NAPCO Blog | Small Kitchen and Bath Refinishing Business Tips

The Value of Referrals

There are many different strategies for refinishers to gain new clients. Advertising through direct mail or pay-per-click can be very productive. Cold calling is another path for refinishers who are seeking commercial clients in hotels, apartment complexes, and dormitories. A good website with some SEO to attract traffic is a good strategy. Joining business associations and networking groups through champers and industry associations has been highly productive for some refinisher businesses. However, none of these activities is as efficient or cost-effective as getting referrals. Referrals are the all-time champ of business development.

Experience has shown many refinishers that the single greatest engine to grow your refinishing business is a steady stream of referrals from satisfied clients and trusted partners. Not only do referrals cost less than the money you would otherwise spend on marketing, but they also close more quickly and more easily than leads from other sources. Every refinishing business owner loves to receive referrals. Some refinishing businesses do not cold call or door knock because they get so much of their business from referrals.

Statistics bear out the truth of these statements:

• It takes seven times as much effort to win a new customer from cold prospecting than it does to win one from just one referral.
• When considering a purchase, 84% of buyers trust recommendations from families, friends, and colleagues.
• Customers who were referred by a friend or other customer have a 16% higher lifetime value.
• The average referring customer invites an average of 2.7 people.
• In the home improvement industry, studies have found that the close rate from referrals can be as high as 80%.

Some business owners have recognized that the ROI on time spent with clients who are a source of referrals is much higher than time spent with clients who do not refer.

While many businesses earn a significant portion of their revenue from referrals. It is also true that most businesses do not ask for referrals or systematically develop them. They are happy to receive referrals, but they are reluctant to ask for them. In this blog post, we will discuss the value of referrals, the obstacles to getting referrals, and the effective strategies to develop them.

Strategies for Generating More Referrals

The Obstacles to Asking for Referrals

Considering the great value and productivity of referrals, it is somewhat surprising that many refinishing business owners do not ask for them. During a recent informal survey of refinishing business owners, we found that less than half of them were actively asking for and cultivating referrals.

When we asked about the obstacles and challenges to asking for referrals, they shared several challenges or obstacles to doing so. They:

• Uncomfortable asking for referrals
• Don’t know when to ask
• Don’t know what to ask for
• Don’t know how to ask
• Don’t know who to ask

Below we will discuss each of these objections and why they should not hinder your referral generation efforts.

Uncomfortable asking for referrals. This objection is by far the most common obstacle. This discomfort comes from several beliefs that are untrue and unhelpful. The first unhelpful belief is the fear of hearing “NO”. The salesperson may have convinced themselves that the customer might not think that they deserve a referral, or the quality of their work does not warrant one. Some refinishers think they will sound “needy” if they ask or that they are being pushy and rude.

These objections live in the head of the refinisher who is reluctant to ask and typically depends upon the “mind-reading” skills of the refinisher. You cannot read the mind of the customer. Most customers are very happy to give referrals when you do a good job. They will even brag about the work you did and your professionalism.

Banish these mind-reading stories that you are telling yourself. They are not true. Smile. Be proud and confident that you deserve referrals, and you can ask for them in the most professional way. The very best professionals ask for and get referrals all the time — so can you.

Don’t know when to ask. There are two great times to ask. The first time is when the customer sees the final project for the first time. They will be thrilled with how their new bathroom looks. The second great time to ask is when you are hired. When you are hired, you ask if they are open to giving referrals when the project is completed, and if they are thrilled with the project. Besides these two times, all the other times you can think of are also good. Just ask.

Don’t know what to ask for. Your first request is always for a warm referral. You are asking for an introduction to the person you are referred to. This can be an email a phone call or a handwritten note. The note simply warmly introduces you to the referral, speaks positively about your work, and suggests that the two of you might talk. Ideally, you and the referral are both copied on the note/email.

Other softer versions of what to ask for include passing along your information in the form of a brochure, flyer, or business card. You can also send your customer an introduction email, which includes your contact information and links to the website. You can suggest that they forward this email to the people they want to introduce you to.

referrals

How to Ask for Referrals

This is not the biggest obstacle to asking for referrals, but once you have a well-developed approach to asking for referrals, several of the other challenges melt away. Here are several scenarios:

• This discussion occurs at the beginning of the project, probably immediately after your client agrees to work with you.

“At the end of this project, my goal is that you are completely thrilled with how this refinishing project looks and how this new bathroom makes you feel. If we can do a wonderful job that makes you feel great, can we take a couple of minutes at the end and talk about one or two people you might know who would appreciate this kind of refinishing work? Is that OK? YES (They always say YES)

• At the end of the project, you can ask again.

If you DID set the expectations at the start of the project, here’s how that conversation might go:

You: Now that you have seen the finished product, what do you think?

CLIENT: WONDERFUL, LOOKS GREAT.

I appreciate that. It was a pleasure to do this project. Thank you for this opportunity. Can I ask one more thing?

SURE.

At the beginning of the project, we discussed that if you were thrilled with the project maybe we could talk about one of two people you know who might appreciate this kind of refinishing work. Do you remember that?

YES.

Well, I want to know if we did a good enough job to have that conversation.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO.

Wonderful. Do you have time to sit down and discuss that now?

YES

If you DID NOT set the expectations at the start of the project:

Now that you have seen the finished product what do you think?

WONDERFUL, LOOKS GREAT.

I appreciate that. It was a pleasure to do this project. Thank you for this opportunity. Can I ask one more thing?

SURE.

A big part of how I get new projects is recommendations from the wonderful folks I work with. Is it possible you know one or two people who might appreciate having their bath look like this? YES.

Would you be comfortable introducing me?

YES.

Thank you.

Here are some options for wrapping up the conversation and planning how they will get you in touch with the new prospect:

Option 1: Would you be comfortable giving them a call and explaining what we did with your bath?

Option 2: I can send you an introduction email. Would you be comfortable forwarding that email to them to introduce me?

Option 3: Would you be comfortable passing along my card/brochure?

Who to Ask: Your Best Referral Sources

There are many wonderful sources where you can get referrals for your refinishing business. The most obvious sources of referrals are your clients. This includes the homeowners where you may be doing a single bath or a tile floor. Additional sources also include commercial property managers, maintenance managers as well as commercial and residential realtors.

Homeowners are a terrific source of referrals because they take such great pride in their homes that they will often be eager to show off their new bathroom or tile floor to friends and relatives. They are very likely to give several referrals. They are also typically happy to make introductions.

Commercial property managers and maintenance managers can be good source of referrals for a couple of different reasons. First, they will often refer you to other property managers or maintenance managers within their same hotel brand. They are very friendly with the other managers in their chain.

The second reason you can get multiple referrals from these property managers is that they often move from one property to another and even from one brand to another. In this way, they get to know many managers at other properties in town. They often have a strong informal network where members refer good vendors to each other. Commercial managers are used to being asked for referrals, so your request will be expected, and they will generally be very cooperative.

Commercial and residential realtors can also be a source of referrals for different reasons. They generally have an excellent network in the community. They know many other professionals. One caveat: a residential realtor who likes your work may not refer you to another competing realtor. They can sometimes be a very competitive group.

Additional referral sources are other trades. As you build relationships with carpet cleaners carpenters, plumbers, and electricians they will periodically refer work to you. They will also expect that you return the favor. The expectation of reciprocity makes it a mutually beneficial arrangement.

