Are you curious about the "Insight" tab name?
This page is for some comments. This is a blog of sorts!
The story behind this sink:
A rental. A young couple was renting the place at the time these photos were taken.
I don't think it's a good idea to refinish a kitchen sink; these sinks suffer impacts and stay moist for long periods of time. But in the case of a sink like this being irreplaceable, maybe refinishing is a good idea.
This sink had been refinished before. This is what a tired refinished sink commonly looks like when we arrive.
At the time of this entry, my only concerns are that the care info given to the tenant was heeded, and that the owner is prompt with his payment :-)
The finish we use and how it compares to others:
We typically use an epoxy primer and a polyurethane finish.
Other products are available. They may work under certain conditions, but not every material is made for all conditions. That's why we use a specially formulated epoxy which was designed to offer excellent adhesion, serve as a barrier to moisture and fill minor imperfections.
Today's finishes primarily include polyurethanes and epoxies. Both finishes are hard and attractive for the first months after application. However some epoxies can yellow, lose their gloss and/or develop fine cracks. Also, epoxies aren't as repairable. Polyurethane is more flexible, retains color better, is less likely to oxidize, and dries in a fraction of the time.
This tub is in a property in a low income neighborhood that had been rented, was given a quick rehab, and now up for sale. It had become dirty and rusty. The rust formed from two things: water puddling in an area by the drain and the fractured enamel. (You'll have to look very closely at the top photo.) The rust was accelerated by a strong cleaner that weakened the enamel. The rehabber was a regular customer of ours whose instructions were to do a "quickie" for his investor which is code for "just quickly and inexpensively make it pretty."
It is possible to remove the rust and enamel where the puddling occurred. It's also possible to fill the puddled area so water no longer collects there, and instead flows to the drain. Both at an added expense.
That wasn't in the rehabber's plan.
If you've got a problem like this, consider changing the tub.
How's this for looking artsy?!
This cabinet was installed new in the 1920s in a beautiful old building that overlooks Lake Michigan.
You're looking at layers of paint that the handyman and homeowner tried to scrape away. The condo owner was having a hard time finding an exact-fit cabinet and decided to keep this relic.
Removing the old paint required a chemical stripping, scraping, and sanding.
This photo is the last photo of our work done in the city. Traffic. Parking. Crime. Permits. Ridiculous regulations. Even if someone offered to pay more. No more travel to Chicago.
NASTY!!!!!
Just out of the left side of the frame are pencil marks from when the surround walls were installed....10 years ago. This tub had not been cleaned for...you guessed it...10 years. The lady told me she tried "everything."
I used a scraper and cleanser. It worked. Scraping and cleaning the entire tub took me around an hour.
The second photo is not of the refinish job that followed. It simply shows that "everything" wasn't good enough and old fashioned elbow grease was sufficient.
If you've got a problem like this, check out the "TIPS" tab.
Here's a creative way to replace the shower valve; cut the shower wall to get to it. The incriminating instrument of destruction was nowhere in sight.
For some reason a nice, neat hole was in the plan. Forget that there was drywall that they could have cut through to change the faucet which would have been simpler. However sawing the tub sounded like a plausible option. Once into the job, this butcher increased the hole size another foot.
I wonder sometimes if people who saw tubs like this are the kind who touch live electrical wires thinking they won't get shocked.
This is one big tub!
The homeowner had begun having difficulty getting into the tub and making the trip to the basement shower. After a few high-priced remodeling quotes to have a shower installed in place of the tub, the family called us about the installation of the Clean Cut Step. Since the Clean Cut products only allow a maximum depth of 13" (which is often excellent) they wanted a deeper solution, something we offer.
This is more involved than installing a Clean Cut product but delivered the results they were hoping for.
This little guy stayed long enough to pose for a photo 4-13-19 when I was cleaning the van. His presence in the sunlight reminded me of our similar needs: food, shelter, companionship and a love for God in this short life on the earth.
We should do well with what we're entrusted and enjoy little moments like this!
1-29-21
Here's a pair of photos of a repair for a contractor who recently needed these holes filled. As you can see, the finished job looks flawless. For the contractor, this repair meant complications were spared as they had considered a replacement.
Repairs like this call for expertise. The cost of this repair was a fraction of the cost of the other options, but not cheap.
April 21, 2021
A truly rare tub. They oriented the inside of the tub at an angle to offer more space for the user, and more surface area for bottles. This also helps bathrooms have a more spacious feeling. This style existed from the 1930s to the 1960s.. Just to the left of the tub is a wall-hung toilet which helps with housekeeping.
