Why is my new tub finish already failing? Sadly, some people ask this right after spending the money on a tub glaze. What went wrong? And whose fault was it? The answer might surprise you.
Here’s the harsh truth: The homeowner might be the cause of the reglazing disaster.
You can avoid these problems by understanding the connection between bathtub reglazing and leaky faucets. When you fix the drip before the glaze, you prevent these damaging, moisture-related problems:
- Unsightly pockmarks and craters in the finish.
- Newly-formed rust tracks or yellow lines on your fresh surface.
- Damaging surface flaking from bubbles formed near the faucet.
At Jet’s Amazing Reglazing in Wayne, Michigan, we ask you to fix the leaky bathtub faucet so our services remain in perfect condition. Contact us for more information!
The Dripping Threat: Bathtub Reglazing & Leaky Faucets
Before your tub glazing crew shows up, they ask you to do two things: clean your bathroom and fix the leaking bathtub faucet. Both of these tasks benefit you and help protect your home.
Cleaning your bathroom is the first step. It helps protect your belongings from collecting overspray particles that float around the area during the glazing process. Fixing the leaky faucet, on the other hand, helps protect your new bathtub finish.
Here’s a closer look at the grave threats a leaky faucet poses to your bathtub reglazing:
1. Pockmarks in the Finish
The Problem: This is the most immediate threat because it happens during the initial cure time of your glaze. If a faucet drips water onto the fresh coating before it has fully cured, it leaves pockmarks or craters in the finish. In addition to the aesthetic flaw, this also creates weak points. Moisture gets under the glaze, causing premature peeling.
What it Looks Like: Small, circular depressions or a dimpled texture around the drain.
2. Rust and Other Stains
Problem: A leaky faucet carries hard water minerals such as calcium and lime. If this water drips over a newly glazed tub surface, the minerals eat through the topcoat. This creates a permanent rust track or yellowed line from the spout to the drain.
What it Looks Like: A distinct, discolored line that is rough to the touch and can’t be cleaned without destroying the glaze.
3. Seepage & Adhesive Failure
Problem: Does your faucet leak behind the handle or at the base of the spout? If so, water can seep behind your new glaze along its edges. This interferes with the bond to the tub’s surface, allowing moisture to accumulate beneath the new finish.
What it Looks Like: Large, fluid-filled bubbles near the hardware, which eventually burst and cause your glaze to flake off in sheets.
Tub Glazing: Two Last Things You Should Do
Cleaning the bathroom and fixing the faucet is the beginning of your responsibility. Fortunately, the next steps aren’t complicated.
Professional glazers recommend covering everything in your bathroom that you don’t want overspray to settle on. This includes any furniture, appliances, fixtures, toiletries, toothbrushes, etc. Your next task is to take your family, including the pets, and stay somewhere else until the glazing is finished. This helps you avoid the product’s strong fumes, which pose certain health risks.
Don’t return home until 24 to 48 hours after your reglazing. This gives your home enough time to eliminate the fumes that accumulated during the process. You can also ask your provider for additional safety measures to follow, depending on the type of finish you chose.
Fix the Faucet & Contact Jet’s Amazing Glazing
If you’re going to invest in tub reglazing, you want to ensure its results. By following the advice from Jet’s Amazing Glazing, your finish, home, and family will be safe.
Homeowners are happy to fix leaky faucets, clean their bathrooms, and cover their valuables. These are small things to do compared to the hard work the glazing company does. It also helps prevent damage, which is the goal of every homeowner.
Now that you know about bathtub reglazing and leaky faucets, you’re ready to have the job done. Call (734) 744-5621 or contact us online for a quote!