As a refinisher who does great work and is highly professional, you can become very well-known in their local community. When you build this reputation, you may get referrals from people and facilities to which you have no known connection. Remember that the quality of your work and your professionalism will generate referrals for you when you're not even asking. This is a classic example of word-of-mouth advertising.

Your Referral Generation Strategies

When it is done correctly, generating referrals is not an event but a strategy that becomes an ongoing habit. You should build the referral conversation into your regular business rhythm. You will make sure you have that conversation in one form or another during each project you do.

Here are eight simple referral strategies you can employ.

• Ask about the possibility of referrals before starting the work. This is not asking for referrals, rather this is asking, “If we do a great job are you open to talking about introductions to other people who may like our work?”
• Ask for referrals during the during the final inspection and walk-through. This is when the client is happiest.
• Use a referral request postcard. Share a postcard asking for referrals with your client. It is a card where they can write a name and a phone number.
• Compensation for referrals. This is a strategy that is effective with residential and commercial realtors. They are very money-motivated, and this will get their attention.
• The introduction email. This is a pre-written email that you send to your customer that they can forward to their contacts to warmly refer you,
• Giving referrals. This is especially effective with other trades and partners. The quickest way to increase referrals is to give more referrals. It works like magic.
• Use thank-you rewards. Give a small gift to each person who refers you to a project you win. This is not to thank them for the referral; rather it is an incentive for them to send you another one.
• Start a contractor referral circle. Gather a team of four to five non-competing contractors to meet for breakfast monthly to share referrals.

The most important aspect of any referral strategy is simply to do it — and do it consistently. As you begin to receive projects from your referral program, track how many projects and how much business you receive from referrals. You will be amazed by how much money these programs will bring to you.

While many businesses earn a significant portion of their revenue from referrals, it is also true that most businesses do not ask for referrals or systematically develop them. They are happy to receive referrals, but they are reluctant to ask for them. In this blog post, we discuss the value of referrals, the obstacles to getting referrals, and the effective strategies to develop them.

An important strategy to scale your business (part 2)

As you are growing your reﬁnishing business one of the challenges is how to create scale and stability in your business. Multi-unit opportunities are one important way to do that. Multi-unit opportunities are found with hotels, apartment complexes, dormitories, and realtors. Each of these is slightly different in terms of what they care about, how, and why they buy. In this paper, we will proﬁle each type of buyer and discuss how to approach and sell to them.

General Guidelines for Selling to Multi-Unit Opportunities

These projects are different than single-family home jobs, so the approach is also different. When attempting to win a multi-unit project, remember the following:

• Focus on the person, not the property: In multi-unit opportunities, your ﬁrst objective is to build a relationship of trust and credibility with the decision-maker. If you can do this the decision-maker can provide you with a series of projects. It can be a very lucrative partnership.
• Ask good questions and listen: Take the time to understand the decision-makers’ priorities for the reﬁnishing project. Their priorities will likely include speed, quality, and price.
• Solve a problem: In a multi-unit opportunity they are striving to solve a business problem: Poor online reviews, rising vacancy rates, newer competition, and meeting corporate brand requirements. Ask questions so you know the problem they are solving.
• Timely, Professional Follow-up: The decision-makers in multi-unit opportunities are extremely busy. Provide them with a simple, clear proposal for the work you will do and follow up with them in a steady professional manner.

Selling to Hotel Managers

Selling to Hotel Managers & Property Managers

Selling to a property manager or a manager at an independent hotel or hotel chain is significantly different than selling to a homeowner. The most important differences are:

1. The decision-maker could be one or more of several different people.
2. Their criteria to invest is based upon a specific problem being solved.
3. They can sometimes be more price-sensitive depending upon the level of the Hotel.
4. Turnaround time is a high priority so the room can be occupied and generate revenue.
5. They will often need multiple units refinished. Know who the buyer is.

When you’re selling to hotels and property management firms, it is important to understand you are not selling to a property. You are selling to a person. Sometimes the decision-maker is the property manager, other times it is the maintenance manager. In other cases, the decision-maker could be the owner or someone in a corporate office. Typically, your best bet is simply to ask: “Who here makes decisions for refinishing and maintenance projects?”

Once you reach the decision-maker understand that you are building a relationship with that person. This is important for two significant reasons. First, hotel managers and property managers move around throughout their careers. The person you sell to and build a relationship with today could be the manager of a property just down the road in a couple of months. You want to follow the manager to the new property and begin refinishing there are well.

The other significant reason you sell to the person is that the hotel managers in your area are a small tight-knit community and most of them know each other. When you do a good job for one of them you can receive referrals from their good friend just down the street.

Always remember, you are in a people business first.

When you are selling refinishing services to a hotel, the buyer may be one of several different people. Within the hotel, it could be the hotel manager, or it could be the maintenance manager. In other cases, the buyer might be the owner of the hotel, the management company, and sometimes the hotel brand corporate office itself.

Your best strategy is simply to ask who makes decisions on refinishing. Ask at the front desk or ask the manager on duty, but quickly figure out who you should be talking to. Do not waste your time or talk about refinishing with someone who is not the decision-maker.

Understand the Managers’ Needs, Priorities, and Pains

Take the time to understand the needs of the hotel/property manager. Understand the competitive properties in their market. Are they surrounded by newer properties? Are they surrounded by properties of higher quality or similar quality?

Read their website for the hotel or the property to understand what they emphasize as their brand. Hotel brand standards are important. When the corporate office sets standards for the quality of the look, feel, and experience of that room it is very important. Each property and each manager face regular inspections. Minor issues can be corrected, but the manager could be fired for a single bad inspection.

Read reviews of their hotel and the property online. That will give you a sense of what their guests value and what they have found unsatisfactory. Read the one-star reviews.

This information is critical for preparing to present your refinishing offerings as a solution to a business challenge they have.

Use Their Time Wisely

The average hotel has almost 10 open positions. Property management firms are notoriously short-staffed. They often have little time. When you do get in front of the decision-maker be ready to explain quickly and simply who you are and what solutions you can offer in less than two minutes. You do not need to get into the details of schedule and prices, but you must quickly establish yourself as relevant. If you start with a long story or explanation or it takes you forever to get to your point, the decision-maker will get rid of you.

Offer a Solution to a Business Problem

Although it is certainly true that you do high-quality refinishing and have beautiful pictures to prove it, the hotel manager does not care if you do not solve a specific business problem that they are facing. There are several examples below:

• “I think we may be able to reduce the number of negative reviews you have and increase the positive reviews.”
• “I may have a solution to improve your properties’ attractiveness compared to your nearby competitors.”
• “I think we may be able to improve the appearance of your rooms with a minimal investment.”

These are just examples and as you do your research into the property other ideas may come to you. When the hotel or property manager understands that you've done your research, and you understand his property and business challenges, he or she is more likely to work with you.

Make it Easy for Them to Say Yes

Make sure that your proposal is straightforward. They should see the financial investment and the time required to turn each room. You should also consider adding a very brief ROI calculation, with assumptions, that demonstrates the return on their investment in lower maintenance costs, higher occupancy rates, less discounting, or higher room rates. Emphasize that non-skid surfaces can lower the liability to slip and fall.

Offer Creative Packages for Refinishing Multiple Rooms

The hotel/property manager who wants to work with you will probably have multiple tubs and multiple apartment units to refinish. Develop a creative plan to do a certain number of tubs each month or each quarter. This allows them to spread out their investment in refinishing throughout the year. This levels out their budget. They will appreciate your creativity and flexibility. This also opens the door for developing an ongoing contractual relationship to do tubs every month.

