Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Surface Renew guarantees work done against peeling, chipping or cracking. We provide a 5 year warranty for residential services, and a 1 year warranty for rental properties.

Yes. But we're able to add in a scent like lemon or bubble gum that hides the smell entirely. The coating that we now use is low VOC and environmentally friendly. The new lower VOC coating results in a significantly lower smell that dissipates much quicker than older technology – without sacrificing any of the strength and durability our work is known for. We run a ventilation system out of the door or window to reduce the smell.

The finish that we apply is called an aliphatic acrylic polyurethane. It's a 2-part urethane invented by NASA several years ago. It is now used anywhere that a hard, long-lasting, durable finish is needed. Other examples would be airliners and oceanliners.The advantages of this finish over other products are:

• Resistance to abrasion and scratching (holds up to normal wear and tear)
• Impact resistance (won't crack or chip if you drop a shampoo bottle)
• Resistance to extreme temperatures
• Color retention (won't yellow like epoxy coatings)
• This finish has been modified for use in the resurfacing industry.

Do not use abrasive cleaners like Comet or Ajax; even SoftScrub has some mild abrasives. However, you won't need to use abrasive cleaners since the new finish will be non-porous, and the dirt and grime should wipe away much easier than before. Use a "Safe for Acrylics" cleaner for regular cleaning. Many are available, such as Tilex and "Scrub Free" from Arm and Hammer.

We can complete most bathroom tile projects in less than a day. However, you should not use the bathroom for 4 hours after we are through.

After thoroughly cleaning the tile, we apply an acid to remove the gloss from the original finish and etch the surface. Millions of microscopic holes are opened on the original surface, allowing the new finish to penetrate the old surface and create a bond. After the acid etch, we fill in any significant chips or holes, then thoroughly clean and dry the tile again. After that, we mask off the tile and all the fixtures, hang plastic sheets, and put tarps on the floor. In effect, we create a spray booth in your bathroom. We then mix a colored resin with a catalyst. A chemical reaction takes place and the new finish begins to harden. We work fast because we only have a couple of hours to work with it while it is still a liquid. We apply the finish coat over the tile using a spray system. It then penetrates and bonds to the old surface. Because we apply the new finish as a liquid, it molds to the old surface and fills in all of the pores, making the entire, hardened finish non-porous. The result is a finish that looks better, lasts longer, and cleans easier.

We can resurface floor tile, but we are not enthusiastic about it. In fact, we will try and talk you out of it. We want to give you a finish that will last for many years. But with floor tile, people will be walking on it with shoes. In addition, there is a strong likelihood of dropping items such as curling irons and hair dryers on the finish. There are many low-cost options available for floor replacement that we would recommend you look into before you consider resurfacing your floor.

The new finish is applied as a liquid and covers the grout lines and the tile. The result is that the grout will be the same color as the tile. Because the grout is so porous, you will have the definition of grout — so it will still have the look of a tiled bathroom. Anyone walking into your bathroom will think that you have new tile in your bathroom. A secondary benefit of resurfacing is that the finish will seal the grout off. This means that mold and mildew won't be as much of a problem. The result is that the tile is much easier to keep clean.

Surface Renew's process for resurfacing/re-coloring tile is a cost-effective alternative to replacement. Replacing the tile in your bathroom can cost thousands of dollars more than refinishing. In addition, the new tile will not be the same quality as the original in most cases. The main reason most customers resurface their tile is to change the color. Many bathrooms have tile in good shape, but the color is out-of-date. They are tired of decorating around old colors like pink, peach, green, and yellow. At Surface Renew, we apply a new finish over the existing tile. We change the color, so you don't have to go through the time and expense of replacement. You'll get a new finish that will look like new tile. The new finish is strong and durable enough to last for many years.

If you have any cracking on a fiberglass Bathtub Refinishing due to a lack of support underneath the bathtub or shower floor, we also have a solution for that. We have an inlay specially made for the bottom of your bathtub to provide the additional support your tub needs. The inlays come in white or bone. Your bathtub will not only look much better, but you will have the permanent additional support needed to prevent any further damage in the future.

We can repair porcelain, fiberglass, or acrylic.

