HONOLULU BATHTUB REPAIR & SHOWER REPAIR
Our three most common bathtub repairs are:
1. Fixing previous refinishing jobs that are failing (peeling, cracking, or chipping)
2. Fixing cracked fiberglass bathtub
3. Fixing chips and gouges in porcelain and fiberglass fixtures – This service has its own page. Go to “Chip Repair” under the “Services” menu
FIXING PRIOR REFINISHING JOBS
If properly applied and subsequently cared for, a bathtub refinish should last between 10-15 years. Among bathtub refinishing jobs that fail within the first 3 years, nearly all can be be attributed to poor preparation or lazy technique. For the new coating to properly adhere, the surface must be perfectly clean, roughed up, and be as dust free as possible. Any soap scum, body oil, dirt, or shiny porcelain that hasn’t first been chemically treated to make it porous can easily cause a failure. Lack of using a good primer can also cause a coating to fail prematurely.
Other reasons that frequently cause problems include improper maintenance, dripping faucets, a low point in the fixture that prevents water from draining, or a drain clog that causes water to sit for extended periods of time. Most of the time coating failure occurs on the heavily used horizontal surface, particularly around the drain.
A lot of times, sellers will go the cheap route when refinishing their bathtubs prior to listing the property. The buyer is unlikely to take a hard look at the quality of the job, and it is difficult for them to even know if it is in fact a good job or not. Sometimes, the seller is well intentioned but the refinisher knows the property is going to be sold, and they skip steps or is lazy. We’ve seen many bathtubs that aren’t deglossed with a chemical called etch. This is absolutely necessary with all porcelain bathtubs. It takes only 25 minutes to do, and is vital to ensuring the integrity of the new coating. What saves the first refinisher 25 minutes, often takes us over 2 hours to fix.
However, no matter what the problem is, Oahu Tub Experts can fix it. We’ve become the company of choice for Realtors, property managers, and home owners who want an improperly executed prior refinishing job fixed to look beautiful. We do the job right and do not skip steps. Call 808-554-1570 to schedule a free estimate.
CRACKED FIBERGLASS BATHTUBS
Plastic/Fiberglass bathtubs mixed with sloppy installation are a bad mix. Bathtub installers are supposed to inject foam under the tub or shower unit that will help support much of the weight, but often skip this crucial the step. The unfortunate result over time is a cracked fixture.
The good news is that bathtub repair by Oahu Tub can economically and quickly provide a guaranteed and permanent fix with a custom made tub inlay. With hundreds of successful installations, we are the leader in bathtub repair in Honolulu. First, if necessary, we will fill the bottom of your fixture with supporting foam. Then we will install the inlay. Each inlay is manufactured of an unbreakable piece of laminate that completely covers over 90% of the bottom of a bathtub or shower. Using special adhesive, a permanent bond is created to the tub or shower bottom. The end result is a permanently repaired fixture.
Our bathtub repair inlays come in two colors: white and bone – however we can refinish your entire tub, including the inlay after installation.
Each inlay includes a beveled outer edge to help blend it in with the fixture, and an anti-slip surface. The inlay color will not exactly match the color of the original fixture, and it will be raised about 1/8 of an inch. The weight limit of the original fixture should continue to be observed after installation. Most fiberglass and plastic fixtures have a weight capacity of 300 pounds and should not be used by more than one person at a time. Oahu Tubs warranties the repair for a period of 180 days against leakage.
