Bathtub Refinishing VS Expensive Bathtub Liners

Bathtub liners are designed to fit, like a shell, right over your existing bathtub and walls. They are made out of vinyl or plastic and take about 6 weeks to order and can be installed in a day. The cost however versus bathtub refinishing is about $2500 up to $4000 for a bathtub liner. Now compare this to the average professional bathtub refinishing project at $350 and you can see the savings refinishing offers over liners.

Tubs and Showers Made New Again

By JAY ROMANO	Article New York Times March 30, 2008
	Reposted Chicago Tribune April 17, 2008
	Reposted Winston - Salem Journal April 22,2008

Published: March 30, 2008 IS your bathtub dull, chipped, rusty or just plain dreary? There are alternatives to hauling out that 800-pound elephant and replacing it. It can be refinished or covered with an insert, and the same things can be done with showers.

(Pic) Tom Bloom

One source for finding a local refinisher is the Bathtub Refinishing Referral Network in Medford, Ore., at refinishingonline.com.

The network’s president is Kelly Rountree, a professional bathtub refinisher himself.

After about 10 years of scrubbing and scouring with abrasive cleaners, he said, the bathtub finish starts to wear off, leaving the surface porous, even if the tub is porcelain-coated. “And underneath the porcelain coating is steel, and that steel eventually starts to rust,” Mr. Rountree said.

Acrylic and fiberglass tubs can develop hairline cracks, he said, particularly on the bottom, which is exposed to the greatest amount of weight.

Mr. Rountree recommends using an epoxy for refinishing after a bonding agent has been applied. Because these materials emit hazardous, flammable fumes before they cure, he said, homeowners are generally advised to stay away while the work is in progress.

A professionally applied epoxy coating should last 10 to 20 years and should cost $350 or so, he said.

In addition to referring customers to local refinishers, Mr. Rountree’s company also sells refinishing products to do-it-yourselfers. “Most kits on the market don’t have bonding agents,” he said. “But we include a professional bonding agent with our kits.” The kits, which cost about $65, including shipping, can be used on tubs and sinks, fiberglass, acrylic, tile and countertops.

An alternative to refinishing an old tub or shower is to completely encase it with an acrylic liner.

Derek Cassoff, the marketing manager for Bath Fitter of St.-Eustache, Quebec, said that his company would send out an estimator from one of its 200 or so North American offices to take a series of measurements of the existing bathtub or shower enclosure.

Homeowners then choose the color, style, accessories and plumbing fixtures they want, and Bath Fitter makes a liner to fit over the existing tub or shower. (The liner is about a quarter inch thick, so the new tub will not be noticeably smaller than the original.)

If the walls that surround the tub are to be covered, the liner is made in one piece, to eliminate any potential for leaking. Prices range from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on style and accessories.

Stewart Pruzansky, president of Re-Bath of New Jersey in Passaic, said that with his system, the walls that surround the shower or tub are installed separately. “With three pieces,” he said, “you have room for expansion and contraction.”

Generally, he said, the time from measurement to installation runs from three to six weeks. Installation usually takes a day, and the finished job costs about $4,000. (End Of New York Times Article).

Do it yourself refinishing is not only reasonably priced but is also a time saving option. In any case, If you are considering a bathtub liner or insert, you will want to keep a few things in mind. The life expectancy of both a refinished bathtub, and a bathtub liner is between 12-20 years. This is based on professional bathtub installation, proper care, and the quality of the products the company is using.

The claims that bathtub liners cannot be chipped or gouged are not true. In fact, bathtub liners are easily scratched and if a sharp edge is dropped or scraped up against a bathtub liner, it will be damaged. This is also true with a refinished bathtub. The key is to always follow the care instructions provided to your from the product supplier or refinishing company..

An improper installed bathtub liner or one that is cheap and installed by inexperienced companies can end up being a headache for you down the road. Bathtub liners tend to leak at the joints, or at the drains and when this happens water will accumulate between the liner and the old bathtub. This will cause your bathtub liner to develop mold, mildew, a bad odor, and a mushy feeling when you are standing on the bathtub floor.

Research has shown that mold spores inhaled, even in small quantities can cause serious health problems. If this happens, the only way to remove the mold is to remove the bathtub liner and disinfect the bathtub.

Toxic Mold Information: United States EPA

When the time comes to replace the bathtub liner, expect to end up paying someone quite a bit of money to do it. These bathtub liners are basically glued to your old bathtub and are very difficult to remove and unlike bathtub refinishing, your choices during installation of a bathtub liner are limited. Only a very small number of colors are available.