QUESTIONS & ANSWERS - Here are some questions and answers that we have received over the years, if your question is not covered please contact us for a prompt reply

Can you resurface all types of baths?   
Yes, we can resurface acrylic, pressed steel and cast iron

Can you resurface any other bathroom items? 
Yes, we can resurface any type of bath including Spa and Whirlpool, bidets, basins, pedestals, shower trays, cisterns, butler sinks, bath grips etc

Do we need to remove the bath for it to be resurface? 
No, we do most of our work in-situ so you do not need to remove anything from the bath.

My taps are slightly leaking, will this affect the resurfacing procedure? 
We would need the taps to be leak free, we would advise at the point of survey to see what recommendation we would make, we can inexpensively re-seat taps for around £40.00 + VAT or we can supply and fit new taps etc prior to resurfacing.

If we put on new taps do we do this after resurfacing or before?
We would advise the taps to be fitted prior to us commencing resurfacing work, unfortunately taps have been fitted after we have left and been dropped into the bath.

Can you supply new taps for us and accessories? 
Yes, we have a comprehensive list of taps and accessories, as well as new suites to choose from to suit all tastes and budget, we can also offer a fitting service. We can offer a full remodel of your bathroom to suit your requests.

Do I need to prepare anything for the bath to be resurfaced? 
No, we do everything, you don't even need to clean the bath!

My suite is Sky Blue and I would like to keep the colour, is this possible?
Yes, we can colour match to any colour you fancy.

I have a slight chip on my basin, it is coloured Avocado, can you repair basins and colour match them? 
Yes, we can repair any piece of sanitary ware even a hole through a bath, in any colour

How long will it take to resurface a bath? 
We take a full day to do a bath and approximately half a day to do a basin and pedestal or a wc. We will then return the following day at time to suit you, service the bath and check all our work. We will discuss the warranty with you and make sure you are happy with the quality of the work.

Do you come and survey before starting. 
Yes, we always survey all work to give you a correct price and discuss all requirements with you.

My friend had her bath resurfaced but it has peeled, why would that happen and would your materials do that? 
There are companies that use inferior materials that will peel, crack and blister or even discolour within 24 months, our materials are imported from USA and are designed specifically for bathtubs. Our baths still look good after 20 years!!! We offer as standard a 3 year warranty which will be discussed with you.

I have a cistern that is 30 years old but I really like it, can you obtain any obsolete sanitary ware? 
Yes, we can source most items for you, on our survey we will take all the details and get back to you within 24 hours with an answer, we can also invoice direct to your Insurance Company if you are making a claim.

 I have an old roll top bath, do you resurface these? 
Yes, we offer a complete restoration service to roll top baths from collecting them from you to delivering them back fully restored, we also buy and sell Roll top baths.

My AGA cooking range is damaged, can you repair these? 
Yes, we can fully restore AGA ranges from a simple chip repair to a full recolour.

Can we see any work that you have carried out for customers? 
Yes, we have a list of past customers who will be happy to show you our work or you can visit us here and see our samples. If our surveyor is appointed to you he will bring with him work samples.

 How much will a bath refinish cost?
Approximately £295.00 + VAT for a standard 1700mm bath in White. If there is any extra work to do on the bath we will advise you of this at point of survey and leave you with our written quotation.

What can be resurfaced?
Except for certain soft plastics, the many material types can be resurfaced using a variety of preparation methods and bonding methods appropriate to surface, followed by a top coating system most suited to the intended use:
Porcelain & Ceramics -Acrylic & Fibreglass-Cultured Marble
Pressure Laminates-Ceramic Tile
Most hard surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen can be resurfaced as follows:-
Baths, shower trays, vanity basin and units, cisterns, pans, bidets, roll top baths acrylic or cast iron, pedestals, wall tiles, floor tiles, countertop units, kitchen sinks, cultured marble basins, Formica countertops, Agas, cookers, fridges, freezers, fire place surrounds the list is endless!!

Tile refinishing is the easiest way to move from a mildew stained wall to a new one! Using special fillers, we repair cracks and holes. Then we fill any missing grout with material designed specifically for the refinishing process. Finally we prepare the surface and apply the topcoat.