We first repair the damage. Chips and cracks are filled and patched. We sand the damaged area smooth to make the repair area flush with the original surface. We then find a colored resin of our coatings that comes as close to the color of the bathtub or shower as possible. The resin is then mixed with a catalyst and applied over the repaired area using an airbrush.We may not be able to make the repair completely invisible. However, our goal is to make the repair such that it would take someone several minutes to find the repair if they were told to look for it and didn't know where the damage had been. Send us a picture of your repair to get a quote.

We carry standard inlays that fit for most bathtubs, however, unique bathtubs and showers will need a custom inlay that is computer-designed and custom fit to each unit.

Yes, we can apply a permanent anti-slip texture to the bottom of your bathtub or shower for a small additional fee. Anti-slip will make your bathtub or shower safer, and because you will not need to use a bathmat, your new finish may last longer.

As with any surface, your new finish will eventually wear away.  We provide a 5 year warranty for residential services, and a 1 year warranty for rental properties. But you can expect 10+ years before the finish would need to be touched up or redone, if properly cared for.

Do not use abrasive cleaners like Comet or Ajax; even SoftScrub has some mild abrasives. However, you won't need to use abrasive cleaners since the new finish will be non-porous, and the dirt and grime should wipe away much easier than before. Use a "Safe for Acrylics" cleaner for regular cleaning. Many are available, such as Tilex and "Scrub Free" from Arm and Hammer. Leaving things in your  bathtub or shower that let stagnant water pool is one of the easiest ways to ruin your finish. Please don't do it! You should repair leaky faucets immediately, and keep shampoo bottles, etc. off the  bathtub or shower floor. You should also not use a rubber mat. If you pick up a rubber mat three days after you have used it, you will find that the surface underneath it is still wet. In addition, the rubber suction cups will constantly be pulling at the new finish.If you are going to use a bath mat, you should purchase a vinyl mat and remove the mat from the  bathtub or shower after each use.

We will remove any worn-out caulk and re-caulk around the top of the bathtub.

After thoroughly cleaning your bathtub or shower, we apply an acid to remove the gloss from the original finish and etch the surface. Millions of microscopic holes are opened on the original surface, allowing the new finish to penetrate the old surface and create a bond. After the acid etch, we fill in any significant chips or holes, then thoroughly clean and dry the bathtub or shower again. After that, we mask off the bathtub or shower and all the fixtures, hang plastic sheets, and put tarps on the floor. In effect, we create a spray booth in your bathroom.We then mix a colored resin with a catalyst. A chemical reaction takes place and the new finish begins to harden. We work fast because we only have a couple of hours to work with it while it is still a liquid. We apply the finish coat to the bathtub or shower using a spray system. It then penetrates and bonds to the old surface. Because we apply the new finish as a liquid, it molds to the old surface and fills in all of the pores, making the entire, hardened finish non-porous.The result is a finish that looks better, lasts longer, and cleans easier.

We can fill in any significant cracks, chips, or holes in a tub or Shower Refinishing. However, if the cracks have been caused by a lack of support underneath the bathtub or shower you’ll need to use a special inlay to provide extra support. You can generally tell if a bathtub or shower needs more support by determining if there is any "give" when you apply pressure around the area of the crack. Learn more in the section on Tub Chip, Crack & Scratch Repair. Cracks, holes, and chips that are on the sides, or are not a result of lack of support, are repaired as a part of our normal resurfacing process.

While many customers resurface their bathtub or shower to change the color, most do so because it has lost the original finish. When that happens, the bathtub or shower surface becomes dull and difficult to keep clean. Over the years, all of the cleaning and water running over the bathtub or shower has worn away the original finish, revealing the porous material underneath. All of the dirt, grime, and hard water stains get trapped inside the pores of the exposed surface. That means you have to use abrasive cleaners and a lot of scrubbing to keep your bathtub or shower clean. As you can imagine, this only wears away the finish further. Surface Renew, in effect, applies a new finish coat to your bathtub or shower. We apply the new finish as a liquid, then it hardens. The result is a non-porous seal that looks better, lasts longer, and cleans much easier. Not only will you bring new life to your existing bathtub or shower, but refinishing is also massively cheaper than replacing it. In many cases, you can save thousands of dollars and not settle for a lesser quality bathtub or shower than your original.

If your Shower Refinishing has a Bathtub Refinishing in the bottom and the finish goes up onto the walls of the Shower Refinishing, you have a Bathtub Refinishing + Shower Refinishing combo. When we renew your tub, we’ll renew both the walls of the Shower Refinishing and the tub so you have one continuous finish.