DIY Fiberglass refinishing

Problems with do-it-yourself kits:

• Peeling, sooner or later (often sooner)
• The surface is not as shiny and easy to clean
• Runs and drips in finish
• Fumes

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DIY Porcelain refinishing

What causes these problems?

• Peeling can occur because the materials used in these kits are not as effective as what is available from professional suppliers. Also, these kits don’t contain a dedicated primer. If you check online reviews, a significant number complain of peeling, bubbling, etc.

• DIY kits are not as shiny as professional refinishing because the topcoats used are epoxy, which by their very nature do not shine as well as acrylic urethanes such as used by Allpro Refinishing. Also, epoxies become dull and may yellow over time.
• Applying a DIY bathtub refinishing kit is usually done with a brush, roller, or aerosol can.  None of these can give the results of professional spray equipment and years of experience. Also, these kits don’t even mention filling chips in the surface first, so the chips that are on many bathtubs will show right through the finish.
• Professional refinishers use high-powered ventilating equipment to prevent fumes from traveling through the house, and professional respirators to protect the refinisher.

If you decide to use a DIY kit and later decide to have the bathtub refinished professionally, it will cost an extra $150 or more to strip off the old finish. So although some are attracted to the DIY kits to save money, they often end up spending much more in the long run.