MZ-HANDYMAN

WC,
I cant choose what jobs come my way, can you? Settle down and be nice.

Jarvis,
You know what, I'll suggest the Plastic surround and (liquid nails?)

The last few I've resurfaced, I didn't like being in the fumes either. I had a box fan blowing air into the room with the window open but it was still pretty strong even with a respirator. I may just pass on it unless he goes with the stick on shower I could just suggest the plastic sheets with the "L" on one end. But I may still need to resurface the bottom step wall and floor.

Oh yeah, whats the deal with the sink?!

Good advice!

Thanks!

Dustyrose

I do. And this time I gotta say step aside Manny. You don't want this job.

I'm telling you. The existing finish needs to completely striped with a highly toxic striper and you need to remove all the contaminated crap from the grout in between each and every tile. Stripping this is going to be an absolute nightmare.

Refinishing is one of the services I offer. It it not as cut and dry as one may think. The first tub/tile I sprayed cost me a week in labor to repair and refinish. That job cost me a lot of money.

Walk away, Dude. Walk away.

__________________
Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them. Paul Valery

MZ-HANDYMAN

Ok I'm convinced...

If he doesn't go with the plastic inserts or whatever they're called I'll tell him to call someone else.

Any suggestions on what sticks to previously resurfaced tile?

angus242

On the 2 I've been apart of, it's the manufacturer of the plastic surround that determines what to use. Follow their recommendations and you should be fine. At least that's the way the ones I've done were.

__________________
"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Metro M & L

I bet you would get comparable results with the system you're proposing (sand it a little and wipe with mineral spirits) and just hitting it with some pro block bonding primer (yeah, that's right the stuff for walls) and some latex.

Sound like a bad idea?

I have not done resurfacing. I've watched a couple guys do it though. They sanded the tubs down for about half an hour with dewalt orbitals, wiped it with their AIRCRAFT GRADE SOLVENTS and then filled the whole room, the whole floor of the building actually, with some of the most horrid overspray from their hvlp.

Those guys were f'd up at the end of the day.

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Metro Maintenance & Landscaping
http://www.pdxmetropainting.com

ScipioAfricanus

:l aughing:


Jarvis you couldn't know this but he charges like twenty bucks an hour according to his web site.

I think insurance costs are not of any concern to him.

Andy.

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www.draftinginoc.com

Double-A

OK, here's my take on this. MZ, you will probably not agree with my philosophy, but it's my opinion and I have just as much right to spew it here as the next guy.

A rental property is an income property. An investment. Every investment requires a certain amount of time and attention. In the case of income property, it requires maintenance. This requires an increase in the investment or a certain amount of diminished returns. You gotta spend money to make money.

Now, as a renter, I would feel that even for a pittance, I'm due a decent place to live. One that is functional and safe, and that is livable. A spray painted bath tub, no matter how well done, is still a spray painted bath tub and isn't going to stand up to a shampoo bottle being dropped from head height (6 feet in my case) onto the sharp edge of the cap.

So, who is at fault here? Me, the renter? All I did was have a reasonable oopsie and drop my jumbo 32 ounce Dollar General budget shampoo bottle.

The landlord that wanted a spray and pray job on a 60 year old tub that should have been replaced 2 refinishes ago? Or perhaps, you, MZ, the poor guy that was just trying to do what the budget minded tightwad of a landlord wanted done so that he could maximize his investment and offer a less than livable home?

Its time for the property owner to pony up and put a decent tub in that place. One that can actually take a dive bomb from a jumbo shampoo bottle dropped from soapy fingers from 6 feet.

If you can't offer him a guarantee that your finish can take it, then you're not doing anyone any favors and I guarantee he's gonna blame you and the renter for his chump change solution to a turn and burn approach to making money.

This property owner doesn't respect his tenants and to honest, I don't see how he can respect you for anything but your willingness to enable his addiction to being too cheap to fix it properly. If he does, then he'll thank you for telling him to replace those fixtures because they are junk and should just be replaced instead of repainted. (How much does a new china lavatory cost anyway? 80 bucks? Can you refinish the old one for less than that? Including uninstsalling it, prep, finish, materials and reinstall? I know that I can smack the old one with a hammer, sweep up the mess and put in a new one, including new trapware in less than 30 minutes.)

Now, for those of you that refinish or have refinished. I have no beef with you. I'm just not a fan of a paint job, no matter how sophisticated, on what should be a durable and imperviaous surface, and one that can withstand repeated arial attacks from rogue shampoo bottle. Show me one that can, at a price that beats replacing the fixture and we can talk. Otherwise, no sale.

Just my .02 cents worth.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Double-A

Now, to those of you that insist on having a good laugh at MZ's and others in his position expense, I'll say this.

Don't tear a man down for doing what he thinks is best. Build him up for trying and show him the error of his ways. It isn't professional and it isn't nice and it IS against our posting rules.

