Absolute Refinishing, bathtub refinishing

09/08/2022

Well, it's been forever and a day since my last post.
This post is going to explain whats up and coming for the business.

As of October 1st I will be taking a hiatus from all in house work. I'll be shifting my focus to strictly restoring clawfoot tubs, old sinks and things like that here at my shop.

For over 13 years, I've put a lot of me into this business and at the moment there is not enough of me to be doing in house work and work here at the shop/house.
I've reached a point to where I don't feel I can give my all to every job and that is just not fair to my customers. I need to cut back on what I do to help me regain focus.
During my time building the business, I've developed a good name for myself and that makes this decision difficult to make due to all my repeat customers and contractors I've done work for through the years.
So for now, I'll be working here at the home shop. Definitely contact me if you have a clawfoot tub that you want restored.

04/28/2021

Over the past couple of years, I've switched coatings that I use for bathtubs. Since the majority of work I do is just bathtubs, I was looking for a a better option. Mainly a healthier option, but I also wanted a better option for my customers.

What I've found is Ekopel. This is an epoxy coating that was developed in Europe almost 20 years ago and has been in North America for at least half that. I was contacted several years ago from the N. American distributor about using it and at that time it was absolutely foreign to me. I didnt use it at the time but kept an open mind. Mainly I needed more information and results.
Then I was contacted again two years ago and decided to use it.

I have been very pleased with this coating. It is thicker, more durable than any spray on coating. And its odorless so that makes it safe for me and my customers. It has a 10 year no peel warranty versus 5 for spray coatings.

In these pictures you'll see how its applied. Also when we have to strip off another coating, we use Citristrip as it is also safer.

Now for tile walls and one piece fiberglass tub/shower we do use the spray on coating as the Ekopel does not work well on the walls.

04/28/2021

And some more..
For some reason I dont have any before pictures. This bathroom was grey and pink. Notice the soap dish...

04/28/2021

So I've been relatively quiet on this page lately. No real reason. Just busy and there really hasn't been anything special to write about. So I'll just throw a few before and after pictures just to let y'all know were still here. This job was just finished in Lascassas, TN.

12/11/2020

Well it's been quite a while since I've posted anything on here. Just going through the daily routines of fixing, refinishing, and restoring tubs and sinks.

It's been a strange, tough year for many. So many are struggling, businesses are closing, too many unemployed.
I hope all who read this are doing well. If you are dealing with anything COVID related, be it the illness itself, or a non direct result of it, I hope that you find a way out of the situation that betters you and works in your favor. We all need some form of lifting up, especially this time of year. It's always the holiday season that does bring out the best in some. I hope it does for you, and your friends and family.

As we wind down the year, we all are wishing that flipping the page to a new year will change things. Unfortunately it probably wont. Just do what you need to do and feel, to keep yourself and others safe. It will get better.

So, from my family to you and yours, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and whatever it is you celebrate, or dont. Enjoy this time with your friends and family, however you can and will

05/24/2020

Just a few photos of our latest jobs.

05/14/2020

Well 6 weeks has passed since we decided to limit our workload. It seemed like most people that may have wanted this type of work done waited until May anyway. After a dismal April, May has started off pretty good. We are back at it, and everyone involved are pretty comfortable with the current working conditions.
Here is just one of the latest jobs in Franklin, TN. I'll upload the after in the comments.

03/30/2020

Good morning to all that will read this.
As we all know, the world is in a crazy place right now with the COVID-19 virus. Social distancing has become the "it" phrase that I wish to never hear or read again. With that, many, many businesses have had to limit their workload or shut down completely until this passes. Sadly, I feel that many of those businesses will never see the light of day again.
While I have been finishing up the jobs that have been on my schedule, I have decided to limit my workload to just the work that I can do here in my shop which is clawfoot tubs and sinks. So after today, I will cease all in house work(I'm in a vacant house today) until further notice. Which pretty much sucks because we have been having a pretty decent year so far.
Challenges lie ahead for everyone. A lot of people will be in need of some form of help. Do what you can, be compassionate to others, and for the love of God, please stop hoarding the toilet paper.

03/06/2020

For those wondering, this is a link for donations for the tornado victims.

I was at ground zero here in Lebanon yesterday. What you've seen on TV or online simply cannot do this any justice. The damages is unreal. I've seen it with my own eyes and still cant believe it. The fact in just a few short minutes, the landscape and people's lives are changed forever. So much damage.

The tornado that came through most of the area was an EF3 and 800 yards wide. That's 1/2 mile. The good thing is that it came through at night when the schools and most of the businesses were closed. The death toll would have been much higher. The bad thing, it came through at night and you just couldnt see what was happening.

The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. We do this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities....

03/04/2020

Well by now, most of you who know me and this little page are based in the Nashville area and may have heard we had a significant weather event.
Around 1am Tuesday morning, I awoke to tornado sirens as a rain wrapped EF3(160 mph winds) tornado made it's way through Lebanon,TN, about 1 mile south of my house leaving a long path of destruction. So many businesses and homes were damaged or destroyed. Many deaths occurred within the 66 miles this tornado was on the ground.
We have had several pass through our area since we have lived in TN, 14 years now.
None were this strong or this close. This one had me shook up a bit because we couldnt see it and it passed my son's house between 5-10 houses down from him. I was on the phone with him when it went by(He lives about 3 miles from us). He heard the train sound and felt his house vibrate. Obviously he was pretty scared.

Now the hard part for our little community and all the others, the clean up and rebuild, and those affected have to put their lives back together. As always, with the help of many, this will eventually happen. In the wake of tragedy comes compassion.

Our first responders were also awakened that early morning as it was all hands on deck for our local Lebanon Police, Wilson county Sheriff, Tennessee Highway Patrol, WEMA Fire and rescue and EMTs, as well as our local electric company as they had to replace over 300 wooden and metal power poles and lines. Within 30 hours they had restored power to 35k out of the 40k plus that were without.

If you so wish to help out, there are several ways to donate. I do not have any of the organizations available at this moment. I'm sure a Google search will show them.

Now for me, back to my regularly scheduled program.

01/26/2020

From Cincinnati, OH to Athens, GA via Lebanon, TN.

Almost 5 years ago, I found this 1902 Crane-Hawley tub for sale on Craigslist. The person selling it simply didnt want it anymore. I cant understand why because it was original to their big gorgeous house in downtown Cincinnati. This is a very rare, hard to find tub.

The story goes, I wanted it, sent the owner some money and now I had to find a way to get it since its a 11 hour round trip(with stops). Friends of mine own Junk King and I asked if they knew the Cincinnati Junk King owners. They did, I called them and they picked up the tub for me and took it back to their warehouse. My daughter and I made the trip up to pick it up and we brought it back.

After several ads placed on Craigslist with little interest, i let it sit. Most people saw it but wanted to pay less than $300 for it. Those lowballers I didnt respond to. So I put this and a few other tubs on FB Marketplace and we found someone who really wanted it. Its going into their early 1900s house that they are remodeling.

So here it is from the time I brought it home until today, when its making its final journey to its new home in Georgia.

There are a couple more pictures in the comments.

01/25/2020

Why tub refinishing? Because no one, and I mean NO ONE, wants to remove and replace a 1940 Crane cast iron tub on the 7th floor of an apartment building.