F.A.Q. #2 – How long will a refinished surface last?

With normal use and proper care & cleaning, a refinished surface should last you 10 years or more.  As with any coated surface (be it new or refinished), it will dull over the years with extended use, but refinishing is the cheapest and easiest way of remodeling your kitchen or bath while maintaining the beauty of it.

Don’t forget that AKL Resurfacing gives a 5 year written warranty (for residential properties – 2 year with commercial properties) with all fully refinished surface, as well as a Care Sheet to guide you on how best to clean and care for your newly refinished surface.

For any further questions or to schedule your own project consultation with one of our experts, please visit our website, AKL-Resurfacing.com , and we will be more than happy to assist you.

F.A.Q. #1 – How long does the refinishing process take to complete?

For most single projects, it can be completed the same day it begins!  No lingering mess or half-finished projects.  This is but just one of many great reasons to go with refinishing instead of replacing!

A Single Finish can be completed in 3 to 4 hours.

A Speckle Finish can be completed in about 4 hours.

A Stone Finish can be completed in 6 to 8 hours.

Of course, the time it takes to complete any one project can vary depending on the complexity of the finish and the size of the project.  Doing more than one project in one house or business can take longer or even extend into the following day, but we do not accept payment until the job is completed.  So, rest assured that we completely stand behind the integrity of our work and respect your home or business as if it were our own!

For any further questions or to schedule your own project consultation with one of our experts, please visit our website, AKL-Resurfacing.com , and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Summer Special!

Starting June 21, 2010, we are offering a new Summer Special to all new and existing customers!

Mention this special when you schedule a new* tub resurfacing with AKL and receive a FREE Non-Slip Bottom!  This is a $40 value!

What is a Non-Slip Bottom from AKL?  It’s not a mat or little pieces of rubber stuck to the bottom of your tub.  This is a special application of a product that lightly coats just the bottom of your tub that is then painted over with your desired color.  This is a great addition for those who regularly use the rubber mats (which can no longer be safely used with a refinished tub in order to protect the quality of the finish) and for those who want to be sure that there is a safe surface for them to stand on while getting in and out of their tub.

Contact us today to schedule an estimate and to see and touch one of our sample tiles that shows you what the finished product, with the Non-Slip Bottom, is like!

*  This is for new tub resurfacing projects only, not ones previously done by AKL.

Is your old porcelain tub a danger to your child?

If you live in a home that was built prior to 1978, your home may very well contain lead paint, including your bathtub.  The paints used at that time to coat the bath tubs, as well as almost all interior and exterior paints, usually contained lead that can poison you and your family.  It wasn’t until 1978 that the U.S. government began to serious regulate the lead paint issue.  Many houses, even to this day that predate 1978, still contain this very dangerous material.

Lead is not safe in any amount to anyone but in particular to our children, especially those aged 6 (six) and younger because their growing bodies absorb it much quicker and the effects are more severe.  Exposure to lead at such a young age contributes to damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning impairments, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches and even death in extreme cases.  Adults can also suffer ill effects from lead exposure, such as reproductive problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems and muscle and joint pain.

On April 19, 1995, Good Morning America aired a special report about how so many bathtubs are still testing positive for lead.  One of the ways you can perform lead abatement is through encapsulation; In other words, seal it with paint that does not contain lead and prevents the previous lead from leeching through.

We at AKL Resurfacing not only perform lead safe practices when resurfacing bathtubs and sinks but we also utilize paints that do encapsulate your previous finish.  Our paint manufacturers (NAPCO and Hawk Labs) not only are low VOC, thus being green products, but they are formulated to prevent lead leeching.

Contact us at Support@AKL-Resurfacing.com or 727-916-7895 to schedule a free consultation that gives you an opportunity to see all the samples of finishes we provide, including our Stone-Fleck that gives you the granite feel without the granite prices.  Keep you and your family safe while enjoying the beauty of a newly refinished surface!

