Equipment, Supplies, and Training for the Professional Refinisher
NAPCO Refinisher
NAPCO Refinishers Have You Covered
Spring is around the corner and many homeowners are thinking about spring cleaning and even home renovation projects. Families have many reasons to make improvements this time of year, so take this opportunity to remind your budget-conscious clients to consider refinishing instead of remodeling. Use your refinishing expertise, in addition to NAPCO products to help homeowners save, since an average room update can start at a wallet-crunching $5,000.
Rehabbers are looking to improve their homes for many reasons:
♦ Property values – are they looking to increase their home’s worth prior to selling? Refinishing the kitchen and bathroom especially before selling can help increase the value of their home.
♦ Lifestyle changes – do they need to create or update a “mother-in-law suite” with features like a walk-in shower where a senior parent can stay?
♦ Functionality – do they want to make their kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms work more efficiently?
♦ Aesthetics – or maybe they are just looking for a new color on their cabinet doors or an updated countertop that looks more modern?
Many homeowners also say that they’re looking for environmentally-friendly green features during these types of upgrades. By offering the option of refinishing rather than a gut or partial rehab, NAPCO’s eco-conscious products can help refinishers fulfill client goals on all fronts including staying on budget and on schedule while still providing stunning results.
Kitchen refinishing completed by Nathaniel Rasmussen of Resurface FL LLC
Owners want to feel comfortable, clean and welcoming in their homes, while also making responsible choices to reduce their carbon footprints. Homeowners want to feel stylish too! Help your clients cost-effectively update tubs and tiles, showers and vanities, countertops and cabinets with NAPCO’s refinishing projects. Save time and money, and keep materials out of landfills. Call 800-888-1081 or click here to spring into action!
Owners want to feel comfortable, clean and welcoming in their homes, while also making responsible choices to reduce their carbon footprints. Homeowners want to feel stylish too! Help your clients cost-effectively update tubs and tiles, showers and vanities, countertops and cabinets with NAPCO’s refinishing projects.
Effective November 2019, all methylene chloride products for consumer paint and coating removal were officially banned from the shelves. This is an initiative that NAPCO supports as the safety of refinishers and homeowners continue to remain one of our top priorities. NAPCO offers a range of eco-friendly, methylene chloride free products, including the On The Spot Gun Cleaner, a multi-purpose surface and gun cleaner, offering refinishers a safer alternative.
NAPCO’s On The Spot Gun Cleaner not only works on spray guns, it also cleans overspray from almost any surface as well as any silicone contamination on hard surfaces like marble, tile, porcelain and glass. The cleaner works almost immediately due to the formulation of effective, powerful solvents without the use of toxic methylene chloride.
After a job is complete, use the On The Spot Cleaner right away to extend the life of your gun. You can even soak your gun in the solution if necessary since it’s not harsh, a benefit to many refinishers. After getting a gallon of On The Stop Gun Cleaner, it’s easy to de-gunk your gun with these suggested cleaning tips:
1. Make sure to use at least a cartridge respirator with organic vapor cartridges installed.
2. As soon as you finish your job, pour out any unused resin from the cup.
3. Pour 4 to 6 ounces of NAPCO’s On The Spot Gun Cleaner into the cup.
4. Shake well to distribute cleaner inside cup.
5. Spray cleaner through gun on all settings until cup is empty.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 as necessary until liquid runs clear.
7. Wipe out cup with lint-free rag or towel and let air dry.
Use On the Spot Gun Cleaner, a simple process for effective and safe results. Visit our website at On The Spot Gun Cleaner to get your gallon and keep your business clean!
Effective November 2019, all methylene chloride products for consumer paint and coating removal were officially banned from the shelves. This is an initiative that NAPCO supports as the safety of refinishers and homeowners continue to remain one of our top priorities. NAPCO offers a range of eco-friendly, methylene chloride free products, including the On The Spot Gun Cleaner, a multi-purpose surface and gun cleaner, offering refinishers a safer alternative.
Now that 2020 is here, we’re looking at the trend predications that will define this year. NAPCO will help you stay on the cutting edge of design trends into 2020 with our refinishing capabilities in your kitchens and bathrooms.
