The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: refinishing claw foot bathtubs

By Alan Knight

Like many people at this time of year, I’ve been making my list and checking it twice. No; I’m not talking about the holiday gifts I shared with family, friends and colleagues. I’m talking about the gift of change.

It’s a new year, so I’m writing down my list of goals and improvements I want to make for myself in 2015. You know … get more exercise, make some dietary changes, stop a bad habit, etc. I like to think of these positive changes as an investment in myself. And then there’s the second list of all the “Honey Do’s” my wife is making for me as well. Can’t forget those, can I?

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If you’re looking to invest in yourself in 2015, one thing you might consider is to attend Tub King’s Bath and Kitchen Refinishing Training Class. After gaining hands-on experience over the course of a weekend, you’ll have the skills and know-how to improve your income significantly as a certified refinisher. Bath and kitchen refinishing is one of the hottest trends in the home improvement industry today. Once you’ve attended our interactive class, you’ll have the in-demand skills to set up your own part- or even full-time business. Consider the following:

This service/skill set is in high demand (thousands of people want/need your specialized services)
It has a high profit margin (50-75% higher than house painting, for example)
It provides great income potential (some professionals are earning $200/hour or more)
You save customers money (refinishing vs. remodeling can garner a 70% savings)
You’re in control of your time and schedule
You’re able to work in a variety of different markets (residential, commercial, and antique)

Since Tub King has been offering this weekend course over the past 13 years, our refinishing class has been attended by thousands people from all over the North and South America and even from Europe. The classes are taught at our national headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

Photo Credit: sunandseabeachweddings.com

Let’s see, it’s near the end of December and I just looked at our outside temperature … it’s a balmy 78°F. The class generally runs from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If necessary, we’ll go into Sunday, depending upon how many students we have. So you’ll still have some time for Florida-flavored R ‘n’R, if that’s your proclivity.

FYI: Our HQ isn't too far from the Atlantic Ocean and there’s also a major river, The St. Johns, coursing through the middle of the city. There’s also the Intracoastal Waterway.

Here are some excerpts from a letter we received from a recent attendee who had driven down from Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the class:

“… Mike’s teaching techniques exceeded my expectations. The hands-on teaching was on point … I really learned and appreciated the knowledge I received. It was definitely worth the $500 investment (plus travel expenses). I got the same feedback from the rest of the class. Great for networking and sharing experiences. Those in the trade that haven’t taken your course are missing out.”

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Like many professions, the only way to learn these skills is by hand-on experience. And that’s exactly what you’ll experience throughout the course. Imagine going to a doctor and learning you need to have an operation. “Doctor,” you ask during your pre-op consultation, “how many of these procedures have you done over the years?” To which the well-meaning physician replies, “None, but I’ve studied the manual.” Don’t settle for just watching someone else do this. We insist you get your hands on it, you put your back into it, and you give it your all. After all, you’re investing in your own future.

The class is very thorough; no one else offers such a rich and varied curriculum designed to teach you the skills you’ll need. You’ll personally refinish several antique clawfoot bathtubs, sinks, countertops and tiles. Here’s an example of what you’ll learn:

Overview of the Refinishing Industry
Choosing the right equipment
Understanding the most reliable coating products
Refinishing Porcelain (tubs and sinks)
Striking Gold in Antique Clawfoot Bathtubs
Refinishing Fiberglass
Spot repairs
Cleaners that work
Refinishing Kitchen Countertops
Refinishing Appliances
Refinishing Ceramic Tile
Refinishing Cabinets
Proper Prep makes the difference
Offering multi-speck patterns
Refinishing concrete
Bedliners for trucks (this is a separate business all in itself)
Bathtub conversion for senior citizens (earn up to $700 more)
How to set up your business properly
How to market & advertise for the best results
Strategies that can get you months of work

Photo Credit:naptcoltd.com aptcoltd.com

And it doesn’t stop there. We also provide Marketing Training with trade secrets that are designed to help you jump start your business. We also offer assistance with advertising with brochures, ads, flyers and more. We provide a free lunch during the class. Importantly, once the class is over, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion as a trained refinishing professional.

It gets better. At the end of the course, we’ll add you to our database of professional refinishers. When someone calls us asking if we know of a qualified refinisher near their home or place of business, we’ll give them your number if you’re near them.