To build credibility offer to do the first repair for free. A well-executed service call builds your credibility as much as the quality of your initial refinishing.

Effective Follow-Up

Like many homeowners, you will not immediately get a decision when you present a proposal to the hotel manager. If they do not decide when you provide them with the proposal make agreements with them about when you will follow up. Politely and professionally continue to follow up with a combination of phone and email until you get a yes or a no.

Selling to Realtors

Selling to Realtors & House Flippers

Realtors and house flippers are not exactly alike, but they are similar.

Selling to realtors or house flippers can be very rewarding because once you have established yourself as a quality reliable vendor, they will use you each time they see a need. Below are some of the keys to working with realtors and house flippers.

Understand Their Needs

Each realtor or house flipper may have their point of view on the best way to use refinishing services. Don't be afraid to ask them what they're looking for in terms of color quality turn-around time and price. When the realtor understands that you know their priorities you become easier and more attractive to work with.

Use Their Time Well

Realtors are extremely busy people. When you initially meet them be very clear and succinct about what you offer and how it can help the realtor sell homes more quickly for higher prices. When you can get those messages across quickly the realtor appreciates that you're using their time well.

Build a Relationship

If you're going to establish a long-term relationship with a realtor or house flipper don't be afraid to invest upfront in building a personal connection. Do things like:

• Attend their open houses.
• Drop by their office with some donuts.
• Ask to be invited to their weekly sales meeting.
• Offer to do a brief presentation at their weekly sales meeting.

The time and energy you invest in building the relationship will pay off handsomely.

Consider Gifts and Incentives

Among all decision-makers and influencers, realtors are particularly very money-motivated. When you offer incentives and gifts like gift cards or cash for a lead that closes it can be productive.

Sell the Value, Not the Refinishing

When you are offering your services to a realtor or house flipper you are not selling them refinishing, you're selling them, a shorter time on the market, higher sale price, and more showings. As you present, your refinishing products and solutions always include the benefits of refreshed and upgraded kitchens and baths to help the realtor and the seller.

Be excellent at communicating follow-up and follow-through.

A realtor or house flipper will appreciate your timely follow-up from each meeting and contact. In your follow-up things such as answers to their questions, a timely quote, and schedules for refinishing. Timely, accurate high-quality communication makes you a vendor who is easy to deal with. The realtor wants a vendor who is easy to deal with.

A Conversation with a Realtor/House Flipper

Below is an outline of an example conversation with a realtor that has been used successfully by one of our wonderful refinishing customers, Brad Stoffel of Quality Restoration Inc. Thank you, Brad!)

Your Commercial

Approach realtors and flippers with the overarching message, “We do reglazing and resurfacing of countertops, bathtubs, tile, and cabinetry.”

• Let them know they can bring you their listings that:
• Don’t show well … the ones that have “good bones” but are dated by out-of-style colors.
• Were priced reasonably but not getting solid offers.
• Tell them that by next weekend you can show that same house WITHOUT all the negatives.
• No more honey oak cabinets from 1993
• No more baby blue fiberglass surround
• No more fake woodgrain laminate tops

When a buyer sees these things, they don’t think, “I could reglaze that tub for $800.” They think, “This bathroom will need gutted in the next few years.” and in their mind decrease their offer by at least $10K and are less excited about the property.

Be sure you show how your services can bring them more offers, from more motivated buyers, and much faster than any other home improvement they’ve ever experienced.

The Conversation

Usually, at this point the realtor or flipper will bring up a speciﬁc property they’ve dealt with in the past that had issues: it was all yellow everywhere … or had lime green countertops. You know the ones. This gives you an opening to pitch your solutions, so:

• Talk about pricing and timeframe would be like on a similar project and strongly encourage them to call us when they run into any possible areas that are a strong negative for their buyers.
• Stress that the objective is not to make this the buyer’s dream home, but to make it a more attractive option. Remind them about the couple that just toured four homes and is trying to decide where to make an oﬀer, they’ll refer to your listing as “that house with the ugly greenish bathroom.” You can help both the realtor and their seller avoid those situations.
• End by saying it’s been a great intro conversation and gives realtors a very good idea of how best to use our services.

Final Thoughts

Developing multi-unit opportunities is one path to develop and grow your business. It can help increase your total revenue. It can also help you create steady revenue streams in less certain economic conditions.

Developing multi-unit opportunities requires a strategic approach. This approach includes understanding the multi-unit opportunities in your area. It also includes approaching them in a way that establishes your credibility as an ongoing vendor. It will also require you to build relationships with these key decision-makers so that they can rely upon you.

As you develop the strategies and skills to develop multi-unit opportunities you will be able to use these skills to open a wide variety of opportunities.

At each step along your journey of developing your ﬁnishing business, you should always look upon NAPCO as your partner. We will provide you with quality products, best-in-class training, supportive peer groups, great customer service, and marketing tools. We see your success as our success.

An important strategy to scale your bath and kitchen refinishing business

Introduction

In the reﬁnishing market, there are several diﬀerent types of buyers. Each type of buyer has their own priorities and unique buying process. In marketing, “buyer personas” are used to help define a business’ different customer types or segments. A persona is a prototype of what a typical buyer in this segment is like. Personas are very helpful in developing a profile for the customer, knowing what services they want, and how they buy.

We’ve identified several personas for the refinishing business. Use them as a guide as you are prospecting and engaging with customers:

Hannah Homeowner

Demographics: 40 to 65 years old have lived in their house for at least five years, they own their home, often empty nesters.
Why they buy: To refresh the look of their home for less than the cost of a full remodel. Not wanting to be embarrassed when they have guests, this is an emotional purchase.
How they learn about reﬁnishing: They hear about these services from friends, family, and others who have had refinishing work done.
How they ﬁnd a reﬁnisher: They will find a refinisher via referrals, web search, or Facebook
Buying priorities: They seek to raise self-esteem from their home and are looking for a high-quality ﬁnish, no mess, and limited disruptions in their home. Some buyers will also care about budget-friendly options, environmentally friendly materials (low VOC), and quick turnaround.
Price Sensitivity: If they like the reﬁnisher, view them as trustworthy, have received good reviews from others, and want the upgrade, they are less price sensitive.

Harold Hotel Manager

Demographics: 35 to 55 years old, they are either a hotel manager or the maintenance manager at a hotel.
Why they buy: They buy to solve a problem. Either they have newer hotels in their area that present fresher, newer bathrooms, or they are getting bad reviews on Yelp or other sites due to the look of their rooms. They are noticing higher vacancy rates, or they cannot raise room rates and remain competitive with newer hotels. Corporate performs inspections that can trigger updates and repairs to surfaces.
How they learn about reﬁnishing: Reﬁnishers drop in with product information and perhaps an introductory conversation. They also learn about it from other hotel managers.
How they ﬁnd a reﬁnisher: They get referrals from other trades, other managers, or by searching on the web or Facebook.
Buying Priorities: Inexpensive, medium quality, fast. They want to minimize disruptions to guests, and they want to turn the room quickly so it can be ﬁlled again.
Price Sensitivity: The hotel manager operates on slim margins. However, when the reﬁnishing is solving a problem, they can ﬁnd money to do the job.
How they buy: They are often open to working with you on blocks of rooms throughout the year. This can become a long-term contract relationship for the reﬁnisher.

