topic Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience?? in Home

Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

sometimesQVCaddict — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:04:06 GMT

I have an original 1958 (when home was built) bathroom! The past few years this bathroom has really grown on me! I LOVE it!! To save money on other remodeling things I need done and am prioritizing, I would like to be economical in fixing my main issue with this particular bathroom. Namely the tile walls in the shower are not properly insulated behind the tiles and therefore you really cannot take a shower for fear of any water leaking into the walls/etc! Caulking the tiles would not solve the bigger issue as I'd fear even the tiniest crack could cause major water issues if taking a shower.

SO...I've been thinking of doing a bathtub/shower wall liner replacement-i.e. like a bathfitter or other similar type product. Have 3 places already to possibly call for estimates when I get my list together. Anyone have experience or has done this and what have you liked or not liked about it?

Besides this, the bathroom as a whole is in remarkabe condition! Which is why I'd like to hopefully solve this issue and make it fully functioning!

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Snowpuppy — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:12:46 GMT

Can you post a pic of the shower wall? I'm not sure what you mean by "there's no insulation" behind the ceramic tiles? Tiles would not be fastened to insulation.

The wall the tiles are mounted on should be drywall specifically for the bath. As old as your home is, the wall may be plaster.

Stay far away from Bathfitter. It's junk. There are cheaper and better ways to fix your shower.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

151949 — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:20:59 GMT

My Mom had this done by Bathfitters. It looked beautiful. She picked one that was solid but had a bit of texture. A friend had hers done over a tile wall - also by Bathfitters. Her's actually looks like a tile enclosure - also very nice.

They put it in right over your tub and whatever your walls are.It is tightly glued to the wall under it.My Mom's was a 1 piece instalation in a mobile home bathroom, my friend's was in a midcentury home they had owned a long time, and the old pink and burgundy tile and the pink tub were just shot.

Anyway, both were very satisfied with their new bathtubs. I can't address how long it lasts because my Mom died shortly after they had it done and I sold their home and my friend only recently - maybe at most 2 years ago - had this done.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

lovesrecess — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:27:22 GMT

I researched this option for my upstairs bathroom...I talked to three companies that do the onepiece installation over the tub and walls. I decided to go with a traditional redo....replacing the tub and putting up tile I have leftover from my master bath redo will actually be cheaper than bathfitters....they may be faster than having a traditional remodel but I spoke with several who had this done and some had mold issues because they installed directly over the existing tile....you need to have hardboard, etc. behind whatever goes up...tile, fiberglass, etc.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

sometimesQVCaddict — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:47:24 GMT

My apologies! I meant not waterproofed behind the tiles. The tiles were just put over the plaster walls. Yes, everything is plaster (both a blessing and a curse). In some regards this home is SOLID, yet being as old as it is, there are things that need to be upgraded or replaced.

Converted to gas from oil a few years ago w new water heater that didn't exist prior. Upgraded to A/C few years ago which was fun (I jest) because there was no ductwork!! so they had to create that from scratch plus this home has 5 levels/floors (it is a zigzag layout, not sure how to best describe it cause it really is one of a kind) so that was an interesting project (but they guys who did it were fabulous and did incredible work!)That took a solid week of 2 guys working pretty much all day every day.

I'm working on bigger projects as I have the funding to do so!

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

CelticCrafter — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:55:24 GMT

We used Bathfitters 5 years ago for our bathroom and haven't had any problems at all with it however it was waaay more expensive than tiling and a new tub.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Nightowlz — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 20:02:54 GMT

You need cement board or backer board in the shower installed before installing the tile. You can also apply Ditra Waterproofing Membrane over the backer board before the tile. They also make a paint on waterproofing membrane that can be painted on before installing the tile.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

kivah — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 21:10:00 GMT

Bathfitters are always advertising on tv - so I checked out reviews - NOT GOOD!!!! I would call in a reputable tile company (check out Yelp) and put in tile with new walls. I replaced myt shower stall/bathtub surround last year - and the guys pulled off the cultured marble from the walls of the shower stall -- and rebuilt the wall - and did the most amazing Tile Job!!! I live in oxnard, ca - if anyone needs a GREAT tile company, I have one.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Libbylady — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 21:11:35 GMT

I was just in Home Depot today and they actually sell the tub & shower sections for refitting. That would be a real savings if you can DIY.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Carmie — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 22:18:59 GMT

I don't have any experience with those units that go right over your old rub and walls, but my son does. He is a HVAC technician and does countless plumbing work in bathrooms.

