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Frequently Asked
Questions - FAQS
Frequently Asked
Questions about Repairing Baptisms
1.) 1.
Can baptistries that are peeling be repainted?
Yes, it can.
However, it must be sanded to remove all loose
paint and recoated with a paint that is designed
to be underwater.
2. Can our
church buy the paint and do it ourselves?
Although we do not
recommend this, you may certainly try. Years
of experience have helped us learned the in’s
and out’s of performing these repairs.
Although it may seem cheaper to do it yourself,
it may cost more in the long run.
3. Why does
my baptistery have bumps and dark spots on the
inside?
These bumps are
commonly known as blisters and the dark spots
are resin and water that are leaking through the
gel coat layers. These can both be repaired by
heating up the areas and relieving the pressure
and laying the blister back down or cutting it
out.
4.) 4.
How much does a
baptistery recoating or reglazing cost?
Prices can vary
depending on the amount of cracks and blisters
on the baptistery. This is known as prep work.
The amount of prep involved determines the
price. Average can start at $800 for minor prep
work to as much as $4500 for large repairs.
These higher prices are normally for older
baptisteries, 20 years or more, where there are
days of prep work involved.
5.
How long do
baptistery repairs last?
Repairs made to
baptisteries are made with the similar materials
that were used from the factory such as
fiberglass, polyurethane resin and in some cases
gel-coat. These materials can still break down
over time and allow water to pass through the
gel coat layers making it weak, brittle, and
discolored. The key to repairs is making the
baptistry water tight and using proper cleaning
chemicals in the water. Most repairs can last
up to 15 years or more but this is more due to
the care of the baptistery by the church.
Excessive cleaning with abrasives can break down
the layers in your baptistery prematurely. We
offer a one year warranty on all work performed
by us, Smith Contracting. Negligence is not
covered under warranty. An extended warranty
can be purchased for an additional year (only
for repairs exceeding $3500) at the price of 10%
of the price of the repair.
6.
Can
you fix baptisteries with weak or spongy
bottoms?
Yes, we have
several ways to make these repairs. Most of
these can be fixed with a two part foam
injection that hardens under the bottom. This
adds up to 75% to 85% increase in structural
integrity to the baptistery floor, steps or
sidewalls. This prevents having to replace the
baptistry. In some other cases, the wooden
frame or supports can be rotted and would have
to be replaced. A new bottom can then be
laid in place with an overlay system adding a
new bottom over the existing bottom creating a
double thickness in baptistry floors. These
start at about $1100 and up and priced according
to size and the material used.
7.
What type of
expenses do we incur by asking you to come give
us an estimate on repairing our baptism?
We do charge for
travel expenses to get to your location if it is
over 50 miles. The estimate is free but we
must recoup the expenses of getting to you.
8.) 8.
What is the cost for replacing our old
baptistry with a new
church baptistry pool?
A new fiberglass
baptistry starts at around $1000 plus delivery,
which can range from $100-600 depending on how
far you are from the factory. Installation will
vary depending on what needs to be removed from
the existing unit, floor conditions, walls being
moved, etc. An average installation runs about
$3500 – 5000 into an existing building. At the
same time you can replace aging
heater systems also.
9.) 9. What is
the possibility of putting a new baptistry into
the old tank?
While it may be
possible, it is a difficult scenario. The new
tank will need to be properly supported on all
sides and underneath, and that is nearly
impossible to do. It can give you a poor
installation with all the same costs of a new
one.
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