Why is resurfacing so popular when a new bath can be purchased for less than the cost of a resurface?

If a total bathroom renovation is planned, then replacing rather than resurfacing the built-in bath may be your preferred approach. The exception is if you are the proud owner of an old cast iron bath.

This is not the case when only the bath needs to be replaced due to wear and tear. The cost of a new bath is the cheapest part of replacement expense. Wall tiles have to be removed and replaced and if the bath was installed before the floor, the floor may need partial removal and replacement also.

Matching floor and wall tiles will be difficult and extensive retiling may be necessary. The result is that the replacement of a bath costing under £200 can end up costing thousands of pounds and cause a lot of inconvenience.

Are site surveys and Quotations Free and Obligation Free?    
Onsite inspections and quotations are free with no obligation. We can generally price a bath or repair etc over the phone but ideally we do like to come and view it so both parties know what to expect. This prevents any misunderstandings when unforeseen problems result in extra costs.

As a professional refinishing company we will arrange a convenient time to provide a written quotation. The customer is then able to ask questions and ensure the best possible result.

How much does bath and bathroom resurfacing cost and why do prices vary significantly ?
The prices offered by different companies vary widely because the amount of time taken to complete the job expertly and the quality and pedigree of materials used varies widely too. Refinishing is always your most affordable option as compared to replacement. We estimate for a boxed in cast iron bath with little remedial work approximately £295.00 + VAT, however this price could change according to distances travelled and other supporting factors.

As with any other contracting work and most things in life, you get what you pay 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 differences in price are far less important than years of trouble-free use.

Can bath resurfacing be carried out in-situ?     
The majority of refinishing work is done in-situ. With certain items, such as roll top baths, cistern lid restoration and white goods etc, it is sometimes easier to have the work done in our work shop, this we would discuss with you during our survey.  

How is surface preparation completed?
Porcelain, china and ceramic surfaces must be chemically prepared in order for the bonding agent to adhere properly. We use a chemical etch to achieve this not mechanical which will leave the door open for contamination. Correct preparations of such surfaces can only be achieved by using these chemicals that are a form of strong or weak acid paste or liquid.

Today, the environmental friendliness of the etching material is very important. The safest types are those that are totally neutralized before disposal which we are trained to carry out.

Can the colour of the original surface be either completely changed or matched identically?
No matter what the original colour was, it can be changed. As professional refinishers we have specialised tints that enable the matching and mixing of almost any colour. We mix all tints in-situ to obtain the best match to all your fittings whilst considering lighting effects that are cast onto your sanitary ware.

How are chips, rust and other damage dealt with during the surface preparation process?
Chips, cracks and other damage in the original surface should always be repaired before refinishing.  In fact, that’s one of the major reasons sanitary ware is refinished. Part of the process is fixing all types of damage. The area is filled to match the contour of the surrounding area, smoothed to blend ready for resurfacing. Different repair materials are used, depending on the original surface. For instance, the materials used to repair porcelain are different from that used on fibreglass and so on.

Can a previously resurfaced surface be resurfaced again?
A surface that was previously resurfaced may be resurfaced again. However, the original coating may have to be partly or completely stripped before applying the new surface and is additional to the resurfacing cost; this will be tested during our survey and an estimate given.

What are the resurfacing materials used in a bath or bathroom resurface?
There are many different materials available in the marketplace; epoxies, enamels, acrylics, urethanes, to name the most common. Some are 2-part and some are not. 2-part materials tend to be more durable and produce better, longer lasting results; we have listed the qualities in our section titled our coatings & its quality.

How is the new bath surface applied?
We use a high volume low pressure spray equipment to achieve a smooth finish and high gloss. Specialised turbines and low pressure delivery systems are used in the process. Solvent fumes are removed by fan-forced evacuation through flexible ducting to the atmosphere. All we need is an opening window nearby to put our flexible ducting through.

