Frequently asked questions that most people want to know about the refinishing industry If you have any further questions not answered here please refer to the contact page and I will be glad to help you with any questions you may have. Why should I consider refinishing rather than replacement? First of all, to replace something you MUST first tear out the old items. When considering the cost of replacement you must consider tearing it out, cost of replacing the old fixture, labor for installation, not to mention the mess and time it will take. For example the normal cost to replace a bathtub ranges from $1500 to $3000 to complete. Tile replacement is three times higher than that! Most refinishing jobs take less than a day to finish and will save you up to 70% over replacing. What bathroom and kitchen surfaces can be refinished? We can refinish porcelain tubs, sinks, fiberglass shower enclosures, ceramic tile, formica and tile countertops, clawfoot tubs, stoves, refrigerators and various other fiberglass and acrylic surfaces. Will my bathtub or countertop look painted? Definitely NOT! You can't tell the difference between a new tub and a refinished one. Does the process have an odor? It has an odor equivalent to the smell of nail polish.We at Williams Refinishing always try to use as much green products as possible to ensure a safe environment for you and the refinisher. During the refinishing process we set up ventilation fans to help remove any objectionable odors. We also spray an odor neutralizer in the air before we leave the job site. I see prices from $100 to $300 dollars. Is there a difference in quality? Yes and No. Yes there are companies that do very good reputable work, but usually not for $100 dollars. Be aware, not all refinishing companies use the same process and materials. A company charging a real cheap price may only be putting on an epoxy 1 step finish, which will not last at all. So be careful which company you choose. Remember in this type of business you get what you pay for. How long does it take to refinish a bathtub? In most cases it takes about three and half to four hours. Be cautious of any refinisher that tells you they can complete a job in two hours or less. These refinishers are skipping important steps which can cause coating failure. What type of coatings does your company use? At Williams Refinishing we use only high quality acrylic top coats because of their durability and long lasting finish. In fact, acrylic should be the only coating a refinishing company uses, if not it will not last as long and you will have to have it redone. I have been using acrylic coatings for over 20 years and, I am proud to say I have never had a problem. Some refinishers say that they are using porcelain in their coatings, is this true? Absolutely NOT! No one in the refinishing industry can spray porcelain back onto your bathtub. Porcelain must be baked on at over 2500 degrees. Be aware of refinishers trying to sell you on this process, it is simply a sells gimmick. How long before I can use my bathtub after it has been refinished? You may put your tub back in service after 24 hours. Warning! Do not have your bathtub or any other surface refinished by a company that tells you that they can refinish your tub and you can use it in 4 hours or less or tells you that you can use it the same day. I have personally used these top coats from several different manufacturers and not one single one held up longer than a year! The reason that this type of coating will not last is because if you speed up the drying time too fast it will become brittle and eventually break away from the surface. Use only companies that have a dry time of 24 hours or more. In the long run you'll be glad you did. Can you just repair a spot on my bathtub without refinishing the whole thing? Yes, we provide all types of repairs on just about any type surfaces from chips to burns, holes, cracks, scratches and more. Can you refinish a surface in different colors? Yes, we have hundreds of colors to choose from or we can custom match any color you want. We also have color patterns for kitchen countertops that looks just like the high dollar granite coutertop material. Please call us for a free estimate and we will be glad to show you the different color options we have. Does this refinishing really work? I have heard this question many times over the last 15 years. The answer is yes, if the work is done properly it will last as long as 15 to 20 years, if the surface is properly taken care of. Remember there is no surface which will last forever, not even a brand new porcelain tub. Why should I choose your company? I have had many customers that have had bad experiences with other refinishing companies. Poor workmanship and inferior materials, leads to a failed product. Not only are these compaines ripping off customers they are giving our industry a bad name. Williams Refinishing has always been a small family run business from the first day we started. My name is Jeff, I am the owner and operator and have always been involved in every job in order to insure that the work is done right the first time. You can be rest assured that our company will give you the highest quality workmanship and materials available today. GUARANTEED!