What is the difference between shower tile resurfacing, tile refinishing and tile removal? Bathroom remodeling is a big job. There are a lot of things to consider. And if you have a tile floor or shower tile, at some point during the remodeling process, you will have to make a decision about what to do about it. If your bathroom remodel matches your current tile, you may not need to do anything to update the tile floor or shower tile. But if your shower tile is old, broken or just plain ugly, you have several options. You can replace your tile, refinish it or you may want to consider shower tile resurfacing. All three options come with there own distinct advantages and their own distinct drawbacks. Let’s take a look.
Shower Tile Resurfacing
We have already discussed how to update tile floor without removing it in another blog. The same concept applies to shower tile and wall tile. Resurfacing shower tile involves overlaying the old shower tile with a micro-cement, also called a micro-topping. The cementitious overlay adheres to the tile at the molecular level, ensuring long lasting durability. The advantages of covering shower tile include reduced cost. By cutting out the entire process of wall and shower tile removal, resurfacing shower tile is significantly cheaper than replacing the tile. The shower tile resurfacing material used by Semco also comes in a variety of stylish and waterproof colors, polishes and finishes that you can match to your bathroom remodeling palette.
Refinishing Shower Tile
When your shower tile was brand new, it had a beautiful glaze to it. In order to create that glaze, the tile is baked in kilns and heated to nearly 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. As time goes by, the glaze on shower tile begins to dull and fade. Cleaners, chemicals and soap take their toll. The goal of shower tile refinishing is to restore the tile to its original luster. The tile refinishing process involves cleaning the surface, fill in chipped or broken tile, apply a bonding agent, and, finally, apply the new finish.
Tile refinishing has a few drawbacks. It is time consuming and requires professional installation and you if you don’t like the color of your old tile, reglazing it wont do it. Resurfacing or replacing is a better option if your old tile color is ugly.
Replacing Your Shower Tile
The final option is to remove and replace your shower tile completely. This is the most labor intensive and costly option. But if you really like tile, and your remodel requires it, it can be a good option if you can afford it. Most people hire a contractor to remove tile, but you can do it yourself if you have the time and tools. Check out our article on how to remove wall tile to learn more. If you do it right, you can recycle or even sell your old tile. This can cut back on the total cost of the project.
