A battered bathtub can look dirty, even when clean, and can harm the reputation of any rental. Room cleanliness is the most important factor for customer happiness in the hotel industry and plays a role in desirability for apartment rentals. Replacement or complete resurfacing may seem necessary, but a simple repair of the surface may offer more advantages.

(more…)

If you own rental property, then you can expect to see some normal wear as each tenant moves out. However, don’t be quick to assume that a small stain or crack requires you to resurface entirely. Resurfacing is an expensive option for rental owners and is often unnecessary. At Surface Experts, we make it easy to repair small areas of damage and move tenants in and out of your property efficiently, without losing more money than necessary.

Here are some examples of wear and tear that Surface Experts can help you repair. 

Floors:

Hardwood floors can be a beautiful addition to any space. However, they are also prone to being scratched up and damaged. Moving heavy pieces of furniture, foot traffic in and out of the house, and even pets can all contribute to the wear you see. At Surface Experts, we can help repair scratches, dings, and dents. Whether the damage is on vinyl, laminate, or engineered woods, Surface Experts can help.

By repairing the eyesores on your floors, we can help you save money and time getting your rental ready for the market.

Countertops:

Countertops are one of the most touched surfaces in an apartment. It’s also common to find the most damage in a kitchen done to the countertops. We can repair burns, cuts, scratches, stains, cracks, and chips on laminate, Corian, and stone countertops. Instead of having to resurface, Surface Experts is able to repair the countertop in less than an hour. We’re also able to repair cracks or chips you might see in tile, saving you from having to hunt for that exact matching tile. 

Cabinets: 

The most common sign of wear and tear on cabinetry is fingernail scratches from people not using handles or cabinets not having hardware at all. You might additionally see spots and stains from water damage. These are all easy fixes for Surface Experts. Installing new cabinetry can be costly and it’s unlikely that you will find a cabinet with the exact same style and finish as the one currently in place.  

Our renovation process is simple and doesn’t require you to waste time looking for a similar style of cabinet. We can repair scratches and water damage in just a few hours.

Baths:

Resurfacing a bathtub is both expensive for you and inconvenient for the tenant. The whole process could cost $300 to $600 and requires the tenant to move out for two days due to the high potency of chemicals used. At Surface Experts, we can dramatically cut down that time to just four hours and keep your resident from having to vacate.

We’ll apply 1-2 tablespoons of product per repair and fix any chip or stain the size of a dinner plate or smaller on enamel, fiberglass, or acrylic bathtubs.

Conclusion:

Property owners can expect to see some level of wear and tear from each tenant as they vacate. However, Surface Experts is here to help fix minor damage or wear and tear before it’s time to move someone new in. 

Contact us at Surface Experts today to see what minor damage we can take care of.

If you want to better protect your investment, read this blog to learn about four types of flooring materials and the damage they often experience.

4 Flooring Materials and Common Causes of Damage

If you rent out property, you know that some tenants may cause damage while others care for it as if it’s their own. Floors, in particular, face a lot of wear and tear and damage. If you want to better protect your investment, check out these four types of flooring materials and the damage they often experience.

1. Linoleum/Vinyl

Linoleum and vinyl are susceptible to scratches and cuts. Smaller scratches may happen when you drop something on the floor, like a knife. However, moving heavy furniture and appliances like the fridge can create deeper scratches if you try to move them improperly. These deeper scratches increase the risk of something snagging on the linoleum and causing it to tear.

Another complication with linoleum is loss of adhesion. Linoleum floors have a sticky side that allows the floor to stay in place. Overtime, wear and tear causes this adhesive to become less effective, which can cause the linoleum to lift at the edges or create bubbles in the middle of the floor.

2. Tile

Tile is sturdy, but it isn’t impervious to cracking, especially if tenants drop heavy items on the floor. Even if the tile doesn’t break, the impact may scratch the outer glazing, which protects the tile from moisture. Impact and wear and tear may also cause some tiles to become loose. In all three examples, it is best to replace the tile.

Tile grout can experience discoloration, but as long as it’s in good shape, a decent scrubbing should improve the look of the grout. Foot traffic and other forms of wear and tear can also cause the grout to crack.  

3. Hardwood

Hardwood floors are very stylish beautiful floors, and they are also durable and usually require little maintenance. They are, however, prone to scratches. Something as simple as scooting a chair to sit down at the kitchen table can scratch the wood. Luckily, most of these are surface and can be fixed with some waxing and buffing.

Pets can also cause damage to your hardwood floor, especially if they urinate or defecate on the flooring. If you don’t immediately clean the mess, it can stain. In addition, cat and dog claws may cause some surface scratches (or deeper if your cat chooses to use your floor as a scratching post).

4. Laminate

Laminate also easily scratches by simply moving items, but it may also start to bubble. This happens when water or another spill is left on the floor for too long. The liquid may penetrate the top layers of the laminate, causing them to separate and develop an unattractive bubble in the middle of your floor.

Laminate floors also have an issue with peaking. This is when the boards become too cramped, causing small peaks where the boards meet. This is often caused by poor installation, which leaves little room for boards to expand and contract.

Damage is bound to happen in your rental property. Luckily, Surface Experts is ready to be part of your team! Our technicians have the ability to repair the above floors saving you time and money. If you would like to know more about surface repairs for your floors, contact us at Surface Experts today.