NYC Bathtub Reglazing  

Hi,  My name is Celso Orlando and I have been doing bathtub reglazing in New York City and surrounding areas for over 19 years.  I have the experience and knowledge to refinish your bathtub the right way. I follow strict guidelines and use the best materials available in the bathtub reglazing industry. I will take my time to do the best possible job and with proper care & maintenance on your part it will last for many years to come. I do all the work myself to ensure that I'll be able to provide a top quality job.

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Bathtub reglazing, also known as bathtub refinishing and bathtub resurfacing, is basically the process by which an old, worn out bathtub is restored to a like new condition by bonding a new glaze finish over the surface of the tub. Thus, the names reglazing, refinishing and resurfacing.

The bathtub refinishing process was developed in the 1950's due to the inconvenience and high cost of replacing a bathtub. Replacing a bathtub is not only expensive but it can also be a real hassle. You must deal with the removal of the old bathtub, breaking tiles and re-tiling. You will also have to do some plumbing work to replace damaged pipes resulting from the removal process, and of course, to connect the new bathtub to the existing plumbing. The expenses to do all this this work can add up to at least a couple of thousands of dollars. And even if you know how to do the work yourself and are willing to go through the hassle, a decent bathtub will cost at least $800.00 to replace.

A bathtub can be reglazed right in your bathroom without disturbing the existing tiles, fixtures, or plumbing. The process takes about three to four hours and is ready to use after 24 hours.

There are several methods and materials used in the process of bathtub reglazing. Many use an acid solution to etch the tub and then spray on an epoxy primer and finally an acrylic topcoat. The problem with this system is that strong acids ( such as hydrofluoric acid ) destroys the surface in such a way that it continues to break down even after the primer is applied. This may in turn cause the material to break down with the constant use of hot water.

Some use an adhesive primer which is wiped on with a rag. This method does not require etching but you must clean the surface thoroughly  with a good industrial cleaner. This type of primer is easier and faster to apply, but the bond created is weaker than the spray on epoxy primer and it will probably break down withing a couple of years with the constant use of hot water.

There are many who will clean the tub thoroughly with a good industrial cleaner and apply an epoxy primer that doesn't require etching and then an acrylic topcoat. There is only one drawback with this system. For best results, you must let the epoxy dry for 24 hours. This is not very practical, so most reglazers using this system will let it dry only 15 to 30 minutes before applying the topcoat.

This last system that I will describe, I believe to be the most effective. You clean the bathtub thoroughly with a good industrial cleaner and then apply a molecular bonding primer that contains silane, and then an acrylic topcoat. Silane is the best adhesion promoter on earth which makes this type of primer as effective as the spray on expoxy primer if not better. I say better because this type of primer is wiped on with a rag and it only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to dry thoroughly instead of the 24 hours that the expoxy needs to dry to be most effective.     

If the process is done properly, and you follow the care and maintenance guidelines carefully, bathtub reglazing is an excellent cost effective alternative to replacing an old worn out bathtub.

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