THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504250115
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
What he thought would be the simple remodeling of his Arrowhead home's bathroom turned into a three-year, $3,000 project that Avis Haynes still hasn't finished.
Haynes wishes he knew then what he knows now.
He could have hired his own company - the Surface Doctor - to do the job in a matter of weeks and at a savings of 30 percent.
Haynes bought the Surface Doctor franchise, which specializes in resurfacing tile, appliances, cabinets, counter tops, bathtubs and sinks, in January.
``All we really wanted was a color change,'' said Haynes, a Norfolk native. ``If I knew now, I definitely wouldn't have gone to the extreme that I did.''
Remodeling is a hobby for Haynes, and, when he saw an ad in an entrepreneur's magazine for the Surface Doctor, he called mainly to inquire about the company's resin process for color changing.
``I originally called to inquire about whether the process could be done, but then I became really interested. I knew our community could benefit from something like this.''
The method of resurfacing is actually a resin coating with a chemical bond process. It can be used to cover metal, appliances, chipped and stained porcelain and even tile. The product is guaranteed for five years and usually takes about 48 hours to ``cure'' or set.
Most of the time customers want a cosmetic change to update their kitchen or bathroom. Haynes recently changed a 21-foot-long counter top from gold to white. Other people use the process to hide chips or dents.
A typical new bathtub costs about $98. That cost plus installation, tearing out the old one and replacing it with the new one, can run the price as high as $500.
The typical reglazing fee for a used tub is between $125 and $225. A stove can be reglazed starting at $87.
After consulting a lawyer and accountant about the fine print in the franchise contract, Haynes retired from his job of 10 years at a local wholesale club.
He attended an intensive two-week training session at the company's Atlanta, Ga., headquarters.
``That really convinced me that this could work. I was really impressed and so was my wife. I went mainly off her response. I can be excited about it, but if she says no, that means there's probably something wrong with it.''
Ouidea Haynes didn't say no. And neither did Avis Haynes when his wife's business cards came back with the title ``president'' of the company mistakenly printed on them. He just named her co-president of the company and, despite her full-time banking job, she does all the company's paperwork.
Haynes also enlisted the help of a friend, Shawn Jones, who is vice president of the company and helps Haynes on a part-time basis.
Haynes had spent 15 years exploring business opportunities. Mainly, he said, he just wanted an occupation that he would enjoy.
Although long-term restoration was not in his original plan for his own bathroom, he does enjoy remodeling in general and routinely has several projects going around the house.
The remodeled bathroom was one of those projects. The plan was to just replace the lime-green bathtub. His stepdaughter, Kendra, wanted the bathroom black and white, to match her room.
Three years later, without the help of his new business, Haynes still has to replace the light fixtures and mirrors in the bathroom.
But, the bathroom is finally black and white. MEMO: To reach the Surface Doctor, call 497-0017.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Avis Haynes, owner of the local Surface Doctor franchise, resurfaces
everything from kitchen counter tops and refrigerators to bathroom
tiles and bathtubs - using a resin coating with a chemical bond
process.
by CNB