This homeowner was ready to rejuvenate the tub & tile. In this case, enamel on the tub had become worn, and the speckled tile was unattractive to him. After reattaching the tile and the usual prep, he went with a color I call, "china white."
The best compliment came in 2025 when the owner called back for work in his other bathroom.
6-24-21
This image shows something very commonly found when prepping a bathtub for refinishing. Since this tub was "avocado green,"the soap scum on it appeared as a waxy film to the casual eye. It is apparent at the edge of the dust pan. When rubbing a clean, dry finger on the area the finger comes away with a cloudy, waxy residue. In this case, there were dirt and mineral solids included which gives this a taupe color. This accumulation took several years.
For a durable refinish job, this must be removed.
For a refinish customer who wants to keep the tub in top condition, keeping a clean tub involves removing the otherwise invisible soap residue with each regular cleaning. Not removing soap scum leads to the softening of the coatings and ultimately delamination.
10-27-21
This was another special refinish job. Around 20 years ago the property where this tub resides was acquired to serve as a rental. The tub was simply worn and needed some "make-up." In the day Tubs N' Stuff was using a quality epoxy primer and finish. The primer was very expensive and slow to dry before the finish could be applied. What makes this so special? It held very well despite the mismatched paint on the floor; it did not delaminate except where there was physical damage.
What does this mean to this refinisher? The scrapes can simply be sanded without the concerns that come with re-coating over novice work.
This is our work. What happens when it was a DIY or a poor previous job? Refinishing over poorly adhering finishes can result in immediate or prolonged delamination.
10-27-21
Ever wonder about replacing your bathtub? We get calls from people who already replaced theirs with plastic or fiberglass tubs which had developed cracks or holes. Some said they found enameled steel tubs but didn't like their looks. By the time Tubs N' Stuff gets a call, the regrets are looking very expensive due to the repair cost of the flimsy tub they chose.
First of all, cast iron tubs are still available! You can find them at the major home centers and plumbing supply whether in stock or available by order! You'll see major manufacturers' names. You'll also be surprised by the selection if you do some deeper digging. This is an important step because enameled cast iron tubs are the most durable.
You can also find enameled steel tubs. You should expect limitations on styles. They are still a good, suitable tub.
What people commonly find most commonly in stores are the plastic and fiberglass tubs. There are actually three basic versions:
Plastic construction: molded acrylic, various support structures, varying thicknesses, prone to stress cracks, easily scratched, yellow with time. (pre-2000)
Plastic and fiberglass construction: molded acrylic, backed with fiberglass, floor supported by various material, varying quality, prone to stress cracks, easily punctured, easily scratched, can stay looking new with very good care.
Fiberglass construction: molded polyester resins, supported with wood and cardboard, varying quality, varying thickness, shows impact damage, less prone to scratching, loses gloss in time, better service life, can look good with good care.
Tubs N' Stuff's recommendation? Cast iron. Pay extra to buy it. Pay extra to install it. Enjoy it for 50+ years.
7-1-22
YouTube.
Been there? During a quiet evening on my patio I thought I'd look up bathtub refinishing.
Alarm!
I can't believe the techniques some of these people are using!
First, hire a seasoned professional!
Secondly, if you won't do that then be ready for trouble. Here's why.
One channel whose owner was using a GoPro trusted the cleaning lady's work. The same guy said he was preparing a textured surface but left most of the surface truly unprepared. That's a recipe for early failure!
Many YouTube channels like the one I'm referring to are posts from slick, click seekers without enough experience and knowledge to be a worthwhile resource. YouTube doesn't care about any credentials because they're also in the game for money. So how can you do a good job yourself?
One way is to learn from knuckleheads. Search out DIY failures. Search out DIY work after the work has been in service. Maybe you can learn from the prep, material and application that failed.
Another way is to consult experience. Try a veteran painter or a trusted paint shop.
Here are some basics to painting anything that can be painted:
Choose trusted, quality materials suitable for the job.
Excellent surface prep.
Import well-qualified help. Be prepared to pay extra for excellent work.
Be patient with the process
7-1-22
In April of this year I had my hardwood kitchen floor refinished. A contractor who had done other work for me was too busy, so I hired a reputable flooring shop. After waiting 3 weeks for the appointment, their FIRST crew did a sloppy job having rushed coats and left major defects in the finish. The SECOND crew applied a material over the top of the first work which wrinkled. The THIRD crew did a novice-looking job stripping and refinishing. In all three cases the workers demonstrated only functional knowledge of the trade, weak communication skills, and were in a hurry. My house was without a kitchen for 3 weeks because a flooring contractor had low-skilled help.
Lesson and observation: It's common today that good help is retiring, good help is choosy, good help is worth the wait, and good help will cost more.
