How Long Will It Last

Almost every customer asked me "how long will it last?"  The simple truth is there is no way of telling exactly how long the finish will last.  There are just to many variables to say for certain.  Things like how often is it used, how well will it be cared for, are children using the tub (toys are a killer), what will you clean it with, do you leave a shower mat in the bottom?  These are all things the customer can control to some extent to extend the life of the finish but what they can't control is how it's applied and the materials used. 


Longevity starts with the person applying the finish and the type and quality of products used.  Thorough and complete cleaning is the most important step in extending the life of the finish.  Any contaminants left of the surface of the tub will have an impact on the life of the finish and almost certainly a negative one. I've seen finishes fail just a few months after they were applied and in each case it was because the finish was applied over dirt and soap scum.  The very first thing a re-finisher should bring into your house is a cleaning kit with professional cleaners and they should be used thoroughly and aggressively; well rinsed and cleaned again.  I can't stress this enough, there is no substitute of a complete and thorough cleaning prior to applying the finish.


Second most important is the use of a bonding agent.  Without a good bonding agent it’s doubtful you will get the maximum life from your tub finish.  


Third is priming.  Think about it.  Take the auto industry for example.  They spend millions each year just on primers and priming their vehicles.  They would not go to such expense and trouble if there wasn’t a very good reason, we all know that.  Tubs are no different.  Primer promotes adhesion and in doing so extends the life of the finish, it’s just that simple. 


Last but certainly not least is the application.  This takes skilled hands to apply the finish correctly.  Some even say it’s an art.  When applied correctly the finish should have a very glossy and have a glass like appearance.  It should be free of overspray, orange peel and pinholes.  This doesn’t necessarily extend the life of the finish but it certainly impacts how it looks and no one wants to be reminded of how bad their tub looks each time they take a bath.  


Another point to all this is if the finish doesn’t look glossy and glass like then it probably won’t last very long or at least as long as it should.  That may sound like a counter diction but think of it this way.  If the person applying the finish can’t or won’t apply it correctly do you think they took the time or even knew how to do the first 3 important steps correctly or even at all?  Doubtful at best I’d say.  


So back to the original question “how long will it last?”  At Miracle Method we do our best to provide a product that, with reasonable care and average use, will last you 15 to 20 years and more.  If you get that life from your finish then it’s a great value.