FAQ

How do you reglaze a bathtub?

Only a professional refinisher can get the proper chemicals to reglaze a bathtub. Basically, we deep clean the surface, apply a zinc oxide primer and reglaze the tub using exclusive synthetic porcelain.

How much does it cost to reglaze a bathtub?

The typical range for bathtub refinishing costs is $335 to $628. The national average is $480. Refinishing costs can vary due to the material, type of project, the item's condition, refinishing method, labor, and the refinishing company. (https://www.bobvila.com/articles/bathtub-refinishing-cost/)

Can you use a magic eraser on a reglazed bathtub?

The box, itself, says not to use it on glossy surfaces and since the reglazed bathtub is high gloss, we would seriously discourage using it. On a good note, if your bathtub is done in white, Clorox Clean-Up is the best thing to use.

Is reglazing a bathtub worth it?

Yes. Removing an old cast iron bathtub is not only back breaking but a heart breaker. The old cast iron bathtubs are deeper than the new tubs and they hold the heat from the water. The quality is unsurpassed. New tubs are either fiberglass or steel (there are a limited amount of new cast iron tubs being manufactured but they are not as large as the old ones). The only time it is better to replace the tub is if you are putting in a stand up shower in its place.

How do you clean a reglazed bathtub?

Reglazed bathtubs and tile are very easy to clean. Safe products are Bon Ami, Barkeepers Friend, Clorox Clean-Up, Krud Kutter.

Can you reglaze a claw foot tub?

Without a doubt. We love doing claw foot tubs. In our history, we have seen a wide variety of ways to do the refinishing. Most are all white, inside and out, but we have done the inside white and the outside red or blue and even purple. Simply gorgeous.

What does reglazing a bathtub mean?

Reglazing mean refinishing the bathtub or tile with synthetic porcelain and not just painting it. Paint peels or discolors. Synthetic porcelain is 95% as durable as the original without having to be cured at 3000 degrees. Electro Bond Refinishing is the exclusive reglazer in the Chicagoland area. All others use some sort of paint.

How long does reglazing on a bath tub last?

Our bathtub and tile reglazing comes with an 11 year warranty, however, with normal use and cleaning, there is no reason why it won’t last 20+ years.

Can you reglaze a bath tub that has already been reglazed?

That is a tricky question. We can reglaze a bathtub that has been painted before, and yes even those that have been reglazed, however it is more difficult to prep a reglazed surface than a painted one. It takes more work but the answer is yes.

Does reglazing a bath tub change the color?

Only if you want it to. If your bathtub is white and is just dull rough and hard to clean, we can bring it back to it original beauty. If it is a lovely shade of pink, blue, green, gold, brown, purple, black..... we can bring it to a modern shade of white or light cream.

Can a fiberglass bath tub be reglazed?

Absolutely. As a matter of fact, once fiberglass is reglazed, it will look like a porcelain bathtub and will be even more durable than the original fiberglass.

Can you reglaze a plastic bath tub?

Yes. Plastic bathtubs are actually fiberglass. They just look a little different and are not as thick as others.

Can you reglaze an acrylic bath tub?

Acrylic is the same as plastic and or fiberglass, so yes.

How long does a reglazed bathtub take to dry?

24 hours. There are some paints, that are used by other companies, that are dry in 4 hours. This causes the finish to be brittle. Wait a little longer for a longer lasting finish.

How long do you wait to use the bathtub after is it reglazed?

24 hours before you caulk your bathtub. If you want to shower, you need to wait until the caulk is dry, usually 24 hours, but a bath can be taken just 24 hours after the bathtub was finished.

Can you reglaze a cast iron bathtub?

Yes. Cast iron is found, primarily, in older homes and valuable to save. As a matter of fact, we can reglaze cast iron, steel, fiberglass and cultured marble.

Is reglazing a bathtub toxic?

Not at all. It is EPA and OSHA approved. It does have a smell to it, but we use exhausters to vent out the fumes. A smell lingers for a few hours.

Is it better to refinish or replace a bathtub?

Refinishing all the way. For you to replace the bathtub, you must remove a wall as the bathroom doorway is the smallest in the house and a bathtub can not get in or out of it. That’s why builders put in the bathtubs before the interior walls of the house. You must remove the plumbing (minimum of $500.00 just for a plumber to show up and then another $500.00 for them to put in the new plumbing once the new tub is in). The room, next to the bathroom, is all messed up because of the construction. Once the new tub is in and the walls have been replaced, the plumber returns to hook everything up. Now if you are lucky, this can all be done in a week. Reglazing the bathtub and tile is one in 1 day for about 1/4 the cost of replacing. Also, a new tub only comes with a 1 year warranty that doesn’t cover the replacement of it if it has a problem.

