Archive for the ‘Tile & Counters’ Category

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Choosing Your Bathroom Countertop Material

February 10, 2012

Your bathroom should be a place of luxury. There are so many different types of tile and finishes available, so how do you choose the right one? Unlike the kitchen counter that needs to be strong, functional, and durable, your bathroom countertops can be used more for decoration. Here’s an evaluation of the four most common bathroom surfaces, according to HGTV.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone material that is long-lasting, stain-resistant, and beautiful. It is viewed as elegant and luxurious. Granite surfaces are durable and easy to take care of. Small scratches can be polished and touched up. To keep the shiny surface clean, use warm water and a liquid detergent, but beware of abrasive cleaners that can dull the finish. Granite countertops may need to be sealed once a year.

Quartz

Quartz is even stronger and more resistant to scratches and stains. Quartz can look similar to limestone, granite, or marble, but the synthetic composite is a durable, easy-to-clean surface. As a bonus, it doesn’t usually require regular sealing or maintenance.

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Brightening Tile Caulk

April 28, 2011

Grout can discolor for many reasons. It can lose its pigment over time, so light grout stains and dark grout fades. Grout, like cement, is very porous. When tile and grout are laid, seal the grout to fill pores. If your grout was not sealed, hard water, mildew, or hair dye can stain or discolor the grout.

There are several grout cleaners available. Also to save costs on replacing grout, apply a special grout stain to freshen the appearance. Grout stains come in most shades, including white.

Tile renovations take time and are cumbersome. If starting a tile project worries you, call me, Chris Duty, owner of Striking Image Porcelain Refinishing. I have my years of experience in bathroom and kitchen remodeling.

If you want to make changes in your bathroom or kitchen, contact me at 940-395-1406, or email strikingimage@gmail.com for a free estimate. Located in Roanoke, I serve homeowners, realtors, interior designers, and builders in Southlake, Grapevine, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, and surrounding communities. My work comes with a limited warranty, as well, and I’ll be happy to provide professional references upon request.

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Protect Your Belongings During Refinishing

April 13, 2011

As with any home improvement project, prep work is necessary to ensure your belongings aren’t harmed. I’m Chris Duty of Striking Image Porcelain Refinishing, and I recommend that my clients remove all personal belongings from the room in which a fixture is being refinished.

While I am refinishing your tub, sink or countertops, I will open windows and use filtered fans to help eliminate the odor from the process. I will line the walls, cabinets, and floors with a static paper that attracts overspray. The filtered fans also draw out overspray. These methods work, so not only will you have a beautifully restored fixture, you won’t even know that I was there.

I advise my clients that a refinished surface need to 48 hours to fully harden.

Upon completion of the project, I will give you instructions for care and cleaning of your refinished sink, tub, or countertop. By following my instructions and avoiding abrasive cleaners, you can enjoy your refinished surface for 10 to 20 years or longer. Refinished surfaces, like porcelain, can chip if you drop something heavy on them, but I also offer chip repair services. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Antique Bathtub Refinishing, Bathtubs, Clean Bathrooms, Kitchens, Porcelain Refinishing, Showers, Tile & Counters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Refinishing the Tub is Not a Do-It-Yourself Project

March 10, 2011

With spring approaching quickly, homeowners are ready to spring clean and fix up the house. Many people will watch home improvement programs and think they can handle everything themselves. Some decide to take on the bathroom and give it a whole new look. There are several ways to spruce up the bathroom and increase the value of your home, but not all are do-it-yourself projects.

Let’s look at your bathtub. You can go to any home improvement store and purchase a new bathtub for around $200. With that, you need to add in the cost of demolition, removal, tile replacement, and plumbing. Suddenly your $200 bathtub just cost you plenty more … even thousands!

You have probably seen advertisements for acrylic liners. These bandages are actually more expensive than a new tub, and they only hide the real problems.  You could purchase a DIY refinisher and attempt to repair the tub yourself.  Without experience, it is virtually impossible to achieve a smooth finish. Not to mention, most DIY finishes peel and chip. So what other options do you have?

I’m Chris Duty, owner and operator of Striking Image Porcelain Refinishing, and I have been refinishing bathtubs, sinks, and showers for years.  I have saved my customers hours of aggravation and money with my custom refinishing. Upon completion of your refinished project, I will give you instructions for the care of your new refinished bathtub.

I not only do refinishing work on tubs, sinks, and counter tops, I do remodeling projects such as tile, painting, flooring, and have a crew of trustworthy plumbers and electricians. We can take that DIY project off your hands or fix that project so you can enjoy your weekend.

If you are in the DFW area and need bathtub refinishing or minor remodeling, call me at (940)395-1406 for a free estimate.  I will provide you with professional references upon request.

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1985 Red to 2010 White in Fort Worth

October 21, 2010

As a porcelain refinisher, I make old bathtubs look new. Sometimes the tubs are really, really old. I think the oldest one I’ve done was a cast iron tub from right about the turn of the century… 1908 maybe. But I can refinish more than bathtubs. In this photo, you can see that tile refinishing can update a kitchen dramatically. In the 80s, red tile with wood cabinets was cool. Now, though, a cleaner, sleeker look is trendy. This particular client, whose home was in Fort Worth, saved thousands of dollars by having me refinish their red tile counter tops with a white, shiny surface. (I can do a stone look finish, as well.)

These tiles were in the kitchen, but I also refinish wall tile in showers and around bathtubs. I’ve even changed the color of old avocado green and harvest gold appliances (c. 1970s) to white or a variation of white, like almond, to match modern appliances.

If you’re amping up to refurbish your bathroom or kitchen, and you’re planning on replacing tile, tubs, sinks, or appliances (that work), shoot me an email with a photo . Include your phone number, and I’ll call you to discuss whether refinishing is a cost-effective alternative to replacement. Or, if you prefer call me at 940-395-1406 or submit my online email request form.

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Best Practice for Tile Shower Seat Installation

September 28, 2010

I’ve seen many nice shower seats succumb to wood rot just five or ten years after installation. Tile crews usually frame out a shower seat with wood, add crete board, then tiles. Over time, water invades and causes rot. The best practice for installing a shower seat is to frame out a mold, pour concrete, let it dry, remove the mold, then skip the crete board and just adhere the tiles to the cement.

The shape and location of a shower seat is based purely on preference. Corner seats are nice, but a rectangular seat can provide more space. Consider the size of your shower, the location of the door and how it opens, and how tall you’d like the seat. The height should be comfortable for anyone who may use the shower, even after you sell your home. I have found that a seat set at 14-25 inches off the floor is best. A lower seat works well for shaving legs, and a higher seat is good for tall men. Sit in your favorite chair, then ask your spouse to do the same. Use a measuring tape to determine the height that you both feel is most comfortable.

The best time to install a shower seat is when you’re re-tiling your shower. Installing a seat with tile behind it is not a good idea. Because it can be difficult to match tile, I always recommend shower seat installation during re-tiling. Your tile crew should be able to install the seat at a moderate cost. Be sure that they understand you want a solid cement installation.

Striking Image offers bathroom remodeling, tile installation, and bathtub and counter refinishing. If you would like an estimate, please give me a call. I’m Chris Duty, owner and operator of Striking Image. My company serves homeowners, builders, realtors, and property owners in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.

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