What's the difference between bathroom re-surfacing, re-glazing, and re-finishing?

What's the difference between bathroom re-surfacing, re-glazing and re-finishing?

NOTHING! They are all terms used to define the same thing.

Basically, they refer to applying a new surface over an existing surface in a bathroom. 

The existing surface might be a bath, basin, or wall tiles. The new surface is usually a paint of some sort that is being sprayed on to the existing surface.

Over the years, we have come across people using house paints, two pack car paints, industrial paints, and other combinations, to try and re-surface sanitary ware in a bathroom.

None of these products were ever designed for bathroom sanitary ware and as a result they tend to eventually fail, some lasting a little longer than others depending on the usage of the item.

Why does a bathroom need a special paint?

For example, a bathtub and shower base has to withstand an enormous amount of pressure that very few other surfaces in your home would be subject to.

In the middle of winter, the surface temperature of a these items can be particularly cold.

Turning on the hot water tap to use the bath or shower first thing in the morning causes the surface temperature to rapidly change as the surface heats up. And then the reverse happens when you finish.

It is this constant expansion and contraction that a coating has to be able to withstand if it is going to have any hope of surviving for any length of time on a bath or a shower base.

In addition to this, there is also the punishment a bathtub receives from the different products that we use to clean ourselves with e.g. shampoos, conditioners, soaps, bubble baths, bath oils etc. And when combined with body fats they can form a very corrosive agent if left on the bath surface for any period of time. We all know how hard it is to scrub off the ring around the bathtub after you let the water out especially if you leave it for a few days before you clean it.

And then there are all the different products we use to clean bathtubs. All these contain many different chemicals that can do a lot of damage to a bathtub even if it has never been resurfaced.

Even water that is left to lie in a bath or shower base, unable to drain away, will damage the surface over a period of time. Dripping taps can also stain these surfaces over a period of time.

Will resurfacing stop further deterioration of my bathtub?

If your bathtub has chips in it, or rust around the outlet, or areas where the surface is worn to the metal, then these areas must be repaired first before any re-surfacing work takes place.

The re-surfacing will only last if these areas have been repaired first.

How long will it last?

This is entirely dependent on the technician doing the work and how thorough the preparation of the surface is done. And of course the quality of the coating that is being used.

You will find people using acrylics, epoxies and polyurethanes or a mixture. The only proven long term coating is epoxy based.

When choosing a company to use, check out how long they have been doing this work and the qualifications they have to do so. A guarantee is only worth the paper it is written on if the company giving it is at least as old as their guarantee.

The benefits

It is not necessary to replace sanitary ware items in bathrooms. Their life can be extended considerably by resurfacing them.

There is no need to disconnect plumbing, remove tiling, or any of the mess and inconvenience involved in removing and replacing a bathtub, shower base, wall tiles and basins.

The work is usually done in one day and a reputable operator can ensure that you can use the bathroom again 24 hours after completion.

The time and cost savings are incredible compared to replacing and makes this a very worthy option to consider when renovating bathrooms.

You can also learn more about Bathroom Werx's bathroom renovation and resurfacing services near you by clicking the links below:

• Bathroom Renovations Sydney
• Bathroom Renovations Perth
• Bathroom Renovations Melbourne
• Bathroom Renovations Adelaide

• Bathroom Resurfacing Sydney
• Bathroom Resurfacing Perth
• Bathroom Resurfacing Melbourne
• Bathroom Resurfacing Adelaide

Call Bathroom Werx on 1800-644-171 if you would like more information.