Pete Property Manager (Similar to hotel managers)

Demographics: 35 to 55 years old, they are either a property manager or the maintenance manager for several properties.
Why they buy: They buy to solve a problem. Either they have newer properties in their area that present fresher, newer bathrooms, or they are getting bad reviews due to the look of their units. They’re noticing higher vacancy rates, or they cannot raise rents and be competitive with newer properties. Corporate does inspections that can result in updates and repairs.
How they learn about reﬁnishing: Reﬁnishers drop in at the management office with product information and perhaps an introductory conversation. They also learn about it from other property managers.
How they ﬁnd a reﬁnisher: They get referrals from other trades or other property managers. They may also search on the web or Facebook for refinishers.
Buying Priorities: They want moderate price, medium quality, and fast service. They want to turn the apartment quickly so it can be ﬁlled again.
Price sensitivity: The property manager operates on slim margins. However, when the reﬁnishing is solving a problem, they can ﬁnd money to do the job.
How they buy: They are open to working with you on apartment turns throughout the year. This can become a long-term contract relationship for the reﬁnisher.

Renee Realtor

Demographics: 35 to 55 years old; they are an established and successful realtor who works with homeowners in your community to sell their homes.
Why they buy: They buy reﬁnishing to inexpensively refresh the look of a home they are trying to sell that appears dated. The master bathroom is only behind the kitchen as the most important room for home buyers.
How they learn about reﬁnishing: They hear about refinishing as an option from other realtors, or trades they work with when preparing a house for sale. Previous experience with reﬁnishers.
How they ﬁnd a reﬁnisher: They get referrals from other realtors or trades. They may also search on the web or Facebook.
Buying priorities: They want quick, inexpensive, and quality work. They are in a hurry to get the house ready for showings, so your availability to get in and out quickly is important.
Price sensitivity: Moderate or high. The experienced realtor knows the value of a quality reliable reﬁnisher and will pay more. Some newer realtors can be very price-sensitive. Find the successful ones.
Connecting with realtors: Realtors live on their cell phones. The good ones are very prompt in returning phone calls. Do not be shy about leaving a message but be concise. Never more than 30 seconds and leave your name and number as well.

Henrietta House Flipper (Similar to Realtors)

Demographics: 35 to 55 years old; they regularly buy, refurbish, and resell houses as an important income source. They may be a sophisticated buyer of reﬁnishing.
Why they buy: They buy to inexpensively refresh the look of the master bathroom, which behind the kitchen is the second most important room for home buyers.
How they learn about reﬁnishing: From other trades they work with when refurbishing a house, previous reﬁnishing experience, other house ﬂippers, Google, and Facebook.
How they ﬁnd a reﬁnisher: They get referrals from other trades or search on the web or Facebook.
Buying priorities: They need inexpensive, quality work and high availability. They want to ﬂip the house quickly and inexpensively.
Price sensitivity: Moderate to High. An experienced house ﬂipper is less price sensitive; they just want fast, quality service. The house ﬂipper wants to make the maximum proﬁt on the house. That means price-sensitive quality reﬁnishing and fast turnaround.

Conclusion

It’s important to understand that each type of buyer has their own unique priorities, buying process, and service level preferences. When you approach them remember to ask them questions to understand their preferences. Listen carefully to what they share with you. Tailor your proposals and your service to what they care about.

While different types of buyers have similar preferences, understand that you are always serving a customer of one. When you speak their language and deliver what they want in their preferred manner, you have created a satisfied customer, an advocate, and very likely a repeat customer.

Click here or call us today at 800-888-1081 for more information.

In the bath and kitchen reﬁnishing market, there are several diﬀerent types of buyers. Each type of buyer has their own priorities and unique buying process. Personas are very helpful in developing a profile for the customer, knowing what services they want, and how they buy. We’ve identified several personas for the refinishing business. Use them as a guide as you are prospecting and engaging with customers.

Since its introduction in 1883, the enameled bathtub has been a fixture in American homes. While not as popular as it once was, the enameled bathtub is still commonly found in homes today. However, enameled bathtubs experience wear and surface damage over time that affect their appearance. The difficulty and cost of removing the tub for repair or replacement can be daunting. It is necessary to remember that bathtub aesthetics are just as important as utility and function within the space. This is where bathtub refinishing can make a difference.

Bathtub refinishing services not only improve the aesthetics of your bathtub, but also increase the value of your home. Kitchens and bathrooms are major selling points of a home, and the condition of each space contributes greatly to the home’s value. Refinishing your bathtub improves the appearance and feel of your bathroom which increases the resale value of your home and makes it more attractive to potential buyers.

How to Increase Home Value with a Bathtub

It is no secret that the bathrooms within a home play a major role in the home’s value. If you want to get the most value from your bathroom, these tips will help you maximize the value you get just from your bathtub.

Make the Bathtub the Focal Point

The bathtub shouldn’t just be a feature in your bathroom, it should be the feature. Designing your bathroom to make the bathtub the main feature makes it more inviting and adds a sense of luxury to the space. The fixtures you choose for your tub should also contribute to the aesthetic of the tub.

bathtub

If you are planning a bathroom remodel, work with the interior designers to create a layout in which the bathtub anchors the space.

Choose Neutral Bathtub Colors

There have been several bathtub color trends that have come and gone, including avocado green and pail pink as well as red, aqua blue, harvest gold, and black. Bathtubs in these colors appear outdated, which can have an impact on the value of your home.

The one bathtub color that has not gone out of style is white. White is a timeless color for bathroom fixtures which is why it is chosen over every other color. It is best to choose white as the color for your bathtub as this color will always be in style while other bathtub color trends come and go.

Refinish the Bathtub

A worn-out bathtub diminishes the appearance of your bathroom, as well as the value of your home. To get the most value from your bathroom, your bathtub should be free of noticeable wear, stains, and surface damage.

If your bathtub has become damaged or worn out, you do not have to replace it. Full bathtub replacement is an invasive and expensive process. Bathtub refinishing can make your worn-out bathtub look like new and bring a much better return on investment in terms of the increase in your home’s value compared to the cost. This can also be done in a fraction of the time it takes to replace a bathtub. After your bathtub is refinished, no one will be able to tell the difference between it and a new tub, they will only see a well maintained and inviting bathroom.

NAPCO Bathroom refinishing Before And After

Why Refinish an Older Bathtub?

While a newer fiberglass or plastic tub might prove less expensive in initial costs compared to replacing it with an enameled tub, repairing or refinishing the tub is a comparable alternative. Considering that thermal performance of both plastic and fiberglass tubs are less than that of enameled tubs, the choice can also be a comfort issue.

Instead of replacing your worn-out enameled tub with a cheaper alternative, you can revitalize its appearance and bring more value to your home by having it refinished. The following are the main reasons to have your bathtub reglazed to increase the value of your home:

Restores Bathtub to Like-New Condition

If your bathtub is stained, rusted, worn out, or chipped and cracked, it can make your entire bathroom look worn out and old. Bathtub reglazing and refinishing revitalizes your bathtub to make it look like new again. Professionals who provide this service will repair surface damage to the tub and apply a new coat of paint to restore its original color and appearance. This process not only improves the look of the bathtub, but also the entire bathroom.

This is a minimally invasive process that can typically be done in one day for a fraction of the cost of bathtub replacement.

Inexpensive Project

bath shower refinishing - after

Bathtub reglazing and refinishing is a relatively inexpensive home improvement project, especially compared to the cost of bathtub replacement. However, it is important to consider that the cost of these services may reflect the quality. Do not fall for lower price points and instead find a professional that can deliver high-quality bathtub reglazing for the price.