The intensive, hands-on course costs $495 and requires a $100 nonrefundable advance deposit. For your own protection, you must have a proper face mask in order to participate. If you don’t have one, can you purchase it from our office when you’re here.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Speaking of which, we also sell a variety of professional-grade refinishing equipment such as the TK8000 Three-stage Turbine (made specifically for us, hence the TK designation), Apollo SuperSpray Dual Feed Gun, and a wide range of Apollo chemicals for a variety of projects, including bathtub refinishing, countertop refinishing, tile refinishing, concrete staining, truck bed liner coatings, non-slip coatings and more. Everything you’ll need to get started in this potentially lucrative industry.

This new year, why not invest in your future? Give us a call or send me an email to reserve your space in our nationally recognized Bathroom and Kitchen Refinishing Class today.

Upcoming class dates:

January: 16-18

February: 20-22

March: 13-14

April: 17-19

Join us! And be the change you want to see in your own life.

In this article, I talked about Tub King’s acclaimed Bathroom and Kitchen Refinishing Class. I gave an overview of our hands-on approach to your professional education, highlighted the curriculum, and talked about other benefits of completing the course, such as being added to our national referral database, having a near one-stop shop for key supplies, etc.

Check Out This Video About Our Bathroom & Kitchen Refinishing Course

If you found this article interesting, please share and forward. If you’d like to leave a comment or question, please do so in the Comments section below.

If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Or, if you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s my pleasure to share this information with you.

For More Information About Our Acclaimed Refinishing Class, Click Here.

Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800) 409-3375, (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

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When I think of a treasure hunt, I am reminded of the ancient artifacts, items covered in gold, precious items that people hold onto and pass on from generation to generation. In order for an item to fit this description, it has to have staying power. It must be durable, important and part of our everyday life.

Check out Claw foot tubs are back

Years ago, when we first started in the bathtub business, and before cast iron/porcelain tubs were being manufactured again, my brother and I were always looking for the old clawfoot tubs, which could be refinished and sold. We would visit wrecking companies, and plumbing supply houses to see if they had any of the old tubs that we could buy and restore. Sometimes we would see tubs sitting outside of homes, being used as flowerpots. We would stop and ask if the owners wanted to sell them.

For a long period of time, the clawfoot tub had virtually disappeared. No foundries in the U.S. were casting these tubs because everyone was going to fiberglass. So, the old style, claw-footed tubs, as beautiful as they were, disappeared. Those we could find were always in high demand.

I remember delivering several antique sinks to a customer out in the country who lived in a farmhouse. We had refinished these antique sinks for him, and as we off-loaded them into his living room, I noticed a huge cast iron bathtub sitting right in the middle of the floor. It was a dual ended tub with massive claw legs. It was 75 inches long and 35 inches wide. It was extremely rare ... and I wanted it.

I asked the customer what he was planning to do with it. He said he and his wife were going to bury it in the back yard to make a goldfish pond. I quickly said, "I'll pay you $300 for it." They were hesitant, so I sweetened the pot a little. "Okay, how about $300 plus the three sinks I brought you, no charge." The couple looked at each other. The wife said, "Dear, that will pay for all our tile work." The husband thought about it and said, "Okay we'll do it." Music to my ears!

We eventually sold that tub for over $4,000. How? The tub was very rare.

Today, tubs that size and shape are being recast again. We can provide customers with the same basic tub for under $2,000. Customers like it for reasons beyond price. Since it is newly cast (new porcelain), it does not need to be refinished. The legs are now plated with chrome and brushed nickel, instead of the old cast iron legs that rusted. New faucets and hardware are readily available for the new tubs in designs that were not even available a hundred years ago. In essence, you can now own a beautiful claw foot tub that will last another hundred years without having to spend months on the treasure hunt trail. You won’t have to spend many hours and a lot of money resorting it. You can just buy and have it professionally installed it with matching fixtures, ready to enjoy, admire and use.

There has never been a better time to purchase one of these beautiful porcelain/cast iron clawfoot bathtubs. You have so many design choices and the price is extremely low. It will definitely add to the value of your home, and the hours of personal enjoyment cannot be easily measured.

In this article, I told you some of our treasure hunt stories, where we searched for old claw foot tubs so we could restore and sell them. Today, anyone can own one of these beautifully functional tubs, no treasure hunt needed. In fact, there are more choices, sizes and color combinations now than ever before. On top of that, prices are very reasonable. It has never been a better time to own a beautiful claw foot tub.

See our double slipper tub.

If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the comment section of this blog. If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It has been my pleasure sharing this information with you. Thanks again for visiting with us.Until next time.

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years running. If you would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com or kerry@tubking.com.

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