There are basically two types of repair companies and their services sometimes overlap. One is the refinishers, the second are the companies that specialize in spot repairs mostly to fiberglass units. The refinisher is often a franchise operation and usually advertises in the phone book. Beware of long term warranties from franchises operating only a few years in the area you live. See if the franchise head office stands behind the warranties. A new franchisee seldom wants to honor warranties of other or previous franchises. More often when a franchise closes, there is no one to do warranty work. The refinishers often do spot repairs as well, but it is usually best to seek out the specialized services of a spot repair technician if one needs repairs to chips, cracks, scratches, etc. This can be done by phoning manufacturers or plumbing stores and wholesalers to see who they use in your area. The repair process can be difficult when trying to achieve an invisible repair. It is often best to make the extra effort to find an experienced specialist who gets most of their business by word of mouth and servicing commercial clientele.

Metal tubs that are worn rough or have an outdated color can benefit from refinishing. When the technician arrives, they should put down drop clothes, then start prepping the tub. This is important as the paint won't stick well if all the shine is not removed from the tub. This is done using acid to etch the enamel. But for the acid to work, the tub first needs to be cleaned with an industrial strength cleaner to remove all the soap film and other contaminates that can block the acid from working. Then ventilation has to be set up so no damage is done to the house. The bathroom is sealed in plastic and fans and blowers with vent tubes are run to contain the fumes and dry spray from going outside the bathroom and vent them outside the house. If there is a bathroom window, other windows in the house may be opened to get the air pressure to go out the bathroom window. Before a refinisher can start work, any faucet drips need to be fixed.

Spot repairs involve using small amounts of chemical so ventilation is still a concern, it is not nearly the. While as a refinisher generally takes about 5 hours to do a metal tub, most small to medium sized spot repairs only take a couple hours or so.

If a fiberglass tub or shower is dull and or stained, the finish can often be restored by polishing with an electric power buffer and cut polish. It is best to keep the integrity of the original finish if possible. Sometimes this can be done by the owner.