ready: All of the pieces should be clean and free of dirt. Pre-fit them together, making sure not to cause any additional damage while you’re handling them.
• Apply the adhesive: Use adhesive on the adjoining surfaces according to the directions on the adhesive’s packaging. You will likely only apply the adhesive to one surface. Make sure you apply sparingly—a common mistake people make when repairing porcelain is that they apply too much adhesive, and then the results are actually worse.
• Hold the pieces in place: The bonds need some time to set, so make sure you hold the pieces together until that occurs—otherwise, the curing process will be disrupted. You may be able to do this by hand, but otherwise you can use masking tape if you have a very slow-drying adhesive that will make holding the pieces by hand unrealistic.
• Clean: Wash your hands, and then clean up the porcelain, using a sharp blade to remove any excess glue.

The process of fixing chipped (rather than broken) porcelain is similar, though you will be using a filler or touch-up glaze rather than a glue. As with broken porcelain, the area should be clean before you begin. But rather than attaching pieces together, you apply the filler (mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions) into the area until it is filled in and rebuilt.

Afterwards, all you need to do is let the product dry. You may need to sand it down using a fine-grit sandpaper or steel wool until it conforms to the contours of the object. Then you can apply a glaze after it’s completely dry.

When the broken porcelain occurs in your bathroom, such as with a toilet, sink or shower, we strongly encourage you to seek professional assistance. Porcelain shower refinishing and other such tasks are best left to people with experience and training, so you don’t cause further damage that becomes only more expensive and difficult to fix.

For more information, contact the experts at A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service Co., LLC today.

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.

Having your bathroom repaired or refinished is an exciting time, as making upgrades to older fixtures can fill your entire home with a brand new feel. But it will be important to understand how to properly care for the refinished look in order to maintain the quality. If you are looking for ways to help your bathroom retain its shine after porcelain repair in Phoenix, follow these helpful tips.

Things to keep in mind immediately following repair

In the days immediately after having your bathroom redone, it is important to follow a few guidelines in order to allow the appliances in the room to set properly. Whether you have had a bathtub, toilet or sink repaired or refinished, you should wait at least 48 hours before using the appliance again in order to see the best results.

Also keep in mind that when these items are freshly finished, dust particles may fall away from the surface as they continue to dry. This is common because the factors of the surroundings that these updated appliances are drying in often cannot be controlled. Don’t pick at the pieces that may be falling away, but instead allow them to smooth out on their own naturally through continued cleaning and use.

You should also avoid the use of mats that involve suction cups, because these could strip away at your bathtub’s surface, creating an uneven appearance while potentially causing lasting long-term damage.

How to maintain your updated bathroom

Once your appliances have fully set and you have begun using them again, you will need to know how to properly care for and maintain these updated fixtures going forward as well. In order to ensure that your surfaces do not get scratched or marred, avoid the use of rough scrubbers such as scouring or steel wool pads.

You will also have to pay close attention to the types of cleaning solutions that are used to make sure that you are avoiding products that contain abrasives or destructive acids. Using these types of harsh chemicals on your bathroom surfaces can cause them to lose their luster and begin to appear dull, and the surfaces may even develop visible cracks after repeated cleanings. There are several options that you can use instead of these types of products, including Lysol Tub and Tile Cleaner, Dow Tub and Tile Cleaner, Fantastik, 409 and bleach in small amounts with water.

If you are unsure about how to properly care for your bathroom appliances after porcelain repair in Phoenix, A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service LLC is here to help. Having served homes in the area for over 40 years, we have the experience you can trust to not only repair and refinish the aged items in your bathroom, but to also guide you with the maintenance needed to make sure that these updates last for a long time. Give us a call today to learn more about all of the services that we can offer you. We look forward to assisting you!

Porcelain is one of the oldest materials for bathroom fittings. Homes that retained their period fixtures often contain these delicate surfaces that could require porcelain repair in Phoenix if you treat them too harshly while cleaning or using them. Here is an explanation of why porcelain needs special care and how to provide that to these unique elements in your home.

Special properties of porcelain

Porcelain became popular for bathroom fixtures due to its durability. Most pieces, especially weight-bearing ones like bathtubs, are porcelain enamel with a cast iron base, which makes them stronger. However, while the porcelain is durable, it can also be porous, which allows it to chip, dent, scratch and discolor easily. The same surface damage can also occur with mishandling, which is why your porcelain fixtures require careful consideration during house cleaning.

Wipe down sinks every day

If you have a porcelain sink, give it a wipe down at the end of each day. After experiencing an especially busy day at the sink, consider using dishwashing liquid for extra cleaning power. Using a sponge or soft cloth, give it a once over to control soap scum, dirt and grease, as well as prevent damage and stains.

Keep it soft

Abrasive cleaners, like the granulated bathroom cleaner beloved by your grandmother, are too harsh for the porous surface of porcelain. Buy a product specifically for porcelain or make your own cleaner. Automatic dishwasher gel is good for the quick daily clean and it can also remove stains. Ammonia and water is also a good cleaning combination for porcelain. Many people report this brings back a shine to even the most abused of kitchen sinks and bathtubs, so give it a try on your porcelain fittings.

If you have rust stains, a paste of borax and lemon juice works very well. Rub it into the rust stain and then rinse with water. Even if you have bad stains in your sink, do not let the mixture sit too long, as that will weaken the surface.

Finally, you should always clean with something soft—no brushes or rough pads. Sponges work well, as do any soft rags.

Give porcelain a deep clean

Before you use this deep cleaning method, you will want to take steps to ventilate the room. This means opening windows in your kitchen (or near your kitchen) and running your bathroom fan.

Spread paper towels on the bottom of your fixture. Pour bleach over them without diluting it and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse with water and wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth. The bleach will help with stains and germs while the paper towels will protect the surface.

Continue with good-sense maintenance

For kitchen sinks, avoid placing hot items directly on the surface. Run pots and pans under cool water first. Also, do not drop heavy items on porcelain surfaces and be careful when you are installing metal fixtures like faucets. Dropping items like these can chip the surface.

At A-1 Porcelain & Fiberglass Service, LLC we will understand if, despite your best intentions, you still require porcelain repair in Phoenix. Call us today to arrange an appointment and start anew with your porcelain sink, bathtub or shower.