George Piccot

Hello Everyone and Happy Holidays!

I have been a busy beaver working on a bathtub refinishing referral site called the Bathtub Refinishing Association Of America

One of the perks of this site is a free classifieds section that will allow HTML. I know that part of the success of a web site is link popularity and the ability to insert a link is a very valuable tool for search engine placement.

I encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity to advertise your services. You will be helping me and yourself in this endeavor and isn't that what it's all about?

Again here are the links:

THE FINISH LIST - http://www.braoa.org/classifiedads/index.php

Bathtub Refinishing Association Of America - http://www.braoa.org

Holliday wishes to you all!

George Piccot

Hello Everyone!

Again another lovely day here in Southern California! As I sit here nursing my first cup of joe for the day I do my daily internet round-up, post some craigslist ads and check for new posts on a new site that I believe is the next best thing to the John Bridge Tile Advice Forums - http://www.GroutCleaning.com - This site is dedicated to the service of supplying information and advice about the tile and grout restoration industry as well as a search tool to find contractors in all of the United States. Their commitment to the consumer is astounding and I feel proud to be a part of this community. As you all may know, presence on the internet is compounded by the involvement of others and so on. The blog scene I have learned is a powerful tool to gain exposure and I propose to anyone and all that if you help me and my friends at GroutCleaning.com gain this exposure by means of either re-blogging, joining the forum at GroutCleaning.com and asking questions regarding tile or grout or even doing a short blog review of this site I will do the same for you in return. This is called collaboration and I am sure that this is what we are all here for! If you do decide to get involved, send me an email and let me know what your involvement is and what I can do in return.

I thank you all here at active rain for your support!

Kindest Regards,

George Piccot

When tile and grout starts to show its age, owners are often tempted to replace it altogether, but with a little skill, you can save up to 70% of the cost of replacement and have your tile looking like new again by regrouting!

Regrouting is the process in which you remove the existing mortar fill between an existing tile installation. Regrouting is a tedious process but can be done successfully with a little patience and perseverance.

The first thing you need to do is establish whether you need to regrout or not by determining whether you have sanded or non-sanded grout. This is important because regrouting should only be done to non-sanded grout joints. There are other methods of restoration for sanded grout joints that are more effective like grout recoloring. Once you determine this it is time to gather the needed tools to complete the job.

There are a slew of tools that can be used to regrout but lets face it, regrouting is a tedious process and the manner in which you remove the grout will determine the time it takes and the quality of the outcome. It is important that you remove at least 1/16 of an inch of grout for the new grout to embed itself in. If you do not, it will surely flake off the next time you clean. I am going to tell you the most important tools to use to make the job easier.

First, for the grout removal process you will need:

• First choice: Roto Zip with a diamond tile cutting blade and attachment (This tool is for an advance user and should only be used by someone who is not afraid of the speed in which it spins. This tool will yield the best results for all field areas but it an also cause damage if not handled properly.
• Second choice: Fein Multimaster with a diamond cutter not carbide. (This tool is for an advance and novice user and is the safest tool for removal but takes a little longer. It has alot of other uses also and in my opinion is a great investment)
• Dremel with tile cutting bit (This tool is for edges, corners and touch-ups)
• Wet or Dry Vac
• Razor Scraper for removing old caulking

These are the most important tools for the removal process and will yield the best results for both minor removal and removal on a large scale. There are other hand tools you can use but are only good for very small jobs.

Next, you will need tools for the grouting process:

• 2 Buckets (One for mixing grout and one for water)
• Grout Float
• Margin Trowel for mixing
• Grout Sponge
• Terry Towels for cleaning, final dusting and sealing

Now you need the supplies to clean and prepare the joints for the new grout and seal the new grout.

• Phosphoric Acid Cleaner
• 511 Impregnating Sealer
• Chemical resistant spray bottle
• Scrub Brush
• 3M Heavy Duty scrub pads

Also, for your protection you will need safety goggles, dust masks, ear plugs and chemical resistant rubber cleaning gloves. This should complete the arsenal for your project. Now we will get to the process.

I am going to assume you chose the Multimaster for your removal tool. Work in areas about 2ft. x 2ft. using long even strokes to remove the grout letting the machine do the work. Remember, you only need to remove about 1/16th of an inch, don't try to go any further you'll just make things more difficult for yourself. Leave about an inch from all corners and edges. Once you finish de-grouting all the field areas next you need to do all the edges and corners and you will do this with the dremel and tile cutting bit. If you want to save some time, just remove the top layer of grout to expose the white underneath cause when you acid wash the tile and grout it will brighten up to a new appearance. When you are done doing corners and edges remove any traces of old caulking with your razor scraper. You are now ready to prepare for the new grout.

Fill your spray bottle about 25% with phosphoric acid and 75% with water and again work in areas about 2ft. x 2ft. starting at the bottom of your project if it is vertical. Spray the acid and scrub with your scrub brush and then clean the tile with the 3M pads and water to remove soap scum. Rinse thoroughly with water and suck up with the wet or dry vac and then dry off further with terry towels. If there are any visual remnants of caulking, try removing it with a little acetone. You are now ready to grout.

There are many colors of grout to choose from but on this project I am going to assume it is standard dry white non-sanded grout. Mix your grout in one of the buckets with your margin trowel to a plyable paste and spread over the tile and grout evenly with your grout float. Then take your grout float and hold at a 45 degree angle to remove the excess mortar and fill the grout joints. When you are finished grouting, go back and wipe smooth with your grout sponge and water rinsing your sponge out frequently. Do not leave too much water in the sponge cause at this point moisture in an enemy. Don't worry about the light haze it will buff off with your towels. When you are finished wiping down let it dry a couple of hours and then buff with your terry towels. Let the project set at least 4-5 hours and seal with the 511 Impregnating Sealer following the manufacturers instructions. When you are all finished, caulk any areas needed such as base of sink, base of tub surround or base of stall shower.