How do you strip bathtub refinishing?

We prefer to sand off the previous paint but if it is “stubborn” we will try to scrape it off. As a last resort, we would use a chemical stripper. Using the chemical stripper can cause minimal damage to the original surface of the bathtub, which is why it is used as a last resort.

How much does this cost?

It varies from project to project as no 2 bathrooms are alike. A standard bathtub will start at around $400 compared to full bathrooms around $2000-$3000. Make sure to contact our office for a free estimate right over the phone.

My tub/shower/tile has been painted or refinished before, can it be done again?

Absolutely, there is an additional step that would need to be done which is an additional fee. This is called prep. Prep is when the painted on surface will need to be chemically or mechanically removed.

I have a fiberglass/acrylic tub, can this be refinished?

Yes. We are able to refinish porcelain, cast iron, steel, fiberglass, acrylic, and cultured marble, including jetted tubs.

How long does this take?

An average job takes about 3-5 hours depending on what needs to be done. Larger jobs take longer and full bathrooms may require 2-3 days. Once the refinishing has been completed though, you’ll be able to enjoy your like brand new item in only 24 hours!

I see that you do wall tile, but can floor tile also be refinished?

Unfortunately, we are unable to do floor tile as it uses a different grout. Most floors are grouted with a sanded grout that will poke through the refinishing and leave an unwanted gritty and uneven surface. The floor tile of a shower can be done as it is not the same grout as a standard floor that has been tiled.

I am currently, or will be shortly remodeling the bathroom. When should the bathtub be done?

An old rule of thumb while remodeling is to work from the ceiling down. So the walls should be completed, along with any plumbing or electrical work. If you are just replacing items such as a toilet or vanity, this will not impact us doing our work. If the toilet or vanity are under 6 inches away from the tub, we may ask that this be removed for the day so we are able to get a good, clean, even spray pattern.

When it comes to flooring, it does not have to be completed. However, if you are removing old flooring after the bathtub has been refinished, you will need to remove an inch of the old flooring in front of the tub prior to work being done. We ask this in case the new flooring you put in, maybe a different thickness than your old flooring. This could leave an unwanted strip of old, unfinished tub showing.

How badly does this smell?

It typically carries the same amount of odor as painting a bedroom. We bring in exhausters and long tubing to get out as much smell as possible during the process. The smell tends to linger for no longer than a day. Our material is OSHA and EPA approved. But every person is different when it comes to their own personal level of scent sensitivity. We will not force you to be in the home the entire time we are working.

Do you remove the drain or any other plumbing hardware?

We do remove the overflow, however we are not licensed plumbers so we are unable to remove the drain. There are a few options to deal with this. You can leave the drain intact, if you are not replacing it, and we will tape over it and razor blade around the edge so no tape overlaps. Another option is for you to loosen the drain, prior to our arrival, and when we are done using the water we can un-screw the drain by hand. When the job is completed and dried, you will then be able to install your new drain.

What colors are available?

We carry 3 standard whites (Kohler, American Standard, and Pure White) and can order 3 beiges (Biscuit, Almond, or Bone) with a few days notice and you the customer already knowing exactly which beige you prefer. The standard today when it comes to interior design for a bathroom is white. We are able to get custom colors for a $100 fee and a weeks notice. Vanities and countertops can be refinished in a beautiful faux-granite finish called stone flex which is also an additional fee. For any color options questions, do not hesitate to bring it up during your estimate over the phone.

I have those fun sticker/appliqués on the floor. Do you offer a slip resistant bottom?

We have an optional non-skid bathmat that is an additive that gets mixed in with our top coat and put on between the drain and back of the tub. It’s rough enough to where you won’t slip and fall, but wont hurt you if you sit or stand on it. Our after care sheets have quick easy steps on keeping this surface clean and debris free.

I have chips, scratches, rust ETC. Can these be fixed?

Upon arrival of a scheduled appointment, the technician will look at your item and be able to determine what repairs need to be done. Repairs start at a minimum of $25 and got to a maximum of $250. (there has been one instance in the last 5 years that repairs have gone that high) If you are unsure of your damage, please never hesitate to contact our office about this and emailing photos never hurt anyone!

You remove the caulk…but do you replace it once finished?

We do not replace caulk that has been removed at the end of the process. This is because  when we are done your surface is still wet and tacky and can easily be smeared with any pressure. Also, walking in and out of the room can cause debris to travel throughout the room and land on the tub. We’ve also had instances where hair has fallen on to a wet surface while bending over the tub.

After the 24 hour dry time, you will want to caulk around the tub and around the overflow and drain. This creates a good water tight seal that prevents peeling.

If you have any further questions or want some more in depth information please do not hesitate to contact our friendly office staff who can handle just about any curve ball question you can throw at them.