Steps to updating a tub surrounding

While time and daily use can wear down your bathtub and shower, it can also start to deteriorate the surroundings of tubs, causing tiles to come loose, colors to fade and the appearance to be less than appealing.

When you are ready to update the surrounding walls, here are the essential steps to take:

1. Start with flat, structurally sound, clean walls – If the walls are not flat, glue down any loose tiles; if there are a lot of loose tiles, remove them, and cover the wall with water-resistant drywall.
2. Prep the area around the walls – This includes laying down cardboard in the tub, putting plastic sheeting over the tub, and removing the showerhead, faucet handles and tub spout. If there is any shelving, racks or soap dishes on the walls that will be updated, remove these fixtures also.
3. Sand the walls – As you do this, remember to wear eye protection, and remove any remaining sanding dust with a damp cloth to keep the surface clean.
4. Measure out the materials to be applied – This step will vary according to the type of material you will be applying to your walls. If you will be updating with wall paneling, cut out the proper panel sizes with a circular saw or a router. Cut out holes for features you want to mount to the new walls (like soap dishes, towel racks, etc.).
5. Apply silicon adhesive to the wall and start laying the materials – Apply the glue in a grid pattern, and firmly press the materials (panels/tile) to the wall.
6. Install your decorative molding and let the adhesive set – Put up any decorative molding or trim if desired and let the silicon adhesive set for at least 24 hours.

What can really complement a new tub surrounding is a newly refinished bathtub. In fact, the combination of these updates can breathe new life into a bathroom, changing the feel of the room and making it far more attractive.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Bathtub Refinishing Estimate

For a free bathtub refinishing estimate, contact us today by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

When you are ready to renovate a bathroom, finding ways to cut costs can help you extend your renovation dollars as far as possible. One effective way to do this can be to keep your old tub, refinishing your tub instead of completely replacing it.

While you may be intent on doing your entire bathroom update yourself, however, hiring a professional to refinish your tub – rather than going the do-it-yourself (DIY) method with a tub liner or spray refinish – is well worth the investment. We’ll explain why below.

Why to Avoid DIY Tub Liners & Spray Refinishes

Want to add a liner/spray refinish to your tub yourself? Here are the top reasons you may want to rethink that and call us for a bathtub refinishing quote.

Some of the major problems that tend to arise with DIY tub liners and spray refinishes include (but are by no means limited to):

• Improper application – With liners, this can mean that the liner is not smoothly or properly affixed to the surface of a tub. This can create bubbles, open seams at the edges of tubs and other unsightly issues. With spray refinishes, improper application can lead to uncovered portions of the tub and uneven application of the spray.
• Water leakage and infiltration – When liners and spray refinishes are not properly applied to tubs, there are far greater chances that water will penetrate the newly added layer and become trapped between the top layer and the tub.
• Accelerated damage to tubs – With water trapped on the surface of tubs, tubs can start to rust, and other residue can begin to eat away at the surface of tubs. This can end up causing more damage than if you didn’t do the DIY “fix” in the first place.

All of this can end up meaning that your efforts to try to save money and cut costs upfront can end up costing your more down the line, as shoddy DIY liners and spray refinishes can end up ruining perfectly good older tubs, causing people to have to buy new tubs far soon they would have had to otherwise.

So, the bottom line is that it can be best to leave your bathtub updates to professionals who can complete them perfectly, providing a warranty, for still far less than a new bathtub would cost.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Bathtub Refinishing Estimate

Let us refinish your bathtub for less than you think. Contact us for a free bathtub refinishing estimate by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

Cleaning your bathtub is, of course, important to maintaining it. However, what you use to clean your tub can do more harm than good in some cases, especially if you are using certain abrasive cleansers or cleaning agents.

In line with our theme of “going natural” this month, below, we’ll point out when you should not go natural and should, instead, avoid using certain natural cleaning agents on your bathtub in order to avoid damaging it.

Don’t Use These to Clean Your Bathtub

1 – Borax

Avoid using these natural cleaning agents on your tub to avoid damaging it. If, however, your tub is damaged, contact us for the best Colorado bathtub refinishing services.

Borax is an abrasive scouring powder that can get rid of mold and mildew and remove soap scum. However, using this cleaning agent – even when diluted with water – can harm the surface of your tub, eating away at it over time.

2 – Baking Soda

Baking soda is another abrasive cleaning agent that can damage the surface of tubs, especially when it is left to sit on tubs to “soak” or “set” like some online cleaning guides recommend.

3 – Ammonia

Alkaline and potent at cleaning grime, ammonia may be another item you have around your home that can be tempting to use to clean your tub. Resist the temptation, however, because this is another abrasive agent that can damage your tub over time.

