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The Bathtub Refinishing Process Explained

Refinishing a bathtub offers a cost- and time-effective solution to the hassles of moving and buying and installing a new tub. With inexpensive and flexible rates, having your bathtub professionally refinished can add a brand-new coating to the bathtub and add years of life and use without a lengthy delay.

But what is the process of bathtub refinishing? How long does it really take? Let’s take a closer look. While refinishing companies may have techniques or products that differ, the refinishing process itself is generally the same.

1. Site preparation – Because tub refinishing is messy, most companies will take adequate precautions to ensure dust and overspray from the refinishing process doesn’t reach other parts of the home. This can be accomplished by covering the bathroom with heavy duty plastic or sheeting attached via painters tape. Since bathtub refinishing does produce an odor that may irritate home occupants, part of the site prep will include ventilating the area with a fan or exhaust system to keep odors contained to the bathroom or expelled into the outdoors. What odor remains typically dissipates in a few days.

2. Sanding down the old bathtub finish – The first step towards applying the new finish is removing the old one. The existing finish must stripped off and then the surface sanded down to create a smooth surface for the new finish to adhere to.

3. Repairing chips, cracks or imperfections – After stripping and sanding, there may be imperfections such as cracks, chips or rust or weak spots still in the substrate that the new finish will be applied to.

4. Primer, new surface and top coat – Application techniques and methods vary, but generally a primer will be applied to the surface and allowed to dry. Then multiple layers of refinishing coating will be applied after allowing the preceding coat to dry or set. A sealing coat is then applied to finish the application process. Depending on the company and product, it will usually be about two to four days before you can use the bathtub to allow time for the product to set properly.

If applied correctly, a refinished bathtub should last 10 to 15 years before requiring another refinishing. While there are a number of DIY products on the market, bathtub refinishing is a probably a job best left to the professionals. Why? Because it’s an easy thing to mess up. Stripping old finish off a tub, repairing and patching holes or cracks, and ventilating a room to expel the fumes produced by the refinishing process are all steps better left to a trained professional.

Refinishing isn’t just limited to bathtubs either.  The process can be applied to sinks, wall tile, countertops, shower stalls and kitchen countertops of almost any material, including orcelain, cultured marble, fiberglass, acrylic, Formica and tile.

For more information about bathtub refinishing in Pennsylvania or Florida, contact One Day Bath today.

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