Attract Potential Buyers

If you are planning on selling your home, refinishing your bathtub should be on your to-do list. These services will leave your bathtub looking brand new, which will make the tub and your bathroom look more comfortable and appeal to potential buyers. This also helps drive up the value of your home.

How to Refinish a Bathtub

Refinishing a bathtub is a project that can be done as a DIY project with the right equipment. If you feel comfortable trying this project yourself, follow these basic steps:

Buy a DIY bathtub refinishing kit: Make sure you buy a bathtub refinishing kit that includes refinishing products. You will need to buy tools and equipment such as rollers, sandpaper, gloves, and goggles separately.
Remove hardware and old caulk: First, shut off the water supply to the tub and then remove all fixtures and hardware. Once the hardware is removed, use an abrasive scrubbing pad to help you remove all existing caulk.
Deep clean the tub: Use an abrasive cleaner or bleach to thoroughly deep clean the bathtub before starting the refinishing process. After cleaning, rinse the bathtub and dry with a towel.
Prep the area: Prepare the area for the refinishing process by taping off the surrounding areas and putting down drop cloths to prevent drips on the floor. You should also put on protective gear such as pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, a mask, rubber gloves, and safety goggles. Open windows and use the bathroom exhaust fans and additional fans to help get the fumes out of the bathroom.
Rough up the tub: The next step is to rough up the surface of the tub either using etching powder or 400-grit sandpaper. Then rinse the tub and dry with towels.
Prime the tub: Use the primer in the DIY kit to prime the tub. If your kit came with a self-priming refinisher, you can skip this step.
Apply reglazer: Your DIY kit should include an epoxy resin and a hardener that need to be mixed. Mix these products according to the instructions and take note of the “working time” which is how much time you have to apply the mixture before it hardens. Apply the first coating over the entire tub and follow instructions for the second coat. Leave the tub to dry and cure as directed.
Caulk and reinstall fixtures: Once the tub is cured, apply new caulk to seal the tub joints where it meets the wall, floor, or tile, and reinstall the fixtures.

How Much Does It Cost to Reglaze a Tub?

Having a professional reglaze your bathtub can cost between $500 and $900 on average. If you do it yourself, it will cost you the price of materials and your time. DIY bathtub refinishing kits are available for between $50 and $200 and you may have to purchase additional materials such as rollers, protective gear, and sandpaper.

How Long Does Bathtub Reglazing Last?

Quality bathtub reglazing done by a professional can last between 10 and 15 years. DIY bathtub reglazing does not last as long, typically between 3 and 4 years.

Is Bathtub Refinishing Worth It?

Bathtub refinishing is worth the price for bathtubs that are in good structural condition but are affected by stains, surface damage like scratches, or discoloration. The average cost to refinish a bathtub is between $500 and $900 while the average cost of bathtub replacement falls between $1900 and $9000 depending on the type of bathtub and materials used. Bathtub refinishing also increases home value for a better return on investment than bathtub replacement.

DIY or Professional Bathtub Refinishing?

Like many home remodel projects, you have two basic options for refinishing a bathtub, either do it yourself or hire a professional. The most cost-effective method is to purchase a DIY bathtub refinishing kit and do it yourself, but these kits may fail to perform to a high standard. You also have to consider the extent of the repair and other aspects such as working conditions, time constraints, and the cost.

Kitchen and Bath Refinishing class

Hiring a professional for bathtub refinishing may have a higher initial cost than a DIY kit, but you can expect higher quality results that will last up to 10 years longer than DIY refinishing. It is also much less expensive than replacing the entire bathtub. Often it is more efficient to consult with a professional as they have the experience and knowledge necessary to get the job done right.

Click here to find a professional refinisher near you.

Refinish Your Bathtub to Increase Home Value

Bathtubs function as a visual centerpiece to any bathroom and their aesthetics are important for the look and feel of the space. Having an inviting and excellent looking enameled bathtub promotes a positive atmosphere in an otherwise mundane, functional room. By refinishing your enameled bathtub, you not only improve the visual appeal of the bath space, but also the overall value of your home.

See what it takes to professionally refinish a bathtub.

Bathtub refinishing services not only improve the aesthetics of your bathtub, but also increase the value of your home. Refinishing your bathtub improves the appearance and feel of your bathroom which increases the resale value of your home and makes it more attractive to potential buyers.

Your most important business decision

But you can improve your chances of finding the perfect hire by writing a great job description and asking the right interview questions. In this article, we will review the important steps and considerations in hiring. We’ll focus on hiring refinisher techs.

Investing in Your Refinishing Team

Every new employee you hire is an investment. You will need to invest time, money, and energy in them before they become a profitable member of your team. This investment involves onboarding and training. Onboarding is all the steps you take to get them officially hired, introduced to your team, and familiar with how your business works. Training includes all the skills and knowledge they will need to be productive, effective, and safe when finishing tubs, counters, and floors.

We are introducing this topic of training now because how you hire and who you hire will affect your onboarding and training investment. If you are lucky enough to hire a tech who already has successful experience refinishing tubs counters and floors, you are blessed. This means that your investment, onboarding, and training will take less time – and money. It also gives you increased confidence that they will be successful in the role.

Best Practices in Hiring Staff in the Refinishing Industry

A Starting Point When Hiring

This article is an overview of key considerations for hiring staff for your refinishing business. While there is more to discuss about interviewing, reference checks, compensation, and other topics, this article is an overview of the main factors to remember as you search for new employees. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for advice from other refinishing business owners in your peer group – they can be a great asset to you.

The key steps in the process we’ll discuss are:

• Planning and Organizing
• Marketing the Position
• Screening Candidates
• Screening Criteria and Interviewing
• Making the Selection Decision

Planning & Organizing for Hiring New Staff

Job Description

Typically, the process of hiring a new refinisher begins with a good job description. An effective job description talks about skills and capabilities. Break down each part of the refinishing project from start to finish, from meeting the homeowner to final cleanup and project closeout. Each one of these key steps requires different personal skills, product knowledge, and technical skills. When you’re screening and interviewing, you will want to identify how many of these abilities each candidate has. No candidate will be perfect but the more of these elements they can demonstrate the less you need to train, coach, and teach them later.

The Job Ad

• The purpose of the job ad is to attract qualified candidates and discourage unqualified candidates. Your ad should talk about:
• The freedom to work outside of an office or warehouse
• The chance to work with their hands
• The satisfaction in doing beautiful, high-quality work that homeowners love
• The opportunity to learn a highly valued technical skill

The ad may also talk about the sharing in profitability if that is part of your business structure.

The other part of the job posting lists the physical nature of the job, irregular hours, and the demands for high-quality work. The ad may also ad may say “If you do not have experience/skills in X, Y, or Z you are not a good candidate and should not apply.”

Marketing the Position

To market the position, you must write a job ad or post. This is a document or description that you will make visible in many places, including job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, or local job boards, emailing friends, family, and colleagues, sharing with networking groups, and other places. You should be thoughtful and have a plan to spread the word about your job opening.

Don’t keep the fact that you are looking for good employees a secret. When you have a clear job ad, send it out to your network and put it on appropriate job boards and websites. Promote it on your website. Get the news out there. Believe it or not, someone is looking for this great opportunity right now. Help them find it.

You may find some great candidates among family friends, co-workers, and past employers. Often the best candidates will come from your warm network of family, friends, co-workers, and former employers. Make sure they know about your need for a new team member.