4 – Vinegar

Vinegar is cleaning agent that some online cleaning “gurus” will recommend to use on your tub to clean scum and grime. It too, however, can eat away at the surface of your tub over time, so don’t use it if you want to prolong the life of your bathtub.

5 – Pumice Stones

Sometimes, the dirt on the surface of tubs can be extra tough, and some extra scrubbing may need to be done to remove it. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t use a pumice stone on your tub. Although pumice is a natural soft rock, it can scratch and damage the surface of a bath tub.

Instead of Using these Natural Cleaning Agents…

We recommend using nonabrasive cleansers and very soft brushes to clean your tub. In fact, we suggest using blue Dawn dish soap or a similar cleanser that will be effective at removing grime and soap scum without damaging the surface of your bathtub.

If, however, it’s too late and the surface of your tub is already damaged, refinishing your bathtub can be a cost-effective solution to revitalizing your tub and the entire look of your bathroom.

Colorado Bathtub Refinishing Services: Contact Us for a Free Estimate

Let us help you make your damaged tub to look and feel new again. Contact the experts at Colorado Tub Repair today for a free bathtub refinishing estimate by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

Going au naturel can be liberating. And, when you go au naturel with your bathtub, it can be cost effective, preventing your tub from rusting and otherwise being damaged. Below, we’ll point out a few things you can do to go au naturel with your tub and, in doing so, help prolong the life of your tub.

Go Au Naturel with Your Tub By…

1 – Using liquid dish soap to clean your tub.

Did you know that going au naturel with your tub can help preserve it? Here’s why. When tubs are damaged, however, contact us for a free bathtub refinishing quote.

Instead of using harsh and abrasive cleansers on your tub, we recommend using dish soaps (such as blue Dawn liquid dish soap) that will remove the dirt and soap scum from your tub’s surface without eating away at the lining of your tub. Specifically, avoid using caustic cleansers, such as those that are acid based.

2 – Letting your tub “breathe.”

In other words, do not keep bathmats in your tub or shower. Layering mats on the surface of your bathtub will trap water between the mat and the surface of your tub. This will, in turn, mean that your tub will be exposed to water 24/7, causing water damage that will erode your tub’s lining.

For those who are using bathmats to prevent slip and falls in the shower, we, instead, recommend installing a nonslip surface on tubs that won’t damage their linings.

3 – Letting your tub go “bare.”

Along with the above point, you can let your tub go bare by not resting your bath and shower products on the ledges of tubs. Just as bathmats can trap water on the surface of your tub, so too can bottles trap water on the edges of tubs, and this can lead to rust and other unsightly damage to your tub.

So, let your bathtub go bare, and use a shower caddy or something else to hang your products so that your tub can fully dry after each use.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Bathtub Refinishing Estimate

While the above tips are helpful for preventing damage to your tub, if your tub is already chipped, rusted or damaged, bathtub refinishing can be your best option for revitalizing your tub.

So, instead of hiding an unsightly tub behind a shower curtain, let us help you refinish it. To get a free quote for refinishing your tub, contact us today by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

We all cut corners sometimes, and occasionally these shortcuts can become bad habits. In fact, whether some bad habits stem from having limited time or a simple distaste for doing certain chores, the end result can be the same – namely, that our little bad habits are damaging some of the most treasured spaces in our homes, such as our bathrooms.

Below, we’ll point out some of common bad habits that you may not even realize are damaging your tub. When you are ready to start reversing this damage and breathe new life into your tub (and bathroom) with tile and/or bathtub refinishing, however, contact Colorado Tub Repair.

Avoid These Things to Avoid Damaging Your Tub

1 – Not rinsing your shower/tub after using it

Avoiding these bad habits can help you prolong the life of your tub. When you are ready to breathe new life into your tub, however, contact us for a free bathtub refinishing quote.

After showering or bathing, residue (including skin cells, soap scum, etc.) can remain on the walls/sides of your bathtub. Although you may be in a hurry to get on with your process of getting ready, however, taking just a minute or two to rinse off your bathtub/shower can remove this debris and:

• Prevent it from building up on  your tubs’ surfaces
• Minimize the longer-term damage that can result from such buildup (such as the deterioration of grout, etc.).

2 – Leaving your bath products on the ledges of tubs

Where do you keep your shampoo, body wash and other shower products you use? If it’s on the ledges of tubs (rather than hanging somewhere that allows the water to drain away), then you are likely causing water to be trapped between the products and the surface of your tub. This can, in turn, accelerate water damage to a tub.

3 – Not regularly cleaning your tub

Do you clean your bathroom on a regular basis? Is cleaning your shower/bathtub a part of this process? If not, then again, you could be slowly damaging your tub, as,  similar to first point above, the buildup of debris on tubs’ surfaces will slowly start to eat away at the grout surrounding the tub, as well as the surface of the tub itself.

