Remodel your tub quickly and easily with a bathtub liner
If you're thinking about replacing your existing bathtub—whether it's because hairline cracks are appearing in its surface, it's becoming increasingly hard to get clean or just because of its lovely avocado green color—you might want to consider a bathtub liner.
What's a Bathtub Liner?
A bathtub liner is a custom made liner that literally fits right over your existing bathtub. They're made from acrylic (the shiny hard stuff they use to make football helmets) and come in a wide range of colors, so they can fit in with virtually any new decor ideas you might have for your bathroom. They are easy to clean, difficult to damage and last forever.
A bathtub or shower liner and tub surround fits right over the existing tub and walls and doesn't require you to remove anything but the knobs on the plumbing fixtures. You can still use all the existing plumbing and the whole thing is usually installed in a day.
Can I install a Bathtub Liner myself?
While there are standard liners available at home stores that DIYer's can install themselves, custom made liners are installed by professionals. The installation process usually begins with a home visit from the installation company. During this visit, they take exact measurements of your existing bathtub and tub surround. These measurements are sent to the manufacturer who builds the liner to exactly match the measurements.
Once the liner has been manufactured and delivered, the tub liner itself can be installed in less than one day.
Can't I just Resurface my Existing Tub?
Yes, reglazing is an option. It's a cheap and quick solution if your tub isn't too dirty or damaged, but there are some real negatives to this process. It's a temporary fix so you'll have to deal with the problem again in a few short years, and some people claim the odor of chemicals used to clean and prepare the bathtub surface prior to reglazing stays in the home for weeks, so that could be a problem.
The hotel industry has generally decided that bathtub liners and tub surrounds are the best way to renovate and update their hard working bathrooms. The adaptability, durability and convenient installation of acrylic liners were undoubtedly factors in this decision.