Professional Bathroom Resurfacing
With 25 years in the bathroom resurfacing business, Advanced Resurfacing prides itself on extensive knowledge and even more importantly honesty within the industry. In your research of bathroom resurfacing you have probably come across a lot of claims of one thing or another. Below is some answers and information to the most commonly asked questions.
Q. What is the difference between Resurfacing, Re-enamelling, Refinishing and Reglazing?
A. All terms relate to the same process of applying a coating system over your existing fixtures. While different preparation methods and coatings used do apply, no terminology is set to any one term.
Q. What material is used in resurfacing?
A. Professional resurfacing consists of either acrylic urethanes or acrylic epoxies. Advanced Resurfacing does not use terms such as "synthetic porcelain", "baked on enamel" or "thermal fusion" as these are misleading.
Q. How hard is the resurfaced material?
A. The material hardness can best be related to the equivalent of acrylic / fibreglass bathtubs. Despite some claims otherwise, no material is as hard as factory oven baked on porcelain or vitreous enamel.
Q. Why is there differences between how long I can use the surface after resurfacing application?
A. This relates to the type of top coat material being used with the "ready to use time" mainly being 4 or 24-48 hours. At Advanced Resurfacing we recommend and use a top coat of 24-48 hours before use. The reason for this is that it is a fact the faster the coating dries, the less the level of gloss. This is due to the amount of solvents required (thinning). Also the finish with quicker drying coatings is likely to have an "orange peel" effect. With a slower 24-48 hour coating system, higher gloss levels and a smoother finish is achieved. More importantly, less solvent is needed allowing for thicker coats to be applied. This leads to greater serviceability, looks better and will last longer than cheaper, quicker drying coatings.
Q.How much does resurfacing cost?
A. Prices for bathroom resurfacing vary mainly due to not only the size of the bathroom, but the condition and repairs involved. For example two bathrooms can be the same in size and layout, but one could be in much poorer condition and have a lot more repairs to be carried out. A site inspection is usually required to give a proper quotation. Bath resurfacing usually starts around $600 for a standard sized built in bathtub depending on condition and what needs to be done. Bath resurfacing can usually be quoted over the phone without the need for a site inspection.
Q. Why is there differences in prices between resurfacing companies?
A. Differences in costs mainly relate to the quality of materials being used and different prepping methods. The cheapest quote may save you a few dollars but may never last as long or look as good. However the most expensive quote does not mean it is the best either. This can be due to higher running costs and overheads incurred by some companies.
Q. How do I clean the resurfaced product?
A. Any detergent based cleaner such as dishwashing liquid or any spray on cleaner is usually suited. Abrasive cleaners such as creme cleansers should not be used. The general rule is that if the cleaner feels "gritty" between your fingers, then it should not be used.
Q. How long does the resurfacing last?
A. Like anything it depends on how it is treated and looked after. A well looked after surface could last 10, 15, 20 years. Advanced Resurfacing has seen jobs we have done over 15 years ago and still look good!
Q. How long is the warranty and what does it cover?
A. Any warranty covers loss of adhesion due to faulty workmanship or materials. It does not cover things like accidental damage and where suction cup bath mats are used. Advanced Resurfacing gives a 7 year warranty on resurfacing unless stated otherwise before job is commenced. Warranty terms are provided on written quotations and invoices.