charles Gayler

Charles Gayler
In 1989, nestled in the hard working town of Indianapolis, Indiana, Eastern Refinishing was founded. In the early years while our company was developing, the bathtub refinishing industry was in it’s infancy. Back then there were no official training schools to learn the trade, and there were no official vendors or suppliers who were developing products for our industry; as such, the need for Eastern Refinishing to develop its own techniques was necessary.

Throughout the 1980’s, bathtub refinishing was primarily a “do it yourself” industry. Most applicators were primarily household painters or handymen trying to satisfy their clients needs. That is, the need to refinish a fixture quickly, rather than replacing it. In fact, compared to the technology implemented today, bathtub refinishers in the 1980s used crude and primitive products and techniques. Most refinishers simply used an epoxy coating available at industrial paint stores; others used automotive or marine coatings. The end result was inconsistent quality and constant repairs. In almost all cases, the coatings used would yellow, stain, discolor and lose their gloss. There was no specialized HVLP spraying equipment for our industry, so most jobs were applied by brush and roller, and looked unprofessional.
However, as a pioneer in bathtub refinishing, Eastern Refinishing continued to search for and develop alternate means and products to improve the refinishing process. In fact, the company can honestly say it has tried hundreds of products over the years. One advantage that Eastern Refinishing offers is that all products are tested in-house. – an industry first, thru the use of Eastern Refinishing’s Quality Control dept. headed up by Levi Weppler.

Today, Eastern Refinishing is still headed by founder Charles Gayler, and his vision to offer, “The Highest Quality Bathtub Refinishing” services still lives on. Mr. Gayler still constantly strives and is intricately involved in day-to-day operations. It is his determination that is responsible for taking a small one-man refinishing company and developing a multi-state/office company.

Eastern Refinishing today enjoys a reputation for providing the highest quality work and customer service. All technicians undergo a rigorous training program and schooling in the skill of professional refinishing.

In addition to using skillfully trained personnel, the company also uses the highest quality coatings and products. To achieve this grade, Eastern Refinishing has worked with the industry’s leading manufacturer, Hawk Research Laboratories of Wood Dale, Illinois, to develop a complete line of professional refinishing products. In fact, a extended refinishing life span of between 10 to 12 years can be expected with proper care. Refinishing systems are designed to deliver gloss and durability exceeding automotive finishes by 20 percent. For these reasons, buyers can count on Eastern Refinishing to provide the highest quality workmanship.


Charles Gayler, the owner of Eastern RefinishingCharles Gayler, the owner of Eastern Refinishing
Eastern Refinishing Inc., the largest bathtub and tile refinishing company in North America, in operation for nearly 35 years, has just expanded its product line to include hot tub, spa and swimming pool restoration. Hawk Laboratories, an industry leader in refinishing products, which Eastern Refinishing uses exclusively, has used its extensive knowledge database to develop an array of premium pool, hot tub and spa refinishing products to suit any application.

Owner of Eastern Refinishing, Charles Gayler, has worked with the industry’s leading manufacturer, Hawk Research Labs – Wood Dale, Illinois to develop a complete proprietary line of professional refinishing products. Utilizing a proprietary Acrylic urethane Coating System, Eastern Refinishing has taken longevity to new levels by being able to offer 5 year warranties on all refinished tubs. In fact, you can expect extended refinishing lifespan of between 10-12 years with proper care.