DIY kits don’t work. We’re not just saying this to get your business. Many of our customers will tell you that we’ve talked them out of doing work that is often unnecessary such as tile refinishing (often a good cleaning with a product like Diamond Magic can work wonders).
If DIY kits really worked well nobody would need our services. Truth be told, a skilled weekend warrior might be able to get a DIY refinishing kit to look good. However, it still will not stand the test of time. They simply do not include the preparatory materials needed to achieve lasting adhesion to most surfaces.
Today we inspected a condo where the owner had literally just attempted for the second time to refinish his Formica countertops with a DIY kit from a well know brand that is available at Home Depot and Lowes. When we came, the paint was still wet. The first attempt didn’t go so good, and the second attempt was just as bad. Ripples on the horizontal surfaces and drips on the vertical surfaces were prevalent.
The owner was prepping the unit for sale and obviously was trying to take shortcuts. It takes money to make money. Professional refinishing is one of the few upgrades you can do to a listed property where you will almost certainly recoup all the money spent and then some, so it is silly to try to cut corners. Any Realtor and most buyers will instantly see the difference between a professionally refinished surface and a DIY kit. Realtors these days are trained to spot refinished surfaces, and they will often ask questions about who did the work, and if the work carries an active warranty. Using a DIY kit on a listed property is not a good idea for these reasons.
The ironic thing is that people who use these DIY kits end up paying more in the long run because refinishing companies charge to remove failed coatings.
