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31 Jan 01 - 10:00 AM (#386462) Subject: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Kim C Okay all you home improvement people, I need your help here. A couple of years ago the landlady had our tub reglazed and there's been problems ever since. Last year the enamel started chipping around the drain and I was able to temporarily repair it with that white nail-polishy looking stuff. It stayed pretty good for a few months but now it's chipping off again and the touch-up stuff won't work, plus the area is now too large for just a touch-up. I know I have seen repair kits at the Home Depot and places like that. Can anyone offer any insight about do-it-yourselfing on this one? (The warranty on the original job expired a long time ago and I don't want those gobshites working on my tub again anyhow.) Many thanks ---- Kim |
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31 Jan 01 - 11:35 AM (#386517) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Allan C. I'm a landlord myself and as much as I would dislike hearing that the repair I had made a couple of years ago was not a good one, I would want to know about it. This sort of thing happened to me recently, although not regarding a tub. Sure, I had to shuck out some bucks; but it is worth a lot to keep a good tenant happy. The good ones are hard to find. It seems obvious that the previous method of dealing with this is not worth repeating. There are companies that can fit the tub for a tough vinyl cover which is made to fit your particular tub. The cost is much cheaper than installing a new tub. However it does cost quite a bit. I'll see if I can dig up some info for ya. |
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31 Jan 01 - 11:47 AM (#386527) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: GUEST,Matt_R Dear landlord...
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31 Jan 01 - 11:59 AM (#386538) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Allan C. The system is called, Re-Bath. http://www.rebath.com/bathtub.html The franchise nearest you is probably the one in Bartlett. Custom Re-Bath 901 386-5463 customrebath@juno.com I have looked into the main company and found it to appear to be a good one. I even sent for their franchise information packet. Obtaining a franchise is no light matter for these folks. Quite a bit of training is required as well as having to demonstrate that one is a member in good standing of one's community. I think that says a lot for the company. |
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31 Jan 01 - 12:04 PM (#386550) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: mousethief Hey, I know where Bartlett is! You must be near Memphis. |
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31 Jan 01 - 12:12 PM (#386558) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Gervase The only really good way to re-enamel a bath is to do just that - shot-blast all the old stuff off, then fire on a new vitreous layer. It's hellish expensive, and only worth doing if you've got a pretty fabulous old cast-iron bath to start with. I've tried most the proprietory kits available in the UK, and without exception, they're crap - and I don't imagine the bath renovation stuff in the USA will be much different. You may get a reasonable match in terms of translucence and colour, but it doesn't wear well, and it's virtually impossible to avoid getting texture problems. Mind you, the nicest people have baths with bare patches! |
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31 Jan 01 - 12:15 PM (#386561) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: mousethief That's why there's Rustoleum. |
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31 Jan 01 - 01:03 PM (#386605) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Kim C The landlady knew about the original chipping and said to just go ahead and patch it, which we did. She is out of town for awhile with a new grandbaby. Normally with smallish repairs we just go ahead and fix them; most of the time she reimburses us if it's anything that costs more than a pack of nails. |
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31 Jan 01 - 01:07 PM (#386613) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Lanfranc Before proceeding, I suggest you read an English Victorian novel called "The Diary of a Nobody" by George and Weedon Grossmith. The "hero", a Mr Pooter, has a VERY unfortunate experience with a refinished bathtub!
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31 Jan 01 - 01:15 PM (#386624) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Tinker I've got to agree with Gervase. When I starting looking to have all the old tubs and sinks done in our old house I actually came across an honest salesman who explained that 1) if there is ANY rust showing the new surface will not take. It can only be refinished by blasting which means sending it to the factory... You must really love the original. 2) It's inappropriate for kitchen sinks because it won't stand up to washing anything harder than delicate hand washables. So I'm only considering the original farmsink, but the only place I've found is in Chicago !! Landlord may need to concider a new tub. Tinker |
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31 Jan 01 - 03:38 PM (#386767) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Kim C There's no rust at all. A bubble got under the new enamel and it popped and voila.... |
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31 Jan 01 - 05:21 PM (#386842) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: Sorcha 1) Buy and install a new bathtub. 2) Buy and install a fiberglass tub and surround. |
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01 Feb 01 - 12:09 AM (#387249) Subject: RE: BS: Bathtub Enamel Repair: Expert Advice Pls From: DonMeixner Never saw a system that worked very well at all. Most work not at all. Even the system I saw on This Old House was not very successful. I agree with the "buy new" people here. After 20+ years of Environmental Modifications for a disabled population, I'll tell you new is the way to go. I also suggest tiled walls rather than inserts. Stone beats plastic any day. Don |