Screening Candidates

A great hire is a wonderful addition to your team and a building block for your future. But a poor hire is a drain on your time and money. Once you have a good ad and have successfully marketed the position then you should expect to get some applicants.

Some applicants may call you. Some may send an email. Be aware that some folks who are conscientious hard workers, good with their hands, and good candidates may not use email. Stay open-minded.

Some of the screenings will take place over the phone and always, most importantly face to face. You will make these screening decisions based on what they say, what you see, how they show up, and follow-up. Sometimes their words and actions will give you obvious signs they will not be a fit. Other times after a good conversation you will just need to trust your gut.

Candidates to Disqualify

Here are the people you need to eliminate:

1. Eliminate people who lack the skills, experience, or background for the position.

2. Eliminate people who aren’t honest about their experience or skills. (It happens.)

3. Eliminate those who are unreliable, undependable, have a poor work ethic, or can’t keep promises. These may be the most important criteria as they can cost you the most time and money.

Don’t Rush, Be Selective

It is important to get a good number of candidates for each position. If you have only a few candidates, you might mistake a weak or mediocre candidate for a good one. If you are so fortunate that a respected colleague knows what you need and refers a quality candidate to you with a good recommendation, then you may not need so many applicants.

Good Candidates are Screening You

Remember: Good people don’t quit bad jobs, they quit bad bosses. When attracting good employees, YOU are a critical ingredient in attracting them. When a good candidate gets the sense that you are dependable, reliable, and have high integrity they will want to work for you. All the small things you do during the interviewing process show the candidate what kind of boss you will be.

Hire, train, retain

Screening Criteria & Interviewing

There are no perfect candidates. Some will need more training and management than others. Do not consider every requirement below as mandatory; decide in advance which ones are non-negotiable deal-breakers. The most important criteria will be reliability, dependability, and integrity. If you find a person with a high character and a strong work ethic who wants the job, that is 80% of the battle. However, these qualities should also be assessed when considering adding someone to your team:

Job History

If a candidate has a history of a new job every year, perhaps even changing to different fields without any growth, it’s a good sign they will repeat that pattern with you. That job history deserves a thoughtful conversation with the candidate. It is a “potential” indicator of weakness in dependability, reliability, or character.

Physical Work

Refinishing work is very physical. It involves loading and unloading equipment and supplies, often carrying them upstairs. Refinishing a bathroom requires moving around tight quarters to prep and mask the surfaces. Many people are not used to that type of activity, so it is fair to ask about their willingness and ability to do this physical work.

Quality

In refinishing, quality IS the product. Homeowners and building managers have high expectations and may inspect the refinishing with a careful eye. So, your hire should have excellent attention to detail. This will be evident if they show up on time, prepared and appropriately dressed for their interview. Someone who arrives late, unprepared for the interview, and sloppily dressed will show up that way for your customer.

Working with Their Hands

As a refinisher, you understand the importance of your crew members being able to work with their hands. Some candidates have worked in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, or manufacturing and some may simply have hobbies where they use their hands a lot. Ask about their experiences working with their hands. Instead of simply asking what they did, ask for details, what specific skills they used, and areas where they excelled. Qualified candidates will often share more detail and depth on those topics.

Home Services

You should assess candidates’ experience surrounding going into someone's home to do a home improvement project. They need to understand the protocols and professional manners needed when working in someone's house. Small things like properly greeting the homeowner, taking off their shoes, and asking permission to see the tub are important. These skills also include things like explaining project details to the homeowner — what to expect, how long it will take, and what support the homeowner may need to provide for the technician.

Some candidates have done this kind of work before, so may be well-versed in proper protocol and have well-developed people skills.

They Want the Job

When you have spoken to a candidate for a bit and have learned about them, ask the question, “Why would you want a job like this?” You should sense an authentic interest in doing this kind of work and working with you in their response. Enthusiasm is a very positive sign.

Making the Hiring Decision

No algorithm guarantees a great employee every time you hire. Your best shot at getting this right is to have a good job description, and a thorough checklist of desired skills, experiences, and character attributes. Ask lots of good questions so both the good and poor candidates reveal themselves during the interview.

After you have done your due diligence, it’s still smart to trust your gut. It’s usually right.

Your refinishing business is growing, and you need more help – but hiring can be tough. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a foolproof formula to ensure every new hire would be a perfect fit? Unfortunately, there isn’t. But you can improve your chances of finding the perfect hire by writing a great job description and asking the right interview questions. In this article, we will review the important steps and considerations in hiring. We’ll focus on hiring refinisher techs.

Do you want to run your own business and work for yourself? Providing kitchen and bath refinishing services is a great way to launch your own business and earn as much as six figures per year. All it takes is a little bit of training and the right equipment to launch your own kitchen and bath refinishing business and take control of your career and your life.

NAPCO can help those looking to start a new career with our kitchen and bath refinishing training classes. We just announced the 2024 dates with a three-day training course available each month from February through December. We offer training classes for those who are new to the kitchen and bath refinishing industry as well as for experienced professionals who want to hone their skills and expand their business.

Those who sign up for our three-day training classes will get hands-on training to learn the skills needed to provide quality kitchen and bath refinishing services from industry experts. This includes understanding how to use NAPCO refinishing products and equipment to refinish bathtubs, tiles, sinks, countertops, and cabinets. You will get the training, equipment, and products you need from our classes to get started with your own business.

What to Expect from Our Kitchen and Bathroom Refinishing Classes

Our kitchen and bath refinishing classes are three-day training sessions held at 7315 Hamlin Ave in Skokie, IL. Each training session is Wednesday through Friday and lunches are included. These classes have limited seats available so make sure to register for our refinishing training classes as soon as possible.

Single participants can attend, and a second trainee can join at a discount. We also offer group training packages for businesses that want to bring their entire staff. A translator can be arranged if needed.

You can expect the following from our kitchen and bathroom refinishing classes:

Hands-On Skills Training and Practice:

• Learn about job preparation and on-the-job safety
• Learn about the products and equipment, including usage, cleaning, and care
• Three days of hands-on training and practice, including one-on-one spray time with the instructor
• Learn professional spraying techniques for refinishing tubs, tile, sinks, countertops, and cabinets

Entrepreneurs are making $100 or more per hour

Industry Leading Equipment and Refinishing Products:

Top-of-the-line equipment and products included in the cost of the class
Training package includes 40 essential items that can help you get started after the training

Dates for Professional Kitchen and Bath Refinishing Training Classes in 2024:

February 21-23, 2024
March 20-22, 2024
April 24-26, 2024
May 15-17, 2024
June 19-21, 2024
July 17-19, 2024
August 21-23, 2024
September 18-20, 2024
October 16-18, 2024
November 6-8, 2024
December 4-6, 2024

NAPCO offers comprehensive training programs designed to help kitchen and bath refinishing businesses thrive and reach new heights. Whether you're looking to create, enhance, or expand your business, our training covers everything you need.

To reserve your spot at one of these training classes, register online or call NAPCO at (800) 888-1081.

NAPCO, Ltd. (North American Polymer Company), a bathtub and kitchen refinishing training company and producer of refinishing products, has announced the 2024 schedule for their 3-day Kitchen and Bath Refinishing Training Class.

The busiest season for general contractors, including remodeling contractors, is between spring and fall when the weather is nicer, the days are longer, and homeowners are more motivated to tackle remodeling or renovation projects they have been holding off. During the busy season, contractors are preoccupied with managing and executing projects as everyone from the project managers and work crews to the office employees are focused almost entirely on the projects at hand.