Kitchen Cabinets
So, what’s hot for 2020? Softly colored kitchen cabinets. Think hues of blue and gray, to subtly compliment your furnishings and appliances. Neutrals also help your resale value if you’re moving this year. Warm colors like coral, ochre and clay are also on the rise in remodeling. White still remains a popular cabinet color, chosen by over 40% of homeowners who are renovating, which makes kitchens pop and everything look fresh and clean. White is also a great choice to highlight vintage or vibrant knob hardware. What a little more pop of color? Pantone announced that the 2020 Color of the Year is “Classic Blue,” saying “it’s a color that anticipates what’s going to happen next,” and NAPCO can certainly help you be on trend there as well. Don’t forget that NAPCO can color match hundreds of desired colors for all of our coatings and primers depending on your needs.
Bathroom Renovations
You can also get 2020 vision in bathrooms. Designers are suggesting highlighting the tub apron with a continuing or contrasting color. Double floating vanities are also popular with renovators, and NAPCO can help you with fun and functional color choices if you decide to double up. Don’t forget to jazz up your powder rooms too since they often get the most guest traffic. With NAPCO’s faux-granite Flint-Stone™ coatings, you are able to model the look of natural stone surfaces in the bathroom at half the cost.
Let NAPCO help you ring in the new year and spruce up your space! Call 800-888-1081 to learn how to keep your renovation resolutions.
Now that 2020 is here, we’re looking at the trend predications that will define this year. NAPCO will help you stay on the cutting edge of design trends into 2020 with our refinishing capabilities in your kitchens and bathrooms.
NAPCO Sonic Strip paint stripper
More than anything, NAPCO cares about the safety of refinishers. It's also no secret that today's consumers are looking for more eco-friendly and safer options for their homes. Effective immediately, the EPA has determined that the use of methylene chloride in consumer products presents an unreasonable risk of injury, and therefore is prohibiting the manufacture, processing and distribution of those products containing methylene chloride. We are happy that these dangerous products have been banned and officially removed from retail shelves.
NAPCO's Sonic Strip solvent-based paint stripper has always been methylene chloride free and federally VOC compliant while proving to be just as effective as traditional paint strippers. And we can prove it! Check out this video to see it live in action during one of our recent training classes.
NAPCO trainee practices using Sonic Strip during training class
Besides being specially formulated to be safer and better for the environment, Sonic Strip clings to vertical surfaces so it can be brushed on and will stay where applied, like traditional solvent strippers. It's specifically designed to remove polyurethane and epoxy coatings and also removes enamels, acrylics, lacquers and most other coatings, all of which usually soften 15-30 minutes after application. Sonic Strip can be used on ceramic, porcelain, fiberglass, metal and wood.
Additionally, Sonic Strip features a built-in humectant to prevent premature drying, and a tolerable odor (note that a respirator mask is still recommended). Sonic Strip will then lift the film from the substrate while keeping the coating more intact. With Sonic Strip, paint comes off in sheets and large sections as opposed to the gooey mess that you get with traditional paint strippers.
We're grateful that a dangerous product has been removed from the public, and we're glad NAPCO can offer Sonic Strip to save refinisher's time and money, as well as provide a safer experience for you, your customers and the environment. '
Call NAPCO today at 800-888-1081 to request your free sample so you can try for yourself.
NAPCO’s Sonic Strip solvent-based paint stripper has always been methylene chloride free and federally VOC compliant while proving to be just as effective as traditional paint strippers. We are glad NAPCO can offer Sonic Strip paint stripper to save refinisher’s time and money, as well as provide a safer experience for you, your customers and the environment.
You’ve got your tree, your lights, your door front wreath installed.
Reindeer on the roof? Check. Trans-Siberian Orchestra lights display? Of course.
Bathroom? Well…
When friends and family come home for the holidays, they will be warmly welcomed with fellowship, fun and food. And inevitably, there will be a lot of bathroom traffic.
Are you ready? Don’t worry, you can be!
Make sure your privys are as pretty as the rest of your house with NAPCO bathroom and bathtub refinishing expertise. While you’re wrapping gifts and roasting chestnuts, a certified NAPCO refinisher can jazz up your bathtubs and sinks, tiles and countertops with eco-friendly bathroom coatings.
Refinishing showers or tubs, vanities, and tile is quicker and more cost effective than complete replacement.
- ♦ In just a day or two, we can change colors and textures on your bathtub and in your bathroom.
- ♦ We can keep materials out of landfills by extending the life of your current bathroom design.
- ♦ NAPCO products make your aging surfaces look new, including:
- updating dull bathroom finishes
- fixing broken tiles
- refreshing dirty bathtub grout
In addition to setting out cranberry potpourri and Rudolph hand towels, your bathroom can be ready to receive guests from floor to ceiling, bathtub to sink. Let NAPCO know how we can help you and your guests feel more at home this holiday with speedy custom bathroom refinishing. Call 800-888-1081 to speak to our experts or visit the website to find a refinisher in your area before the doorbell rings!
