Acid Etching vs. Chemical Bonding

By Bernie Kutchinski

Miracle Method of Tampa, Florida

Acid etching is a process where hydrofluoric acid is applied to a porcelain or ceramic surface to create pores to allow a coating to adhere to the extremely hard surface.

The major disadvantages of this process are twofold:  Hydrofluoric acid is a toxic and corrosive acid which carries health risks and can damage surrounding surfaces (fixtures, pipes, tile, etc.  The process is also inconsistent in its ability to provide long term adhesion.  Acid residue from this process that remains in the pores of the surface or grout reacts with the coating and causes random peeling.

Why is acid etching used?  This is the least expensive method to provide adhesion.  It is readily available in a diluted form for refinishers who have no other alternative or choose to use a less expensive process rather than provide a sound durable surface.

Acid etching is typically used in commercial locations such as apartments where a “quick fix” is desired to make a tub or tile look better so the apartment can be rented.

What to Expect: This process typically lasts 1 to 3 years and usually comes with a prorated 1 to 3 year warranty.

Chemical bonding method is a process that uses a proprietary bonding chemical that “Welds” the coating to the surface.  Laboratory tests have shown this method to last 10 times longer than the acid etch method without the health hazards and potential damage of acid. It is the recommended process for residential homes where a long lasting durable finish is desired.  Miracle Method uses this process and provides a full 5-year written transferrable warranty against failure of the adhesion of the coating.  It typically last 15 to 20 years or more when properly cared for.

For more information on acid etching vs. bonding visit: 
http://www.miraclemethod.com/acid-etching.htm

Hiring A Professional vs Do-It-Yourself Kits

So let’s get right to it.  What is bathtub, shower, tile and countertop refinishing all about and why shouldn’t I do it myself?  In a nutshell it’s about saving you the consumer a lot of money while restoring your bathtub, shower, tile or countertop to a like new condition and often better than new. 

While DYI kit manufacturers would have to believe this is something you can do as a weekend project don’t be fooled, it’s not. 

Over the past 4 years I have been called in to strip off many DIY kits and refinish the bathtub correctly and in each and every case the customer said “I should have called you first.”  So why don’t they work? 

Well very few homeowners have the necessary skills, materials and equipment to refinish a surface correctly not to mention the safety factor in using harsh chemicals.  Following the manufacturer’s instructions is great but they are often vague and leave a lot to the imagination.

For example, the instructions may say clean the surface thoroughly but how clean is clean?  I can say with absolute certainty that a surface to be refinished is never too clean!  The fact of the matter is unless you know exactly what you’re looking for and how to find it you’ll never be sure if the surface is clean enough to apply a refinishing coating on and applying coatings over a dirty surface is the primary cause of failure and not just with do-it-yourselfers.

I find it shocking how many so-called professional refinishers finishes fail within the first year.  Just 2 weeks ago I was called to strip and refinish a bathtub that had been refinished just 4 months prior.  

I suppose I should be thankful to those not so professional refinishers because I have gotten a lot of business because of them.  The problem with that is it gives professional refinishers as a whole a bad name and therein lies another problem with the industry but that’s for another discussion. 

To refinish a surface well you’ll need some very expensive equipment.  Spraying a coating from a self contained spray guy you buy at your local home improvement store simply will not get the job done and almost always creates a major mess. 

The proper equipment is very similar to the equipment used by professional car refinishers and it’s easy to spend $300 or more just on the spray gun and that doesn’t include the air compressor. 

Unless you’re a professional refinisher by trade it’s just not worth the investment.  Let’s assume you have or have access to the proper equipment where are you going to get the best and proper coating to spray on your surface.  The coatings used my reputable refinishers is not available to the general public and what you’ll get from your local paint store will not work!

 For arguments sake though let’s say you have the equipment and coating you need but do you have the skill to use it.  It’s as much an art form as it is skill to spray out a coating so it looks like a sheet of glass and it’s something that takes a lot of practice. 

Just knowing how to set up the equipment can be a tricky chore even for experienced refinishers.  How to correctly mix the coatings is also crucial and involves several factors like surface temperature, ambient temperature, humidity and the like. 

I think by now you should have my point; refinishing is not for the inexperienced.  For me there is only one situation where using a DIY kit would be an option and that’s if you don’t care much what the surface looks like. 

If you’re just trying to cover up a nasty stain or rusty area and don’t mind having a surface that doesn’t shine like a new penny and isn’t as smooth as a sheet of glass then a DIY kit may be for you but if you want a surface that looks and feels like new or better then the only way you’ll get that is by hiring a good professional refinisher.

Miracle Method As An Information Source

As you can see almost all of my links and references are to Miracle Method.  There is a legitimate reason.  Quite frankly as the industry leader in bathtub, shower, tile and countertop refinishing and with over 30 years experience there is no better authoritative source.  If you really want to understand refinishing then Miracle Method is the place to go.  However, to be fair I encourage you to search the internet and see for yourself.  You can find a lot of refinishers but I doubt you’ll find a better source of information on the subject than Miracle Method.