The busy season for contractors usually ends in November as the holiday season and winter weather approach. Project work essentially comes to a halt, giving contractors a lot of time to focus on other aspects of their business. However, if you do not have a plan in place to maintain focus and stay productive, it will be a long, slow winter.

At NAPCO, we understand all too well how the slow season can drag on if you do not have a plan in place to stay focused and productive. In this guide, we discuss the various aspects of your business that you can focus on to not only stay productive, but also improve your business and get ready for the next busy season.

Great Time for Training

The winter season is the ideal time for contractors to review their processes and the duties of their work crews and ensure that employees catch up on training. Employees can complete yearly training to stay up to date on any changes when it comes to material requirements and procedures, and you can also train them to use new products, equipment, or procedures.

NAPCO trainee practices using Sonic Strip during training class

During the slow season, invest in the development of your employees with training sessions and workshops. Double check the guidelines of your industry and ensure that all of your employees are up to date on the latest developments. If you want to implement new methods into your procedures, training your employees in these new procedures will help get them ready for the next busy season. You can find relevant training and courses for your employees by contacting your state Association of General Contractors (AGC). Other contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers like NAPCO also offer training for additional skills such as tile and bathtub refinishing.

Training employees during the slow season will not only prepare them for the next busy season, but also contribute to their professional development and morale, which will result in higher quality work.

Evaluate and Add New Business Offers

While there is a pause in new projects, take the time to evaluate the services you offer and consider adding new services. For example, a home remodeling contractor may add cabinet, countertop, and tile floor refinishing services to attract more business in addition to those who want a full kitchen or bathroom remodel.

Refinishing Profits Chart - bathroom and kitchen

Identifying and adding new business offers will expand the scope of your services which can lead to increased revenue. Determining which new business offers to add during the slow season gives you an opportunity to train employees on the new services.

Evaluate and Change Product Suppliers

All contractors rely on suppliers to get the tools, equipment, cleaning and refinishing products, and materials needed to complete their projects. During the offseason, evaluate the products and equipment your company is using and do some research into the products and equipment offered by other suppliers. You may find that a different supplier offers better quality products or find ways to save costs by switching to a supplier that charges less for products and equipment of the same quality.

NAPCO’s Trade-Up program

If you want to switch to new bathtub refinishing products, NAPCO offers inventory trade up in which we will buy your entire refinishing supply inventory one for one and replace it with NAPCO bathtub refinishing products.

Research Marketing Opportunities

During the busy season, contractors devote their time and resources to customer service and completing projects which leaves little time to focus on marketing. The early offseason is the best time to evaluate your current marketing strategies and research new opportunities to improve your marketing before requests for new projects start coming in during the winter and spring.

Taking the following actions can help contractors improve marketing strategies and generate more leads for the following busy season:

Evaluate your online presence: When homeowners or business owners need the services of a contractor, the first thing they do is search for the services they need online. Your business must have a good online presence to capitalize on relevant search traffic in your service areas. You should first update and optimize your Google Business Profile to ensure that your contact information is accurate. You should also ensure that there is consistent branding on your social media profiles and post to them regularly to engage your followers.

Evaluate your online presence

Evaluate website: Your website is often your introduction to potential clients. Evaluate your website to make sure it is user-friendly with fast loading times, easy to use navigation, and clear calls to action (CTAs) including contact information and forms. You can work with a web design professional if your website needs an overhaul.
SEO marketing: It is not enough to have a good website; your website must be easily found through relevant searches. Search engine optimization (SEO) marketing is a strategy in which your website is optimized to be visible in relevant local searches by adding valuable content and keywords to the website pages and blogs. Bringing in more relevant search traffic will generate more quality leads which can increase conversion rates.
Research industry trends and experts: Your marketing message should incorporate the latest trends in your industry to help establish your business as a trusted authority. Make sure you research and stay up to date on the latest trends and look into the marketing strategies and messaging of other leading authorities in your industry.
Evaluate sales techniques: Getting good leads is only half the battle, your sales team must follow up with each lead and close the sale. The offseason is a great time to evaluate your sales techniques over the past year and identify what has been successful and what is not working as well. Less successful strategies can be eliminated while you expand on the sales techniques that have been working. You can also have your sales team complete training to learn new sales techniques.
Email marketing: Email marketing is a highly effective strategy for contractors to connect to current and potential clients. Contractors should send one high-quality newsletter each month that reinforces your offerings and core principles to your target audience. There are many email marketing tools available that include templates and scheduling capabilities to make putting together and sending a newsletter quick and efficient. If possible, plan to send monthly newsletters year-round, not just during the slow season.

Build and Strengthen Professional Relationships

business communication

It is highly beneficial for contractors of all types to build professional relationships with past customers, insurance companies, and other contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Continuing relationships with past customers can turn them into repeat customers and make them more likely to refer your business to others. You can keep in touch with past customers through email newsletters and even conduct quick phone surveys to follow up on the work you finished for them and tell them about new services or offers for repeat customers.

Building professional relationships with local insurance agents is also a good idea as they can be an excellent source of high-quality leads. It is common for insurance agencies to be involved with construction or restoration projects and developing professional relationships with them will help build trust and get more referrals. Include insurance agents on the mailing list for your email newsletter and evaluate your process to ensure that you provide clear communication and thorough documentation when working with insurance agents.

It also helps to build relationships with other contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Many contractors rely on subcontractors and suppliers to complete projects and having a strong professional relationship with them will help ensure that your projects are done as efficiently as possible. Having a strong relationship with other contractors can lead to referrals as they may recommend your business if a potential customer comes to them for services that you offer but they may not. You can also return the favor by sending other contractors referrals for services that you do not provide.

Kitchen and Bathroom Refinishing Products from NAPCO

Contractors do not have to dread the slowdown of the winter season. Instead, treat the offseason as an opportunity to focus on other aspects of your business such as training, marketing, improving methods and offerings, and strengthening professional relationships. Focusing on these activities will help you stay productive during the winter and put your business in the best position to grow and thrive in the next busy season.

One thing contractors should never have to worry about is the reliability of their suppliers and the quality of their products and equipment. At NAPCO, we supply high quality bathtub, cabinet, countertop, and tile flooring refinishing products and equipment for contractors who provide bathtub and kitchen refinishing services. Our refinishing and coating products are the best in the industry, and we also offer training classes on how to use our products and equipment effectively.

You can call NAPCO at (800) 888-1081 to learn more about our bathtub and kitchen refinishing products and equipment.

Tile flooring is the most common type of flooring used in bathrooms and kitchens because it is durable and moisture resistant. However, tile flooring can still become dirty, stained, or faded, requiring regular cleaning to keep them looking their best. The grout lines can also become susceptible to mold or mildew growth when wearing of the finish causes water and moisture to accumulate in the grout.

Even with regular cleaning, tile flooring may become faded or discolored over time, leading many homeowners to wonder if they should replace the tiles. Tile floor refinishing, also referred to as reglazing, is a more cost-effective method to restore the original appearance of the tile flooring with a new coating that will protect the floor and make it much easier to clean and maintain.

Tile floor refinishing costs homeowners a fraction of the cost to fully replace the floor. Bathtub refinishing contractors can add tile floor refinishing to the services they offer to attract a wider range of customers and increase their revenue from current clients that call for bathtub refinishing. In this guide, we discuss important tile floor refinishing tips as well as the most frequently asked questions about the process.

tile floor refinishing -Before-After

If you want to add tile floor refinishing to your bath refinishing services, talk to a NAPCO representative about our tile floor coating products.