Are you ready? Don’t worry, you can be! When friends and family come home for the holidays, make sure your privys are as pretty as the rest of your house with NAPCO bathroom and bathtub refinishing expertise.
As a refinisher, we know that you want to have the best possible products to ensure the job gets done correctly. Knowing which product you need will help save you time and money while on the job. Since we released Piranha Prep last year, there have been some questions as to when to use Piranha Prep versus our long-standing PolyClean Tub & Tile Cleaner. After all, they’re both cleaners, right? Indeed they are, but there are considerable differences between the two. See below for our recommendations for when to use each.
Piranha Prep
- ⋅ Piranha Prep is an etch and cleaner combo formulated to complete the entire cleaning and etching process in just 10-15 minutes.
- ⋅ It is hydrofluoric acid-free (excluding harmful chemicals that are common in most other etch and clean products) and is formulated to be environmentally-friendly and safer to use.
- ⋅ Perfect for use on tile, ceramic, glass, metal or porcelain surfaces.
- ⋅ Specifically formulated to clean tough stains such as rust, soap scum and hard water stains on glossy surfaces.
- ⋅ Use Piranha Prep to clean AND etch any surface before refinishing.
PolyClean Tub & Tile Cleaner
- ⋅ PolyClean is a phosphoric acid-based detergent cleaning product.
- ⋅ It emulsifies dirt to remove mold, mineral deposits and the most stubborn soap scum.
- ⋅ Use PolyClean only if you’re cleaning a surface, but keep in mind that etching is still required if refinishing.
At NAPCO, we make products formulated with the refinishers in mind and are always looking for new ways to make your jobs safer, easier and more cost-efficient. Depending on your needs, we have the solution no matter what step of the refinishing process you are at. NAPCO is here as a resource for you both on and off the job, so feel free to give us a call at 1-800-888-1081 if you have questions about Piranha Prep, PolyClean, or any of our other products.
Knowing which product you need will help save you time and money while on the job. Since we released Piranha Prep last year, there have been some questions as to when to use Piranha Prep versus our long-standing PolyClean Tub & Tile Cleaner. See our recommendations for when to use each.
It’s no secret that quality refinishing tools can be an investment. But the good news is that with proper care, your refinishing tools are sure to recoup the cost and bring in value to your refinishing business. When you take good care of your equipment, you can add two to three more years onto the life of your tools, maximizing the overall life of your refinishing equipment.
One of the most important pieces of equipment you own as a refinisher is your spray gun, and cleaning it is one of the most important preventative measures you can take. If you don’t properly clean your gun, your gun won’t spray evenly, resulting in uneven finishes and lower quality work. As a professional refinisher, it is critical to keep your refinishing spray guns in good working order. Follow these three tips below to keep your spray gun working properly.
Cleaning Care
The #1 thing you can do to maximize the life of your is to clean it as much as possible. Make it a habit to clean your gun as soon as you’re done with your job so that you don’t have to worry about it later on. Simply pour out any unused material from the gun then pour a small amount of On the Spot Gun Spray Cleaner into a quart cup, or roughly 4-6 ounces. Shake and spray the gun with the cleaner on all settings until emptied. Repeat these steps until the solvent looks clear, then wipe out the cup and the outside of the gun with On the Spot Gun Cleaner, including the air cap, nozzle, and the swivel tube. Clean and dry the check valve after each use.
Maintenance
Inspect the check valve, valve seal, air tubes, and the cup gasket weekly to ensure they’re still in good condition. We also recommend keeping spares of these parts on hand so if any are worn or clogged to the point of being unusable, you can simply replace at your weekly checkup and immediately order a backup replacement.
Proper Parts and Upkeep
There’s no need to remove the packing when changing out a needle – the only time you might need to remove the packing is when you have a leak in your gun and adjusting the packing nut doesn’t stop the leak. If this happens, you’ll need to remove the old packing and replace it with new packing.*If you’re using a PPS, be sure to have extra lids and liners on hand in case you run low! However, there’s no need to have extra air tubes, check valves, or cup gaskets on hand as they’re no longer needed.