4 – Using the wrong cleansers on your tub

To properly maintain a tub, it’s not simply enough to clean it regularly, as the types of cleansers used are also important. In fact, if you are using especially abrasive or stringent cleansers on your tub, you could be doing more harm than good, as these cleaners may also be damaging the surface of your tub.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Bathtub Refinishing Estimate

Let us refinish your bathtub and breathe new life into it. Contact us for a free estimate by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

Tub liners or “skins” may give bathtubs a facelift, as they can cover up little nicks or unsightly blemishes that may be bringing down the look of the entire bathroom.

While these liners can save people money in that they don’t have to run out and buy a new tub (or fully renovate their bathrooms), there are some important things to know about them if you are considering lining a tub with a “skin,” rather than refinishing it.

Here’s Why You Should Rethink Using a Bathtub Liner

1 – Liners don’t resolve the underlying problems.

Here are some important reasons to reconsider using bathtub liners. Contact us for a free quote for our bathtub refinishing services. It’s more affordable than you think!

Although a liner cover for your tub will hide the unsightly blemishes on your tub, it will not fix them. So, you may just be putting off the real fix you need. In fact, depending on how long a liner stays on a tub, it could end up intensifying the damage to a tub.

2 – Liners can trap water by the tub.

With liners on a tub, there is a distinct possibility that water will get in between the liner and tub. If this happens, mildew and mold can develop and possibly start eating away at the structure of the tub.

3 – Liners don’t always provide a good feeling in the tub.

Whether you take baths or shower in your tub, you want the experience to be pleasant. With liners in tubs, however, you can be left with a sponge-like feeling on your feet and/or body. You may also end up feeling less stable standing in the tub.

4 – Liners are not cheap.

In fact, tub liners tend to be more expensive than bathtub refinishing.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Estimate

Let us refinish your bathtub and breathe new life into your bathroom. Contact us for a free estimate by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

Once you have gone through the effort of having your tub refinished, taking care of your newly refinished tub can help you extend its life and get the most out of your investment. Here’s what our bathtub refinishing experts recommend when it comes to properly caring for a newly refinished bathtub.

Bathtub Refinishing: How to Care for a Newly Refinished Tub

1 – Wait a little bit before using the tub.

Following these tips for caring for a newly refinished tub can help you get the most out of your bathtub refinishing investment. Contact us for a free bathtub refinishing quote today.

In fact, it’s best to wait 48 hours before using a newly refinished tub.

2 – Clean the tub after each use.

After the first 48 hours after the refinishing has passed and you are ready to start using your tub again, be sure to rinse it thoroughly after each use. This will prevent the buildup of soap scum and other debris.

3 – Do NOT use abrasive cleaners on your tub.

When you clean your tub more thoroughly (than just the rinse after use), avoid using any harsh or particularly abrasive cleaners that could start to deteriorate the refinish. For some recommendations on cleaners, contact our trusted bathtub refinishing professionals.

4 – Avoid using suction mats or stick-on, non-skid items.

Suction mats and stick-on items can damage the newly refinished surface of a tub. If, however, there are safety reasons for using mats while showering or bathing, be sure to remove the mat/stick-on items after each use of the tub (and before rinsing out the tub).

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Estimate

Let us refinish your bathtub or help you breathe new life into your bathroom or kitchen. Contact us for a free estimate by calling (303) 908-8764 or by clicking here. You can also email us using the contact form located here.

When you are ready to improve the appearance and durability of your home’s bathtubs, countertops and/or tile, choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher will be your focus – and your choice in this professional can make all of the difference in the results. In fact, if you end up making the mistake of choosing the wrong bathtub and tile refinisher, you could up doing more damage while spending a lot of money in the process.

To help you select the right bathtub and tile refinisher, in this blog series, we will point out some of the most important things to look for in the candidates you are considering. If, however, you don’t have time to do this research, you can be confident that you are working with the best Colorado bathtub and tile refinishers by contacting Colorado Tub Repair today.

Choosing a Bathtub and Tile Refinisher: Here’s What You Should Look For…

1 – Experience

Not every refinisher is the same, and the wrong choice can cost you significantly in the long run. Here’s what to look for when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher.

As you start to screen various refinishers whom you may hire to help you with you with your home improvement project, one of the first things to look at is their experience. As you do this:

• Find out how long a professional and/or company has been in the refinishing industry.
• Be aware of how professional that company is. Does the company have professional marketing materials? An informative website?
• Talk to someone at the company to get a sense of how informed they are about the process.

Here, it’s also important to point out that checking out a professional’s/company’s experience when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher can help you figure out which companies may be more “fly by night” (only around for a few months) so that you can avoid them. Not only will you not get any warranties with these companies, but you also will have no recourse if or when the poor quality of their work product becomes apparent.

