Our bathroom is due for a remodeling. The tub is the major item that has caused disagreement between me and my wife. It is a 20 something American Standard enamel model. My wife wants it replaced with the same type of tub. To avoid the mess I suggested putting in a "Bath Fitter" acrylic, fit over the old tub alternative that I learned about on the web. Wife says that since you cannot use powder cleansers (like Comet) to clean "rings around tub" and there are no 5 or 10 year installations that we can look at, she is very opposed. Would greatly appreciate information and opinions about this issue; especially as to any known problems or possitive information about acrylic bathtubs--new or fitted over types. Thanks.
That's a lot of pressure. I'm glad I'm not that wife.
Funny enough, we too need a replacement tub and have been considering those type you simply put on overtop of what's there. So far it seems that ripping it all out and putting in brand new will work best long-term but I"m interested in seeing what others suggest to the OP here.
Home Depot, probably others, sell an epoxy based paint kit for tubs. It is time consuming because you need to 'wash' the tub with an acid, rinse thoroughly, let dry overnight, paint the tub, let dry for at least two days. Everything needed is included in the kit for about $40 (acid, paint, roller, etc). Just use gloves and goggles and be prepared for an awful smell for about a week from the paint.
Results are ok but probably just as good as a plastic insert would be. It's only $40, give it a try.
bathfitters originally developed for hotels to get more life from existing tubs. hotels plan on bathfitters then 5 years later gut bath and start over.
its a good temporary fix, long tewrm a new tub is better
My neighbor had hers done ... there is one piece for the shower and one piece for the tub. She says it sure is easier to keep clean as far as mold and mildew goes. We are in FL. where that is a big problem. Anyway, my tub was acrylic (house built in '83) and I had it refinished two years ago. It didn't hold up too well. Now I need to decide whether to get a new tub or have the "re-bath" people come out. I would like to know if it is possible to take out the old tub and replace it without taking out the lavatory and commode ... the room measures 5x7 and the tub is on the far wall with a window over it. If I have to take out the other stuff, I believe the costs for labor would be so high that it would not be practical to buy new tub. Does anyone know? The re-bath price is quite high...according to neighbor.
I agree with that. I wouldn't use any powder cleanser on a tub, unless it was ruined already. They feel better and look better when they are smooth, and I don't think any finish stays smooth with powder cleansers (except maybe the one with the little chicken on the can and the motto "It hasn't scratched yet", but I don't even use that. I know her mother used Comet, so did my mother (although I don't know why. She was at least 40 years old before it came out. I was 5 or
10), but they have invented other things now. I use scrubbing bubbles (DOW?) and although for a few months, the name annoyed me, and the fact that I could rub all the dirt off in certain places (while I was in the tub, which of course makes the water dirtier, and there were places where it didn't work) made me feel I was wasting my money. But I'm back to being happy with it, as I have been 90% of the time. (If you let it sit for too long after spraying, it dries out, and when you wet it again, it's not as easy to remove the dirt as when it only sat for a couple minutes)
As to Bath Fitter, they are beautiful tubs. They come in several colors and even swirls. The house across the street just got a white one put in. There are similar products sold probably at both Lowes and HD. For sure I saw one in the exit room at Lowes a week ago.
There are two reasons I don't get it. A)It would take a quarter to a half inch off the length of my tub, I think, (is that true?) and the tub is already too short.
B) I have an epoxee paint that I want to try first. Because my tub was so uncomfortable, I made a foam rubber cushion, 4 inches thick, the width of the tub, and from 6 inches above to the top to 6 inches below. That was very comfortable!! But the bottom never dried and it ruined a strip of finish about an inch high most of the way across the end of the tub.
Now I make a cushion that is half as tall, just goes above the tub, doesn't get wet, and it's just as comfortable. I wish I had known that befofre. Neither cushion has a cover, because I coudln't think of how to make one, and I have to replace the thing every 5 or 6 years when it gets too dirty, or sags in the middle.
I expect if you treat these things right, they'll look as good after
10 years as they do new. If not, then you can get a whole new tub, and that tub will be ten years newer than it otherwise would be. Arem t bath fitters a lot cheaper than the standard replacement, with plastering and everything? I can think you can dicker about price with bath fitter. More like a car than a Double Whopper.
Is your bathroom like the bathroom in an airplane, where everything is one piece? If not, why would you have to take out the sink and commode?
To give them space to work, I don't think so. Why else?
The bath fitter type price is high, but isn't it still a lot lower than a new tub? That is, if you have a built in tub with the ends covered by the walls. If one end and one side is not against a wall, you can just pull out the tub and put in the new one, I assume. If you have a tub on legs, it's even easier.
He asked for an opinion. I gave one. I'd spend my money the same way. Doing a half assed re-model does not make sense. It is much more costly a year or two from now if they made the wrong decision with the acrylic and want to replace the entire tub.
"RayV" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com:
I've read that the new urethane finishes are the best;they don't yellow and stay glossy;you clean them with 409 or Fantastic.
I haven't seen any DIY kits yet,though.
I was looking around on Google,and a company offers a 2 part urethane paint for $90,for BT refinishing. Kromakote 8901-8;3 qts.(2 resin,1 hardener) I have not tried this product.
Abrasive cleaners should never be used to clean a fiberglass nor porcelain tub. Show the manufacturer's recommendations on how to clean to the wife.
There are lots of non-abrasive cleaning products that work well and really supercede old school abrasive cleaners such as "comet". You can ruin porcelain enamel with comet too.
I can tell you all about it. I bought my house 2 years ago with a bathtub insert and surround. Looked good, but in reality not very good. I would estimate the insert and surround to be at least 5 years old. Not sure which company installed it, probably not Bathtub Fitters, as they keep a database of past customers and I called them first when the problem arouse.
Typically refits are 3 to 4 pieces, I have found from my research. Bathtub insert, surround and ceiling. The problem is keeping the the insert and surrond where they meet sealed from leaks. A molding type of stripe was used in my bathroom. But in various places this pulled away, the strip had lost its stickiness. I used silicone where the stripe had pulled away from the wall. However one too many hot showers in one morning caused the stripe to again pull away and water got between the insert and the bathtub.
As I could not find away to remove the water, after talking to various people, I decided the best thing to do was to have it all pulled out. The surrond was replaced with nice tile. And the bathtub refinished (usually about $250). Its been 3 weeks since the remodel and I LOVE it. Everything works the way its supposed to and looks great!
I would not recommend bathtub inserts/surronds to anyone unless it is a short term fix. My bathroom redo was $2400 (MD prices) and included replacing the plaster wall with cement board. I have to wonder can a bath refitter do it for so much less?
If I had the money I would have replaced the bathtub too, but decided to try the refinish on the old tub, even with the mixed longevity on these finishes I have heard reported.
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