Kitchen Refinishing

Many material types can be resurfaced using a variety of preparation and bonding  methods followed by a top coating system suited to the intended use: Porcelain Ceramic Tile Cultured Marble Gel Coat Pressure Laminates Metals Acrylic Vitreous China Vitreous Enamel Hardest surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen can be resurfaced: Baths Basins Shower Trays Wall Tiles Floor Tiles Benchtops Claw foot baths Vanities Bathroom Fittings.

If a total bathroom renovation is planned, then replacing rather than resurfacing the built-in bath may be the simplest and cheapest alternative. The exception might be if your bath is a cast iron unit and you wish to hang on to it because of its size and solid construction.

When only the bath is being replaced due to wear and tear, the cost of the replacement bath is the cheapest part, because the work will most likely require the services of a carpenter, plumber and tiler. Matching floor and wall tiles will be difficult if more than 15 years old, so extensive retiling may be necessary. The result is that the replacement of a tub costing only $200 to $300 can end up costing much, much more and cause a lot of inconvenience.

DIY bath paint kits are available in some hardware stores, but the results may not please you. There is also a possibility that ‘peel back’ may occur if any aspect of surface preparation is not done correctly.

Apart from brush marks and other visible surface imperfections, the cost of calling in a professional resurfacer when the surface begins to fail is considerably higher due to the extra cost of chemical stripping.

A ‘factory finish’ that will stand the test of time is achieved using professional spray equipment and specialized resurfacing knowledge. That is why Worldwide Refinishing Systems trains independent applicators in all aspects of surface preparation and spray application before they commence their resurfacing operations.

The prices offered by different companies vary because the amount of time taken to complete the job and the quality of materials used vary from applicator to applicator.

As with any other contracting work, one usually gets what one pays for! Keeping costs to a minimum is important, but so is the value received for the outlay. Bathroom resurfacing is a long term project, and a small difference in price is perhaps less important than years of trouble-free use.

That said, the dearest quote may not provide you with the best job either, because some companies incur higher advertising and management costs than others.

The majority of refinishing work is completed in the bathroom or kitchen without removal. However, some items like antique tubs, pedestal basins, refrigerators, etc, may be more easily resurfaced off-site in a workshop.

Porcelain, vitreous enamel and ceramic surfaces must be chemically prepared in order to promote maximum bond between the new surface and mineral substrate. Proper preparation of such surfaces can only be achieved by correct use of either a suitable etch/primer or adhesor system.