2 – References/Reviews

The next step in choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher is to check out their references. While you can call a company and request some references (whom you can then call and talk to about the company), it’s usually easier to check out the testimonials for the company online. These references and reviews can provide some deeper insight to the quality of a company’s work, as well as the level of service they consistently provide.

3 – Portfolio/Examples of Past Work

When choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher, ask to look at past work samples/products. This can provide you with insight into a refinisher’s experience and credibility.

Checking out a professional’s past work products in things like online galleries or even showrooms is another good idea when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher. This is because it can give you some positive evidence of a company’s/professional’s work product and skills.

If a company or professional whom you are considering does not have any work samples to let you see, you should probably consider this a red flag, as it can indicate that the company or professional is inexperienced, unestablished and/or unreliable.

4 – Warranty

Does the professional or company offer a warranty?

• If so, ask about the terms of the warranty when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher. Professionals who stand behind their work tend to offer longer warranties. However, beware of “lifetime” warranties, as these can be outright unrealistic when it comes to certain services/areas of your home.
• If not, this can be another red flag that you may not be dealing with an experienced, reputable or reliable company/professional.

Choosing a Bathtub and Tile Refinisher: Some Final Considerations

5 – Cost

Cost is another important factor to consider when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher. Here’s why. Contact us for the highest quality tub, tile and countertop refinishing services.

Cost can be an important consideration, especially if you are on a budget and/or you have other home improvements to make. In these cases, it’s important to look for:

• Affordable rates – When choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher, good refinishers and refinishing companies tend to offer competitive rates. If you run into a refinisher on the higher end, take a closer look at what you are paying for; while you may be getting more for higher rates, you may also be dealing with companies that are not “dialed into” to the industry (and that, therefore, may not be the best choice).
• Quality of service – As with many things in life, with refinishing services, you get what you pay for. So, even if you are on a budget, you may want to steer clear of the bottom of the barrel estimates, as these may end up costing you WAY more in the long run (both in terms of having to pay to fix poorly done jobs and in your frustration and added stress).

6 – Processes/Products Used

Another key thing to look at when choosing a bathtub and tile refinisher is the types of processes and products they use. While these can vary depending on the specific type of service you need, you will generally want to select a refinisher who:

• Will not use general store paint or any epoxy on your home’s surfaces
• Has an accepted method for refinishing your tub/countertop/tile
• Can get the job done within a reasonable timeframe – For instance, an experienced refinisher who is using appropriate products and modern methods can finish a bathtub refinishing in 3 to 4 hours (after which the tub has to be left alone for 24 hours). If a refinisher is quoting a lot longer to do this job, beware, as this is professional is probably not experienced or reliable enough to do the job right.

Contact Colorado Tub Repair Today for a Free Estimate

For experienced, professional service repairing and/or refinishing the bathtubs, countertops and tile in your home, contact Colorado Tub Repair today by calling (303) 908-8764. You can also email us using the contact form located here. We provide free estimates, competitive rates and the highest quality services.

More porcelain tubs are needing re-glazing every day, this is due to changes in the manufacturing process. When a cast iron or steel tubs are made, the tub is cast. A primer is applied and then the porcelain is baked on top. “They don’t make them like they used to” is true for this industry as well. Older tubs, pre-70/80’s tend to have a thicker layer of porcelain then recently made ones. These older models tend to last longer.

Have questions about how to make your new porcelain tub last longer?  Commercial cleaners and bathmats/bath stickers will chew up a new porcelain tub quickly. We are refinishing tubs 2-4 years old since the porcelain is thinner and the aggressive cleaners are used regularly. Over time the brand new high-gloss finish looses it’s shine and dirt begins to collect in the pores, making it difficult to clean. The only way to address this is to buy a new tub or get it refinished.

In order for that refinish to adhere for as long as possible, the porcelain needs to be acid etched, primer-ed and surface with a urethane acrylic top coat. It can last 15+ years if the correct cleaners are used.  At Colorado Tub Repair, we are happy to help with all of your Porcelain Tub Reglazing needs.

If it’s porcelain, fiberglass or even acrylic, a bathtub repair is an inexpensive alternative to replacing the entire tub. Chips & cracks? No problem. Scratches & stains? Fixable. Rust? We can remove it and repair the damaged area. Almond? Bone? No problem. It’s best if the surface has a shine to it. High gloss finishes will blend in beautifully. When a repair is completed professionally and correctly, anyone who looks/uses your bathtub and didn’t know the damage was there, will never even see it.  The repair is dremeled, if necessary. Filled, sanded flush with the existing surface. Acrylic color is matched and sprayed. But if the appropriate materials are not used, the finish can peel quickly or even the filler can pop out. You have to got through each step and not skimp on the material, to be sure it lasts. The repair takes approximately and hour to complete, 24 hours to cure and you’re free to take a long hot soak, damage free.