Cleaning and preventative maintenance can make a huge difference in maximizing the life of your refinishing spray gun, especially in conjunction with NAPCO’s On the Spot Gun Spray Cleaner. Our methylene chloride- free gun cleaner is specifically formulated to immediately remove any residual paint from your gun, in addition to removing any overspray. Don’t get caught at the job with a non-functioning spray system or gun. NAPCO also offers the best bathroom and kitchen refinishing equipment to keep your business running smoothly. We offer HVLP spray systems, spray guns, fume exhausters, heat funs and repair kits, in addition to your coatings and cleaners. Stock up on the spare parts and refinishing equipment you need to keep you up and running!
It’s no secret that quality refinishing tools can be an investment. But the good news is that with proper care, your refinishing tools are sure to recoup the cost and bring in value to your refinishing business.
There’s good news and there’s bad news.
The bad news is that according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, remodeling spending is expected to slow down considerably by the end of 2019.
Specifically, they project that renovation and repair spending in the U.S. will shrink from 7.5 percent in 2018 to 5.1 percent in 2019. This is due to a variety of factors, including flat home sales activity, rising mortgage interest rates and slowing house price appreciation rates, which cause owners’ interest in making major investments in home improvements to decrease.
The good news is that home improvement and repair spending is still set to reach more than $350 billion this year, and the even better news is that as a refinishing business, there are things you can do to remain profitable and busy even during a remodeling slowdown.
How To Keep Your Refinishing Business Busy
Below are three proven strategies you can use to keep your refinishing business going strong.
1. Diversify your services. If you want to appeal to more customers, you’re going to have to make them an offer they can’t refuse, and that starts with offering them a variety of services. If you currently only refinish bathtubs and bathrooms, consider adding kitchen refinishing to your business to boost income. After all, one bathtub refinishing customer will be set for the next decade or so!
Keep in mind that customer will remember your good work and will likely hire you again when they learn that you offer new services like countertop or kitchen refinishing. This strategy allows you to appeal to past customers, and also add new customers looking for reliable refinishing.
2. Re-engage past customers and prospects. If someone has already used your services, they’re more likely to hire you again when their next refinishing need arises. Call on former customers to let them know that you have added new refinishing services to your business and how you can help meet their needs.
Don’t forget about contacts that entered your sales process at some point in time but didn’t hire your company for the job, for whatever reason. Now is the time to routinely follow up with them, even if you didn’t get the sale. Maybe they didn’t move forward for their own reasons, but now they’re looking to hire for that job again. Maybe they went with someone else initially but ended up unsatisfied with the results.
The goal is to engage with customers who were previously in the sales pipeline — either as a paying job or a prospect — and show them the value and expanded services you bring to the table.
3. Optimize your marketing efforts. Now is the time to step up your marketing efforts, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Start by making sure your website is clean and professional and showcases all the services you offer, as well as customer reviews and important contact information.
Next, add your business to Google My Business, Yelp for Business and Bing Places, which helps your business rank better in the local refinishers search results. And finally, don’t forget about the effectiveness of a local newspaper ad, direct mail and advertising wraps on your company vehicle. This is an easy and effective way to get your name out to prospective customers.
The Bottom Line
Just because a remodeling slowdown is predicted doesn’t mean you can’t still have a thriving refinishing business. Follow the tips above, provide exceptional service and you can remain busy — and profitable — throughout the year.
If you would like further advice on how to expand your refinishing business, get in touch with our customer service team at 800-888-1081. We’d be happy to talk to you about growth strategies and share our training manual with you!
As a refinishing business, there are things you can do to remain profitable and busy even during a remodeling slowdown. Here are three proven strategies you can use to keep your refinishing business going strong.
Working as a kitchen and bath refinisher can be a very fulfilling career choice. Not only do independent refinishers create their schedule and work opportunities, but they can also earn six figures per year. NAPCO, Ltd. is dedicated to helping independent refinishers succeed with training, products, and business counsel.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, current estimates indicate there are about 300,000 unfilled jobs in the construction industry, and the industry is expected to need 747,000 additional workers by 2026. In fact, a new survey of nearly 375 members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association found that almost two-thirds of the respondents said they had difficulties hiring skilled workers in the previous year, and about 70% felt the problem had increased since 2016.
While that news may be stressful to digest for home builders and remodeling companies, it signals an opportunity for men and women who are considering starting their own refinishing business or those who are even adding refinishing to their current remodeling business. Learning both kitchen and bathroom refinishing can be done in a three-day, hands-on training program offered by NAPCO. Trainees will learn the ins and outs of refinishing applications and techniques to provide their business with even more opportunities.
