broken bathtub

[lwhaley22000]

My cheap vinyl bathtub has become brittle over time and now has several places where it has actually failed and has cracks that would yu would think would cause the tub to leak. It does not leak however and I'm guessing that it it actually a vinyl sandwich with closed cell foam in between.

I know that the solution is to tear out and replace the tub but winter in Minnesota is not a good time to do this job. Thankfully the tub doesn't leak but I am curious if anyone knows why it wouldn't leak even though it is broken. I would also like to know whether it worth it for me to consider patching these broken spots and what my optiions might be.

One idea I have is to cover the broken places with epoxy. Another idea is to cover the spots with the sticky marine tape that they use on boat decks or even cover the entire tub with this stuff. Any other ideas are appreciated. The longer I can avoid replacin this crappy bathtub the better for me.

Lawrence in Minnesota

[DerbyDad03]

Better than just epoxy would be some fiberglass cloth and epoxy thickened with filler. It won't be pretty, but it should seal the soon- to-be leaks. Rough up the area where you will be using the glass so the epoxy has some bite.

[bvpowell]

It may be a re-bath retro-fit bath cover. Meaning an even older and uglier cast iron tub may be underneath the vinyl one. Many times people with opt to cover up a tub if its porcelain enamel finish is chipped, exposing the iron. If this is the case, you may have a rusty- slimy mess waiting for you when you tear it out. You could choose to go the cover-up route again, or get the sledge hammer. Breaking up those iron tubs is the easiest way to get them out of a tight bath (very heavy). Anyway, the new vinyl is much "better" meaning it will not turn yellow and get brittle as fast as the old plastics. But, some may say its an ecological disaster because it takes 50,000 years to decompose and your average bath is redesigned every 30 years or so.

[lwhaley22000]

thank you for that excellent idea. I could just cover the entire tub with epoxy and cloth for a permanent repair?

[lwhaley22000]

No sir. It is the original tub since I bought the house brand new. I agree that throwing it away is a poor choice for the environmental concerns. I think you would agree then that fixing it would be for the best. Best for me since it will be less work than replacing it and better for the environment, as you say.

Do you have any other ideas or comments on the previous ideas??

Lawrence in Minnesota

[KLS]

I'm jealous: this sounds like a real gem (aside from the Pepto-Bismol color, of course), and I just want to applaud your restraint in ripping it out and replacing it with today's cheap crap. Surely someone can help you figure out paint/color scheme to help mitigate the visual effect so you continue to enjoy this bathroom.

[lwhaley22000]

Thanks for the sensible reply. I am capable of replacing the tub, not a problem. The problem is that I don't have the time or the energy. As my original post indicated, I am looking for an alternative to replacing the tub. If u have any ideas or suggestions along this line i would greatly appreciate it, thanks again.

Lawrence