Materials & FAQs

The most misunderstood aspect of bathtub refinishing or reglazing is materials used. If you've looked around at all you've probably discovered that everyone tells you something different about what they're using and what's the best. There are actually a number of materials used for refinishing bathtubs, tile and ceramic with varying degrees of durability, from poor to excellent. The worst of these are merely paints or epoxys similar to what a homeowner can buy in a home improvement store. Applied directly to the ceramic surface they quickly fail through lack of proper adhesion, low impact and abrasion resistance and dulling. The best materials are industrial reglazing sytems designed specifically for bathtub refinishing. These systems consist of a number of various catylized (chemically hardened) materials. The top coats being proprietary Acrylic, Urethane or Polyurethane products. Most older systems are Urethane based, requiring UV light curing (although all materials can be UV cured). These materials are designed specifically for semi-continuous water submergence, impact resistance and gloss retention. Iso-Free/Uniglaze is a high-performance, acrylic-polymer material featuring all the advantages of urethanes, but WITHOUT ISOCYANATES, making it safer for applicators and customers. This is the material Original Refinishing uses and stands behind. What can you reglaze other than bathtubs? We can reglaze almost any type of ceramic surface; tile and grout showers, countertops, sinks and most types of fiberglass showers and tubs. Are you using actual porcelain to reglaze with? No. Porcelain/Ceramic refinishing is what we do. All true reglazing systems are sprayed high performance coatings. True porcelain, porcelain enamel or ceramic would require about 1500 degrees and a big kiln. Do you need to etch it ? All surfaces need to prepared in some way, either an acidic etch or a chemical bond prep are used. The parts of your tub that still have shiny glaze will have to be prepared for proper bonding. If your reglazer does not prepare the surface the coating will fail. Original Refinishing uses both methods, one a unique paste acid etch that eliminates problems as with liquid etchs, the second a chemical bond prep that chemically adheres the material to the surface. Do you remove the existing fixtures? On bathtubs we remove the drains and overflows (age and condition permitting). On shower tile or sinks with individual valves we remove the handles and escutcheons. Sinks with one piece faucets are always removed and replaced. How do you protect the room? Every step is taken to ensure that all adjacent surfaces are protected. Floors, counters and walls are covered or masked, an efficient ventilating system removes odors and dust from the area while the work is in process, after 24 hours we'll return and unmask the work area to leave your bathroom as clean as we found it. Do you remove shower doors?Yes. In almost all cases we recommend that the shower doors be removed and replaced. This allows the bathtub to be thoroughly prepared and reglazed. The shower door hardware can then be remounted on a clean hard surface and fresh caulking applied. Do you remove the old caulking?Yes. We cut away all the old existing caulking. We feel this is the only way to properly reglaze a tub or sink. We then carefully re-caulk when the tub is unmasked. Many reglazers will simply reglaze over the existing caulk or leave it to the homeowner to re-caulk. What colors do you have?Our standard colors are brilliant white, medium white and Kholer almond. The brilliant white very closely matches common white fixtures. Or choose from a wide array of custom colors from any plumbing manufacturer for that brand-new bathtub look.     Your newly refinished bathtub or tile will keep it's new look for years to come! Decades of developing, testing and technological advances go into every new finish! Corrosion, chipping, fading and scratching are simply not a problem with a Original Refinishing finish. Because of the exceptional durability of our materials we warranty all of our refinishing with a 5 year warranty!   Replacement... Five steps required to replace a typical bathtub. It requires two men to remove a bathtub. It is hazardous, since a tub can weigh as much as 1/4 ton. The removal of the tub will cause damage to tile on floors and walls. This removal requires plumbing disconnections and removal of faucets and drains. A new tub will have to be installed, creating more costs. Replacement of tile and fixtures. This is a major expense. This replacement procedure could inconvenience a family for days while workmen track dirt and dust through your home, and you and your family are without a bathroom. A typical replacement will cost from $1500. to $2000. Protection against LEAD exposure! Original Refinishing utilizes a reglazing process that efficiently encapsulates the old finish of your bathtub. This encapsulation stops LEAD from seeping out of these finishes and makes your tub baby safe! High concentrations of LEAD are being released from the old and worn finishes of many bathtubs worldwide. Recent studies conducted by Unique Refinishers, Inc. have shown that as many as 70% of the bathtubs manufactured prior to 1984 and commonly used today are leaching LEAD into the bathwater. The Center for Disease Control, and other health professionals warn that repeated exposure to high concentrations of lead can be hazardous to the health of your family; particularly children. Isocyanate free! Original Refinishing reglazing products are the safest reglazing compounds in the industry. Not only will your bathtub's new finish stop the lead, but it also contains no Isocyanates. Original Refinishing has always required the highest standards for it's products. Insist on the Best for your family.

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Changes last made on: Thur Feb 22 07:40:53 2007

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