Bathtub Refinishing is an Industry plagued by misconceptions, lies and half truths. The problem does not lie in proper bathtub refinishing. The problem is with people not knowing the difference and painting a bathtub, instead of refinishing a bathtub.
Painting a bathtub usually involves Epoxy paint, sometimes it's the D.I.Y. kit at a home improvement store. Sometimes it's a professional that learned on Epoxy paint back in the 1990's and simply does not educate themselves to the new copolymer coatings that are manufactured for the bathtub, shower, tile refinishing Industry. Anytime something is painted it is done on top of the existing surface. This is the problem with Bathtub Painting. It is going to last about 4 months under limited daily use. Bathtub Refinishing on the other hand is the process of etching the old surface so microscopic scratches are formed all over the tub. The coating used is a catalyzed copolymer coating that melts into those scratches. This allows the bathtub refinishing to be chemically fused into, not onto the old surface.
Painting a bathtub usually involves Epoxy paint, sometimes it's the D.I.Y. kit at a home improvement store. Sometimes it's a professional that learned on Epoxy paint back in the 1990's and simply does not educate themselves to the new copolymer coatings that are manufactured for the bathtub, shower, tile refinishing Industry. Anytime something is painted it is done on top of the existing surface. This is the problem with Bathtub Painting. It is going to last about 4 months under limited daily use. Bathtub Refinishing on the other hand is the process of etching the old surface so microscopic scratches are formed all over the tub. The coating used is a catalyzed copolymer coating that melts into those scratches. This allows the bathtub refinishing to be chemically fused into, not onto the old surface.
How to know if your bathtub is a candidate for refinishing
Most bathtubs that are being refinished are actually NOT the old cast Iron with porcelain that you may imagine when you think of bathtub refinishing. The Bathtubs my company, FUSION FINISH, has been refinishing these past few years has turned to the fiberglass or acrylic bathtubs that are either cracking or just looking dirty because they get so scratched up. The main reason older tubs get refinished is because they are either off color, remember the cotton candy blue and pink colors from the 1950's! Some of the older tubs are worn down and have a dirty look because they just can't hold a shine no more!
Any Porcelain tub manufactured before 1984 contains lead! As long as the glaze is nice and shiny the lead is sealed off. When it becomes dull and dirty looking then odds are lead is leaching into the bath water. You can verify this for your self by going to google and just asking do porcelain tubs contain lead. The good news is Profession Refinishing, Not bathtub painting, will glaze over and seal that lead off to make the tub ready for bath time the very next day. The old porcelain tubs, and for that matter the new porcelain tubs are rated for 20 years on the lifespan. The copolymer synthetic porcelain I use is rated at a lifespan of 20+ years! The cost of refinishing versus replacement is about 70% cheaper in bathtub refinishings favor.
Any Porcelain tub manufactured before 1984 contains lead! As long as the glaze is nice and shiny the lead is sealed off. When it becomes dull and dirty looking then odds are lead is leaching into the bath water. You can verify this for your self by going to google and just asking do porcelain tubs contain lead. The good news is Profession Refinishing, Not bathtub painting, will glaze over and seal that lead off to make the tub ready for bath time the very next day. The old porcelain tubs, and for that matter the new porcelain tubs are rated for 20 years on the lifespan. The copolymer synthetic porcelain I use is rated at a lifespan of 20+ years! The cost of refinishing versus replacement is about 70% cheaper in bathtub refinishings favor.
My bathtub looks ugly, so what know?
This is a simple one! Just go to my bathtub refinishing website ==> FUSION FINISH <== there you will find plenty of pictures, plenty of testimonials, I offer flat rate pricing with no hidden fees. So you can see my prices right there on the site! My contact information is their too. I't okay... go look around, I will be here when you need me!
FUSION FINISH | BATHTUB REFINISHING
FUSION FINISH | BATHTUB REFINISHING