How Do You Refresh Old Tile Floors?

The buildup of dirt, moisture, and mildew can make tile flooring in the bathroom look dull or dirty over time. When this happens, homeowners can take steps to refresh the original appearance of the tile flooring and save the cost and trouble of replacing the floor.

Here are three approaches homeowners can take to refresh old tile flooring:

Deep Cleaning

Homeowners should clean tile flooring regularly to remove surface dirt and grime, but a deeper cleaning may be required if the flooring becomes too worn out. Before cleaning the tile, first run hot water in the bathroom for a few minutes. The steam and heat from the water will open the pores of ceramic tiles which makes them easier to clean. Then apply the cleaning solution and scrub the surface of the tile gently with a brush to avoid damaging the tile. The grout lines must be scrubbed as well to remove mold and mildew.

Homeowners can use the following solutions to clean tile flooring:

Baking soda and vinegar: The combination of baking soda and vinegar is a highly effective natural cleaning solution for tile flooring. Either apply vinegar or sprinkle baking soda on the floor and scrub the solution using a non-abrasive sponge or brush. For deeper cleaning, combine the vinegar and baking soda to create a paste and use a non-abrasive sponge or brush to scrub the tile with the paste. Rinse the tile with fresh water after letting the solution sit.
Store-bought cleaners: Store bought solutions like lime scale removers can be used to remove tough dirt and stains. Make sure to follow the directions of the product and use non-abrasive materials to scrub the floor. Keep in mind that these harsh cleaners are more likely to cause damage to the tiles than natural solutions.

Painting the Tiles

Painting the tiles to refresh their color is another way to refresh tile flooring without replacing it. To do this, you will need to remove the grout and clean the tiles before applying primer and paint. Make sure to choose paints that are moisture and mold resistant.

Shine the Tiles

Sometimes simply shining the tiles can be enough to refresh their appearance. To do this, make a mixture of hot water with a few drops of mild soap. Use a mop to clean the tiles with this solution until all dirt and grime is removed. You can then shine the tiles by buffing them with a microfiber cloth or dust mop.

FAQ

Can a Tile Floor be Reglazed?

It is possible to reglaze tile flooring that consists of natural stone, porcelain, or ceramic tiles. When cleaning the tile flooring to maintain its appearance has become too much work or ineffective, homeowners may prefer to have their tile flooring reglazed to refresh its appearance and make it easier to clean. Effective tile floor reglazing can brighten and restore the current finish, reseal the grout, or update the color and texture.

How Can I Tell if a Tile Floor Needs Refinishing?

Your tile floor may need to be refinished if the tile has dulled or become dirty and cleaning the tile makes little difference. You may also want to change the color or texture of the tile for a new look or to upgrade the space. Damage to the tiles such as chips, cracks, scratches, and stains are also signs that the tile could benefit from refinishing.

Professional bath and tile refinishers can help homeowners determine if their tile needs to be refinished and discuss options for either refreshing the original appearance of the tile or creating a new color or texture.

How to Refinish the Tile Floor?

Refinishing the tile floor can be a DIY project for homeowners, but it is generally better to hire a professional bathtub and tile refinisher to handle the job. They have the tools, reglazing products, and experience to provide quality results and drastically improve the appearance of the tile.

Professional tile refinishers generally follow these steps for tile floor refinishing:

Clean and repair the tile: The first step in the process is to thoroughly clean the tile flooring to remove dirt, stains, grime, and soap scum. Professionals will use the best products for the specific type of tile. They will also repair chipped, broken, or loose tiles so that the surface is smooth.
Light sanding: After allowing the tile surfaces to dry, they should be lightly sanded using fine-grit sandpaper. This process ensures that the existing finish is completely removed and creates a rough texture on the tile surfaces that allows for better adhesion of the new coating.
Apply surface coating: Bath and tile refinishing contractors use professional grade coatings to refinish the tiles for long-lasting results. Coatings can be used to refresh the original appearance of the tiles or give them a new color. NAPCO spray-on tile floor coatings only take two hours to cure, and the flooring can be used again in 24 hours.
Apply sealant: The final step is to apply a sealant after the coating has completely dried to protect the tile. The sealant helps extend the life of the tile flooring by protecting against moisture, stains, and general wear and tear.

How Can I Change Floor Tile Color Without Replacing?

Homeowners that want to change the color of their tile flooring can do so by choosing a tile floor coating of their desired color. The glaze can be applied over the existing tile and grout lines to create a seamless new color and prevent mildew buildup on the grout.

You should put some thought into a new color so that you choose one that goes with the décor of your bathroom.

How Much Does It Cost to Reglaze Tile Floors?

The average cost of reglazing tile flooring with a contractor is between $4 and $10 per square foot. This makes the average overall cost of these projects just over $1000. It is possible to complete these projects with a DIY kit for between $100 and $150 but the quality of your work may not reach the quality of professional reglazing. You may also have to invest several hundred dollars before reglazing yourself to repair any damage to the tile and grout.

Is Tile Refinishing Worth It?

Tile refinishing is worth it because it results in a durable finish that refreshes and protects the flooring for less than the cost of replacing the tiles. Replacing tile flooring can cost between $1500 and $4500 on average depending on the type of tile while tile floor refinishing costs an average of around $1000. Having a professional reglaze your tile flooring is also an easier alternative to painting the tiles which requires regrouting.

The impressive, long-lasting results at a fraction of the cost of replacing the tiles makes tile refinishing worth it.

Adding Tile Floor Refinishing Services Helps Bath Refinishing Contractors Expand Their Business

Contractors that provide bath refinishing services can easily expand their business and increase revenue by adding tile floor reglazing to their offered services. NAPCO offers tile floor semi-gloss spray-on coatings that allow bathtub refinishers to provide quality tile floor reglazing.

With these products, you can immediately start offering tile floor reglazing as an add on service for new customers that call you for bathtub refinishing. You can also reach out to previous customers who were satisfied with your services and offer professional tile floor refinishing. Bundling your bathtub and tile floor refinishing services for an attractive price can help you close your warm leads. With the ability to refinish the bathtub, vanity, tile flooring, and the tile surrounding bathtubs, sinks, and showers, you can offer your customers a mini bathroom remodel at a fraction of the cost of a full remodel.

Call NAPCO for Tile Floor Refinishing Products

NAPCO is a premier supplier of bathtub and tile refinishing products, including our effective semi-gloss spray-on tile floor coatings. If you are interested in expanding your service offerings and increasing revenue by adding tile floor refinishing services, call NAPCO at (800) 888-1081 for more information about our products.

Outdated, unappealing, or damaged countertops in kitchens or bathrooms can diminish the look of an entire house. The good news is that refinishing these countertops can add value to the home, give the kitchen or bathroom a facelift, and save the homeowner both time and money.
If your clients want to upgrade their countertops, refinishing may be the best option.

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Outdated, unappealing, or damaged countertops in kitchens or bathrooms can diminish the look of an entire house. The good news is that refinishing these countertops can add value to the home, give the kitchen or bathroom a facelift, and save the homeowner both time and money. If your clients want to upgrade their countertops, refinishing […]

When kitchen cabinets are scratched, beat up, or need a refresh, it’s time for an upgrade.

There are many ways to change the appearance of cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom, including refacing or refinishing the cabinets or even replacing them entirely. Each of these three methods has pros and cons that any contractor or homeowner needs to consider before deciding which alternative is best for your specific project.