Are granite countertops dangerous to your health?

That all depends on who you ask.

There has been some swirling controversy over the safety of granite countertops over the years regarding the amount of radon radiation they give off.  There are a few studies out there that state that the granite used to make countertops in the United States are emitting some radon but not at levels that are dangerous enough to alarm the experts.  Others disagree, and so the debate rages on.

Studies have been conducted but not enough evidence has been gathered to give an absolute definitive answer to this all-important question, not to mention that the granite supply used in the US isn’t always from the US and those coming in from other locations around the world aren’t tested even though there are fears that they may have other radiation issues, such as uranium from possible nearby uranium mines that have seeped into the granite.

A good article to read about this can be found at:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=91461

Most experts can agree on one thing:  There simply has not been enough testing done to sound an alarm to prevent granite from being used as countertops and that not all samples of granite show radon emissions (which probably have to do with where the granite was mined from).  In the end, the choice is yours as to whether you want this in your home or not.

I doubt this controversy and debate will go away, since it has made its rounds a few times over the years already.  However, if you are concerned, we strongly encourage you to do more research, continue to look for new studies and even see about getting a radon test kit from your local hardware store to see if your home has any radon in it, including your granite surfaces.

An Alternative to Granite Countertops

We at AKL Resurfacing understand that you want your home to be beautiful, comfortable and safe.  We offer an alternative to expensive and high maintenance granite countertops:  Stone-Fleck resurfacing!

Having your current countertop resurfaced with one of our Stone-Fleck finishes gives you the feel of the granite without the cost or need for resealing like granite has to be done every so often.  Below are some of our more popular samples:

Stone Fleck Color Chart

We do custom countertops, as well, that incorporate a mix of some of the samples you see above.  We admit that the pictures above don’t do the colors justice, so, if you are interested in finding out more about this resurfacing option, contact us today to set up a time for one of our representatives to come to your home or business with our sample book of tiles.  Estimates are free and we’ll be happy to discuss any project you are considering, since our finishes can go on multiple surfaces, including cabinets, countertops, ceramic tile and Formica.

Contact AKL Resurfacing at:
727-916-7895 or Support@AKL-Resurfacing.com

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The Beautiful Bathroom – A Woman’s Retreat

The stress of a woman’s day:  Children needing to get ready and off to school with homework in tow – Significant others requiring their attention to get themselves out the door for work – And, often, having to get themselves ready for a long day of work themselves before heading home to do their other job: Tending to their house and family, running errands, making dinner, going kids’ games, practices, classes or recitals before falling into bed for a few hours of sleep before getting up and starting the process all over again the next day.

One thing that so many women look forward to at the end of a long day or a hectic week is some sort of retreat into their bathroom.  Every woman has a different ritual but it all usually centers around being able to spend quality time soaking in their bathtub, locked away from the rest of the world.

As a woman, myself, I can appreciate a beautiful bathtub where I can relax, light some candles, put on some nice music, pour a glass of wine and soak away my worries – at least for a little while.  It’s a place I go personally to gather my thoughts and de-stress from life in general.

But what happens if that object of your retreat is less than welcoming?  What if it looks something closer to this? …

A tub before resurfacing.

It definitely puts a hamper on the idea of having a beautiful, relaxing retreat for pretty much any woman!

Enter AKL Resurfacing!

We at AKL Resurfacing take tubs such as the one pictured above and turn it into something that any woman would be proud to make into their own personal retreat!

A tub after resurfacing is performed.

If you live in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, and you’re looking to find a quick and easy way of turning your bathroom retreat insto something fresh and “new”, consider having AKL Resurfacing come in and refinish your bathtub into the color of your choice.  We would love the opportunity to give you back a place you can call your own once again!

Contact us at support@AKL-Resurfacing.com or come to our website to see more before and after pictures, http://www.AKL-Resurfacing.com.  We’ll give you a free estimate on your bathtub resurfacing, refinishing, and reglazing needs.