If you can't be nice, then be quiet. Be constructive or go play in the P&R forum. We all have a lot to offer and a lot to share and if we can't do it without kicking someone for their lack of expertise or experience then we might as well close the doors because we're going nowhere fast.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Double-A

MZ, read the instructions that come with the plastic surround. Some types are very sensitive to the type of adhesive you use. Liquid Nails will melt some of them and leave you with an expensive mess.

As for the sink, replace it!

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

AtlanticWBConst

Swan Tub Enclosures.

About $200.00 (from a plumbing parts supplier) for the 3-piece kit. RM-58

No Corner seams in the kit (seams are off-set along the back wall for better sealing). Kit comes with sealant/adhesives.

Example Link: http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/S...50971/Cat/1175

Manufacturer Link: http://www.theswancorp.com/index.php?cat=4&attr=76

Video Tutorial: http://www.graspr.com/videos/Swansto...lass-Tub-Walls
(for the DIYers on this site )

These are the way to go for apts and rentals.

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- Build Well -

Darwin

I truly believe the way to go is the plastic tub surrounds, MZ. You should be able to install it and caulk in a day. I've done these several times and they hold up very well.

They make specific adhesive (caulk gun) for these surrounds so don't skimp by using anything else but the adhesive for tub surrounds. They are built to handle any moisture issues (steam showers, etc.) and made specifically for tub surrounds.

As far as application to existing tiles, I would use a belt sander to rough the existing tiles for application- not needed but just an extra-so they adhere well; I do it for smooth existing tiles.

Also, I use a cake roller to smooth out any tub surround adhesive high spots and give the tub surrounds an even, adhesive application.

Also use 100% silicone for your final joints and overall caulking.

For about $80 in materials and $450 in labor, at least the landlord won't be tryna resurface in 2 years....

MZ- I been kinda quiet on here reading all the BS some of the guys put you through when you just are sharing your day to day experiences on projects, etc. It is ridiculous! Some people just add crappy comments for the sake of getting a response from you.

Why b jealous, members (u know who you are)? Don't b hatin !

One more note: I love the albums and your work in them. Who's got a better member profile page? I can tell you are a perfectionist. Good Luck, buddy...

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who dat is?

Mike(VA)

MZ said: Yeah but in my head if I think like that then I qualify for the "HACK" title. I treat a Low Housing project like it was a multimillion dollar home. If I can't do it right or do it better than expected then why do it.

Take this for what free advice and opinions are worth and I don't mean to cut you down. However, many times you ask questions that make you seem like a hack and you quite often contradict yourself. I know you don't intend to but maybe you should go back and read through your previous posts from start to now and see what they sound like.

Not every job has to be done like it was a multi million dollar home. Quality needs to be consistent with price and if you don't want to do lower quality work, then don't take on low priced jobs. I sometimes think you feel you have to take on every job that comes your way whether you make money or not. I say that last part because you seem to insist on 'over-doing' your work and I bet you are not getting paid to do so therefore you are losing money.

I think you are sincere in your desire to learn but entirely way too defensive when advice comes your way. You are hell-bent on not wanting to be seen as someone who needs to learn and that is a problem. You feel you have to respond to others' comment point by point in the defense of your position and usually everything goes downhill from there.

A man who takes on jobs like you are asking about who seems to be able to do much higher quality work is not a businessman. He doesn't run a business; the business runs him.

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You are not making progress unless someone is trying to get in your way. I will never give up!
Clifton, Great Falls, McLean, Fairfax Station, Manassas, Virginia Renovation Contractor

jarvis design

Reglazing materials will not stand up to the wear and tear of pots, knives, etc.

When we did them their was NO guarantee on kitchen sinks. I would tell people up front that they had to baby them and it was a 50/50 as to it lasting any length of time.

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Do it Right the First Time....or someone else will!!

www.JarvisDesignBuild.ca

jarvis design

MZ, while I havn't done one in about 10 years, we had a customer, a co-op housing complex to be exact who wanted a one piece surround put on. They removed the old surround and installed new drywall. I came in and installed the surrounds. I always had the best luck with tile mastic (see... their is a use for it afterall!) I think I used a 1/8" v-notch and covered every square inch. Then used a rolling pin to smooth it out.

But, as mentioned above, check with the surround manufacturer.

And, as someone who has in the past done a lot of reglazing, here is my take on it:

It is not a permanent solution - no matter who does it

If tile walls have failed - we always said NO to the job

I would "convert" many reglazing customers to renovations after explaining the differnance between the two

My favorite part of the reglazing business was restoring old clawfoot tubs, pedestals etc. - used to do very well on those!!

And finally, I can fully understand that you don't want to turn down work, however, sometimes its better to just say no!!

__________________
Do it Right the First Time....or someone else will!!

www.JarvisDesignBuild.ca