How many coats of bath resurfacing material should be applied?
We as standard apply 1 base coat and 3 layers of ‘Classic Enamel’ coating, the coating should not significantly yellow or discolour over time. It should be flexible enough so it will not crack with thermal expansion and contraction created by hot/cold water or, in the case of fibreglass and acrylic, not crack with movement of the underlying surface.

The coating should not naturally break down and become dull over time, provided it is cleaned properly. It is corrosion and acid resistant so the strong chemicals that are often used to clean plugged drains or to clean dirty and mildew-covered tile grout will not affect the refinished surface, however, if this is left on for long periods of time it can ‘etch’ the surface.

Are the prepping and coating materials toxic?
We carry Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) at all times and are available for anyone to view at any time.  The main ingredients to be aware of in coatings are LEAD and ISOCYANATES. These days, it is unusual for lead to be present; however, isocyanates are a different story. Isocyanates are additives used to accelerate the curing time. Our technicians will be very well equipped with breathing and safety apparatus to handle the materials. We do not use coatings with Isocyanates.

Are there fumes during the resurfacing process and do they hang around after?
All coatings, paints, varnishes etc will have some fumes, as we indicated previously; we extract all fumes by our flexible ducting system. There will be no more fumes than if you have painted an item with gloss paint.

How long does it take to resurface a bath?
Most jobs will take between 5 and 7 hours depending on repairs and overall condition. Longer completion times usually indicate the amount of work and preparation that went into the job to produce a lasting result.

How long before I can re-use the bath after resurfacing?
Ready-to-use time can vary from a matter of hours to several days, depending on the material used. We as a rule of thumb we will resurface on day 1, service on day 2 and you can use on day 3. It is usually possible to reduce the time to 1 day with the application of infrared heating to speed up the curing.

Can skin bath crystals, oils and dyes harm a refinished bath?
Yes, some skin oils and hair colorants that are intended to penetrate human tissue can give rise to stains which are difficult to remove and may require buffing. Normal soaps, foam baths and bath oils should not damage a professionally applied surface using our proven system.

Do I need to use a special cleaner with my resurfaced bath or bathroom?  
ABRASIVE CLEANERS MUST NOT BE USED, no matter what the material. We can supply a range of cleaners to suit your bath and advise of the cleaning of it.

Can rubber mats be used in the bath?    
No new or refinished bath will stand up to the use of a bath mat over time. The suction cups on the mat bottom will eventually cause marking and in the case of a resurfaced bath, blistering. We specifically exclude the use of bath mats or stipulate that the mat should be removed from the bath and dried. We can apply anti slip strips when we are servicing the bath which will give you a permanent anti slip base that will not damage the surface like a bath mat.

What anti-slip methods are available for the bathroom?
This can be achieved by mixing fine particles with the resurfacing coating to form a pattern in the surface.  The application is simply rolled on and can be used the same day. We always apply an anti slip surface on top of the refinished surface so that it does not interfere with the integrity or life expectancy of the resurfacing.

How are the walls and other surfaces protected? 
All surrounding flat surfaces, walls, mirrors, wall heaters, etc. that could be affected by overspray will be protected. Dust sheets and the careful application of masking paper in all critical positions are usually sufficient for this.

Do I have to do any clean up and resealing?
We are responsible for removal of all the masking tape, masking paper, clean up and disposal of refuse away from site. Your bath room will be left as we found it before commencing the work.

How long should the resurfaced bath last?
A properly maintained finish should provide many years of service and enjoyment for the consumer. In the residential field the lifetime that might be expected is between 20 and 25 years depending on cleaning standards, avoidance of accidental damage and misuse.

Will my bath look painted?
No. It won’t have any signs of brush marks or drips. The topcoat material is applied with a spray gun that produces a super-smooth, high gloss evenly sprayed finish.

What is covered by a warranty and how long is it for?
Our warranty covers general loss of adhesion or any other coating failure that can be attributed to workmanship or materials. We do not resurface in a sterilised environment so there are always risks of fine particles in the atmosphere that could fall onto the surface. If this does happen we can remove these on the day of service.

It does not cover accidental damage or misuse. The warranty will be supplied to you and discussed on the service date. We will discuss any clauses that are not covered by our warranty with you.