If you need a quality job done call Southern California’s AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems.  We specialize in tub refinishing, tile refinishing, countertop and vanity refinishing, re-grouting and grout cleaning and sealing.  Call us today toll free 1-866-722-3301 or visit us on the web at http://www.regroutpros.com/

Tub Refinishing also known as Tub Reglazing is a process of applying a polyurethane coating in order to enhance or renew the appearance of your fixture. Tub Refinishing is somewhat the same as the finish on a vehicle and must be cared for in the same manner to prolong the life of the finish. There are a number of things one must do in order for the reglazed finish to last. If you do not follow these basic care steps the lifespan of your finish may be cut down drastically as well as possibly void any warranty given to you.

These are the steps one must take to care for your refinished tub / reglazed tub: 

• Don't use the surface for the specified number of days or hours indicated by the company. 
• Don't lay soap, sponges, cloths, bottles or any objects on the finish at any time! Use a shower rack instead.
• Don't let leaky faucets go unrepaired!
• Don't use abrasive cleansers. No S-O-S pads. No Comet. No razors. NO ABRASIVES AT ALL! The tub will clean easily with spray cleaners and a soft sponge.
• Don't use bath mats with suction cups underneath. They may pull at finish and trap moisture.
• Don't pick surface dust off with your finger. Any surface dust will likely dissipate in 3-4 weeks with normal cleaning and usage. Waxing also helps.
• Don't use bathtub or other glazed surface to clean brushes or any painting related chemicals or materials. Keep harsh chemicals away from tub. Don't clean or store sharp or abrasive items on surface.
• Don't let workers stand in a reglazed tub with their shoes on. Have them remove shoes & put a soft towel down.
• Don't put or store any items in a tub or finished surface that might damage or cut the surface.
• Do make sure the room is well ventilated &read all manufacturers cautions and instructions. ALWAYS use your common sense, be safe and smart.
• Do make sure there are no holes or gaps in any grout or caulking in your shower. This can lead to wall damage and a costly repair bill.
• Do use Tilex - Lysol Tile Cleaner - Mr. Clean - Fantastic. NO POWDERS, NO ABRASIVES, just a soft sponge.
• Do keep your tub clean and wipe it down with a towel after each use. You don't have to wipe it dry.
• Do maintain caulking around the tub.
• Do WAX your reglazed tub two weeks after it is done, then once every 1-3 months thereafter. Use regular auto wax and DO NOT OVER BUFF. Start by first thoroughly cleaning the surface then gently wiping dry. Then apply a light thin light coat of wax with a damp cloth using light circular motions. Wipe excess wax with a soft dry cotton towel.

With these instructions in mind you can rest assure that you are caring for your newly refinished tub or tile in the proper manner and avoiding the costly mistake of voiding any warranty given to you.

If you need a quality job done call Southern California’s AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems.  We specialize in tub refinishing, tile refinishing, countertop and vanity refinishing, re-grouting and grout cleaning and sealing.  Call us today toll free 1-866-722-3301 or visit us on the web at http://www.regroutpros.com/

A high demand for the tub refinishing industry has opened the doors for a slew of new and upcoming service providers. While some of these providers may be well qualified there are those who are trying their hand at this process with only the knowledge that is supplied with the instructions that come with a DIY kit from the local hardware store.

The DIY kit instructions only require you to clean your tub or tile with Ajax, wet sand, tack the surface and then paint with a roller, brush or low pressure sprayer such as an HVLP. If you were to follow these instructions the time frame it would take to refinish a tub would be approximately 2 hours, the total overhead for the job would be roughly $50.00 and if the refinisher charged a minimum of $225.00 he would be making a profit of $175.00. If he did 2 jobs a day $350.00 would be a good profit margin for one day.

The truth is this, these products would be somewhat satisfactory if some additional preparation steps were taken, and these steps would include acid etching and priming or applying a silane adhesion promoter. Many refinishers will skip these steps for the sake of getting the job done faster so they can move along to the next job. Applying a silane adhesion promoter or priming the tub with a quality primer alongside etching and preparation is probably one of the most critical components for a successful finish that will last for years. A proper tub refinish job should take 3-4 hours.

So, let’s put this in some basic financial terms so you can get a reality check on what the truth is behind the cost and this is per tub only.

• Quality epoxy primer or silane - $10.00

• Polyurethane finish - $10.00

• Etching solution - $3.00

• Filler for any repairs and filling inconsistencies - $5.00

• Solvent for cleaning and degreasing - $6.00

• Paper and tape - $8.00

• Caulking - $2.00

• Plastic - $6.00

• Labor – 4 hours @ $75.00 per hour = $300

TOTAL=$350

These are rough estimates and does not include if the tub has ever been refinished before which would require additional steps and cost more, or, if the refinisher is running specials. So, the truth is you can expect to pay between $350 and $500 for a proper tub reglazing job.

These estimates do not include traveling cost because we assume the owner/operator is eating this cost from his profit? You can rest assure that if your provider is taking less than 2 hours to complete the task he is surely cutting corners and you will definitely be paying to have it refinished again at a greater expense than to begin within a very short period of time. This is the truth…

If you need a quality job done call Southern California’s AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems. We specialize in tub refinishing; tile refinishing, countertop and vanity refinishing, re-grouting and grout cleaning and sealing. Call us today toll free 1-866-722-3301 or visit us on the web at http://www.regroutpros.com/