Commercial bath resurfacing has been available in Australia for 35 years. Full bathroom resurfacing was a logical follow-on in the late 80’s as materials and methods improved to meet the market’s appetite for cheaper and more flexible renovating methods.
The benefits of bathroom resurfacing are numerous, the most important being cost saving and speed of completion compared with the more traditional method of throwing out the old and installing new.
Almost any bathroom surface can be resurfaced. Baths, spas, shower trays, basins, vanities , tiles and cupboards can be given a new, showroom appearance in-situ without removal, leaving only upper walls and ceilings to be painted. In some instances floor tiles and lavatory (external only) can be resurfaced.
The basic method is to repair, clean, etch, prime and top coat using materials formulated and tested for wet area use with particular resistance to hot water and cleaning agents. New surfaces are generally slippery when wet, so anti-slip treatments are also part of the process.
The most noticeable difference between a professionally resurfaced bathroom and a new bathroom are the grout lines, which are resurfaced with the tiles to give permanent, mould-free characteristics.
Bathroom Resurfacing is

1. CHEAP - A comparison with replacement cost indicates savings as high as 75% depending on the scope of work and condition of the bathroom.
2. QUICK - An average bathroom can be resurfaced in 2 to 3 days depending on scope of work compared with a minimum of 2 weeks for full replacement.
3. COLOURFUL – Resurfacing can cover up ugly patterns and colours in an instant with a colours of choice.
4. MOULD RESISTANT - The top coat effectively seals and waterproofs grout lines, preventing mould growth.
5. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY - Resurfacing is a labour-intensive, skills-based activity using only small quantities of specialised chemicals and coatings. Compare this with ripping out and burying baths, basins, shower trays, tiles and vanities in land fill, only to replace them with new fixtures that do the same job.
   
   
   Tel: 02 9482 1044
   Visit: www.refinishing.com.au
   
   Published: January 2010