Bathtub Liners

[cabinetman]

We're starting on our remodel of the second bath. We considered having the tub re-glazed/painted, and decided that SWMBO doesn't want any fumes. So that leaves us with installing a new tub, or getting one of those drop in liners. Has anyone here done this, and if so, any pointers? What's the cost, and can it be a DIY?
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[cgallery]

I've used tubs that had liners, and they didn't fit well, and standing there taking a shower it was like walking on bubbled vinyl.

Couldn't you have the tub finish done and leave an exhaust fan in the bath window running on low for a day? I would imagine that would take care of the fumes.

[shoottx]

Have it done and send her to the a spa for a couple of days, you both will be relaxed at the end. And you will have a reglazed tub!

[cabinetman]

How does re-glazing/painting hold up?
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[eccentrictinkerer]

I've had three tubs done for customers using the 'Porcelite' process. The operator wore a hazmat suit with a repirator and I set up a fan to exhaust.

When finished, the odors disappeared within an hour. The operator said that the finish is just a version of the catalyzed paint used on cars.

It cost about $325 a tub. My daughters have each had their tubs done by this outfit and the finish has survived 5 years of little kids, so it must be tough stuff!

[shoottx]

Maybe you could get it done with a skull and flames motif!

[cabinetman]

When finished, the odors disappeared within an hour. The operator said that the finish is just a version of the catalyzed paint used on cars.

One of the jobsites where I was installing some work, a tub was being done, and was told the finish was an epoxy based paint. The car finishes I understand to be a base coat/clear coat to be polyurethane. Maybe there are different methods. The more I look at the tub the more I try to talk myself into thinking I could do it. It didn't look that difficult. The tub was cleaned, then an acid solution was applied to etch the surface. Then a catalyzed adhesion promoter primer was applied. Then the color coat.

Of course, it looks easy watching someone that does that work every day.

Maybe you could get it done with a skull and flames motif!

You may have hit on a new trend. I'm not into skulls and flames...maybe Bruce is. But I'll bet doing an airbrush art piece in a tub, and done with taste, could be one of those avant-garde trends. I'll bet the guy from Perdue Chickens who claims he's not obsessed, has one in his tub.
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[jziegler]

The previous owner of our house had a liner put in. It looks good, but there is one area where you can definately feel the vinyl move when you stand there. I didn't notice it when we first moved in (a little over four years ago) but it is definately there now. It might be me being more observant, or it might have happened a while after it went in. I think that I was given the paperwork, so I might be able to look up rough pricing info, but it was done probably 5-6 years ago.

Jim

[chopnhack]

FWIW, I put in a American Standard cast iron tub - the new ones where the cast iron is probably 1/32" thick
anyways, i had put concrete under the tub to conform to irregularities, but apparently not enough, so i have a spot that feels kinda of spongy too, eh... it can happen even when its not vinyl!

[cabinetman]

The previous owner of our house had a liner put in. It looks good, but there is one area where you can definately feel the vinyl move when you stand there. I didn't notice it when we first moved in (a little over four years ago) but it is definately there now. It might be me being more observant, or it might have happened a while after it went in. I think that I was given the paperwork, so I might be able to look up rough pricing info, but it was done probably 5-6 years ago.

Jim

That is what worries me. Did you watch them install the tub? Do they put some kind of adhesive all over the tubs surface that acts like a "filler/adhesive"?

Ordinarily I would just replace the tub, but it's a logistics problem. The long wall that the tub sits against is 6' long. The tub that's there is a 60" (standard). At the foot of the tub, the differential in length is made up of a buildup that is tiled from the wall to the tub (about 12"). It's the same tile as on all the walls, and there's no way of removing that tile or the wall tile without damage, if the tub is removed. That tile isn't available anymore and we don't want to replace it.

I can guess that a new tub will likely cost close to a drop in liner, so it's not just the cost of the tub. It's a toss-up between a liner or re-glazing.
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[JimD]

I put an inexpensive "steel" tub into our upstairs guest bath. I had never installed a tub before and threw the styrofoam that came under it in the package into the dumpster. My builder asked why it was not under the tub. I told him I was thinking of putting in concrete and he recommended just putting the styrofoam under it. I did and in the few times I have showered in there, I do not remember any movement. The builder indicated the standard practise is to just install the custom moulded styrofoam that somes with the tub under it.

Jim

[cabinetman]

I put an inexpensive "steel" tub into our upstairs guest bath. I had never installed a tub before and threw the styrofoam that came under it in the package into the dumpster. My builder asked why it was not under the tub. I told him I was thinking of putting in concrete and he recommended just putting the styrofoam under it. I did and in the few times I have showered in there, I do not remember any movement. The builder indicated the standard practise is to just install the custom moulded styrofoam that somes with the tub under it.

Jim

That's an interesting suggestion. Were there directions that came with the tub? I would think that in time the styrofoam would crush/compress and the drain alignment might change. Is that protocol for a tub installation?
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[Tom Slick]

That's an interesting suggestion. Were there directions that came with the tub? I would think that in time the styrofoam would crush/compress and the drain alignment might change. Is that protocol for a tub installation?
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stryofoam is becoming common for building tiled shower floors instead of a concrete bed. caveat is this stryofoam is engineered as a base instead of a shipping material.

http://www.schluter.com/8_4_kerdi_sh..._material.aspx

[cabinetman]

stryofoam is becoming common for building tiled shower floors instead of a concrete bed. caveat is this stryofoam is engineered as a base instead of a shipping material.

http://www.schluter.com/8_4_kerdi_sh..._material.aspx

That link is for a shower kit. Is it the same stuff for a tub?
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[Tom Slick]

my point was they are using styrofoam as a base under tile which is much more flexible than a cast iron tub.