Once you have a comfort level with the manual skill set required to produce quality kitchen and bath refinishing jobs, you will also need to work on your business planning and financial skills. NAPCO has created a formula that refinishers can use as a model to help them reach their six-figure financial goals.
The sample breakdown below are prices based on national averages and represents work per week:
Refinish 3 tubs @ $450 each = $1,350
Refinish 1 tub surround @ $350 each
Refinish one small kitchen (countertop and cabinets) @ $2,000 each
Total per week: $3,700 per week
If you work 50 weeks, the total earning potential is $185,000.
Working as a kitchen and bath refinisher can be a very fulfilling career choice. You can earn six figures per year. NAPCO helps independent refinishers succeed with training, products, and business counsel.
With the recent expansion of the NAPCO Kitchen Renew product line of waterborne products, we have had some questions directed to us regarding the prep and application process of water-based products. How is this application process different from using solvent-based coatings? Do I have to learn a new technique to apply wet-on-wet? Are there additional steps that I have to account for? Waterborne coatings take a long time to dry, how will this save time?
The major difference in the application of a waterborne coating versus a solvent-based coating is the drying process. As water-based refinishing solutions continue to gain popularity, we have compiled our top tips to ensure you get the best results when working with NAPCO’s waterborne products.
Applying Waterborne Primer
The brand new Kitchen Renew Waterborne Primer is an eco-friendly, sprayable water-based primer that allows you to prep and prime kitchen cabinets and countertops– the first of its kind in the industry! Apply as a base color to provide adhesion and solid coverage, as well as hide dark stains and/or wood grain on cabinets prior to applying the topcoat to give a smooth, factory-like finish.
- When applying on a countertop as a primer, spray two light tack coats prior to applying the Flint-Stone™ coating, waiting approximately 5 minutes in between coats.
- For priming cabinets, spray two to three regular coats of Waterborne Primer before moving onto the topcoat application, waiting approximately 5-10 minutes between coats.
Applying Kitchen Renew waterborne coatings
Our Kitchen Renew waterborne coatings have all-in-one benefits that include no thinner, no catalyst and no mixing. Because of their time-saving properties, these coatings do leave less room for mistakes. By following the tips outlined below, your refinishing job is sure to go smoothly and quickly.
1. Cleaning and prepping prior to spraying our Kitchen Renew coatings is very similar to cleaning and prepping for bathtubs, showers, and/or tile. However, it is very important to remember that grease is the enemy in the kitchen! Use a strong degreaser like TSP or Dirtex to ensure that all grease is removed. Otherwise, you will have blistering or lack of adhesion in the areas where grease still exists.
2. Application of the Kitchen Renew waterborne coatings is slightly different than the solvent-borne coatings. We recommend that you slightly adjust your spray technique by standing further back from the surface and moving faster than normal due to the quicker dry time.
And remember to always keep your gun moving! Runs or sags are mostly caused by overapplication in one place – this is easily prevented by continuous movement.
3. After application is complete, anything left in the pot and in your gun can be strained and put back into its original container for later use, resulting in considerably less waste.
4. Clean up made easier! Usually, warm water flushed through the gun, inside the pot, and on the outside of the gun is enough to clean everything. If you do have to deal with overspray on a surface, be sure to use a non-scratch scrubpad and warm water with gentle scrubbing to remove the overspray and do it as soon as possible after spraying.
5. Once application is complete, wait approximately 20-30 minutes before you start removing all masking, being careful to not mar the freshly refinished surface when doing so.
Overall, the steps and techniques that result in proper, quality refinishing don’t change significantly when working with waterborne products. There are some slight application nuances to be aware of that we have outlined above, and we do always recommend practicing this application wet-on-wet so you are completely comfortable with the process. With these tips in mind, prepping and applying NAPCO’s waterborne products is just as effective and as easy to use as solvent-based products. Additionally, using NAPCO’s waterborne products will save you more time and money on the job while being environmentally friendly.
NAPCO stays committed to providing waterborne solutions that are environmentally friendly, less hazardous for you and your customers AND produce excellent results.
Don’t wait, start using NAPCO’s Waterborne Primer and Kitchen Renew waterborne coatings today.
For more Information on Kitchen Renew and its product benefits, click here.
With the recent expansion of the NAPCO Kitchen Renew product line of waterborne products, we have had some questions directed to us regarding the prep and application process of water-based products. As water-based refinishing solutions continue to gain popularity, we have compiled our top tips to ensure you get the best results when working with NAPCO’s waterborne products.