BUYER BEWARE

This is where it is important to discuss product and the use of the appropriate product. As you know, you do not want to use a house paint if painting a car if you want it to look good and last. The same is true when resurfacing a tub, tile, or other surface. There are many products available and many resurfacing companies. Some use the right product, and some do not. There are even a couple that will tell you they do not paint your tub, they apply a new porcelain coating. Porcelain is a kiln fired process at temperatures above 2300 degrees Farenheit so obviously that is not occuring in your house.

When resurfacing, it is important to obtain the glaze, i.e. glossy surface. That is a sealed surface that allows it to be easily cleaned and look good. A dull surface has open pores that trap dirt, soap, minerals... and make it hard to clean. It will also hold moisture that will deteriorate your surface. Resurfacing is also known as reglazing.

Regardless of the semantics, coating something or painting it are the same. When you resurface, you are applying a coating. Now it becomes important to coat it with the correct material and prepare the tub correctly to accept the coating. The most common 3 materials used in resurfacing are epoxy, polyurethane enamel and acrylic urethane but I have seen latex and laquer applied which fail very quickly.

The epoxy and polyurethane enamel are good industrial finishes when used for their application. Resurfacing is not one of them. There are companies that make an acrylic urethane that is a very good product too but it was developed for use on tractors (hot rolled and cold rolled steel). You can apply it to a tub for example but it is not bonded to it. It may survive for awhile but it will not give you the long lasting robust finish. 

The key is was the product developed for its intended use? Many products are repackaged products develped for other applications and are usually epoxies. Ace Resurfacing uses a product that was specifically developed for resurfacing. We use the correct bonding agent for the respective substrate and prepare the surface according to the manufacturers guidelines to allow maximum bond. Our product is one of the only products that meet the Army Corp of Engineers specifications for resurfacing.

The bottom line of this section is for educational purposes so when you are talking to a resurfacing professional, you are knowledgable and can ask the correct questions to ensure that company has the correct solution for you.