He is adamant about hating those fit over units like Bathfitters install....he says they are junk and too expensive and he has had to fix many problems with them. Usually they have to be torn out and the original tub needs to be removed. This costs the homeowner double the money.

it is okay to remove everything down to the studs and install a one's or two piece fiberglass tub/ shower unit, if you don't want to do tile again.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:50:27 GMT

My bathroom is updated except for the tub/shower surround...it is fiberglass, old and needs replaced. Removing the surround will be a huge job/expense, one wall of the shower is a shared wall with a closet in the master. I was hoping for bathfitters to do the job...this thread is making me think twice about having the job done.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

RedTop — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 02:24:41 GMT

@sometimesQVCaddict,

Before I would waste money on Bathfitters, I would buy a one piece shower surround at Lowe’s and install it. Overlays can leak, and it’s not going to be any better for it to leak and that water sit between the overlay and the tile that’s there right now, and grow mold. Since you do not have the Duroc board behind your wall tile, it’s best to completely remove what’s there, brace your floor, and put in the one piece unit. Do it once, and do it right.

@Mom2Dogs,

We had one piece fiberglass units installed when we built this house. The units were put in place and the wall studs went up around them. When we remodeled both bathrooms in 2007, WV Rebath workers used saws to cut them out in pieces. That fine dust went everywhere.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

sueeich — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:06:48 GMT

We just recently remodeled my daughter's bathroom and we did a tub to shower conversion. We have three bathrooms in our house and had a bathtub in each one which didn't make sense. Anyway, after much research, we used a product called the onyxcollection.com. My daughter wanted subway tile in her new walk-in shower but I really wanted to avoid using tile. We live in Florida and with all the heat and humidity, it's hard to keep grout clean. Onyx is a solid surface material which is much stronger and sturdier then fiberglass shower panels. We chose the shower wall panels that look like white subway tile. We are so pleased! And you be hard pressed to tell that we didn't use genuine subway tile. There's lots of pictures online to get an idea of the product I'm talking about. Highly recommend.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:25:09 GMT

@sueeich....did a contractor do the install?

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

sueeich — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:41:34 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@sueeich....did a contractor do the install?

Yes. I actually called the folks at Onyx and they gave me names of contractors that install their product in my area. I think you can do-it-yourself, too, but it's not something I'd want to mess with. The Onyx product is absolutely fabulous. As I said, we did a bathtub to shower conversion so the tub was removed and replaced with a shower pan - also an Onyx product. In our last house, the shower in the master bathroom was one of those fiberglass deals and it was kind of cheap and I could never get the shower pan clean. The Onyx shower pan is extremely thick and sturdy and very weighty and much easier to keep clean. We have another bathroom to remodel sometime in the near future and I intend on using the Onyx in that bathroom as well. Very, very pleased.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:56:40 GMT

@sueeich. I have never heard of this company, so I went to their website. I wish I could find a phone number because they want you to fill out a form on line giving my information for them to contact me....not gonna do that, they will houd me for ever. Do you by chance still have their number, but not sure it can be posted here......

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

sueeich — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 13:14:36 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@sueeich. I have never heard of this company, so I went to their website. I wish I could find a phone number because they want you to fill out a form on line giving my information for them to contact me....not gonna do that, they will houd me for ever. Do you by chance still have their number, but not sure it can be posted here......

Did you go to the right website? onyxcollection.com. If you hit the tab "contact us" at the top of the page, their phone numbers are all listed. Anyway, I will post them here for you: (800) 669-9867
(785) 456-8604

I wouldn't worry about being hounded. The people I've talked are very low-key - not like the people at Bath Fitters. We went to a local home show last year and I gave Bath Fitters my name and number since we were interested in bathroom remodeling and they wouldn't leave me alone! I found the people at Onyx to be very nice. They mainly sell their products to bathroom remodelers - they don't do the work themselves so they're not going to bother you.

One more point I want to make about Onyx. Onyx does not go over what you currently have on your walls. That's what I didn't like Bath Fitters. If you've got any mold issues (which sometimes you don't know about until you take down what you currently have on your walls) or you want to replace the plumbing because it's old, the Bath Fitters stuff just goes over that. So if you've got a leak or some other problem behind that walls, you're not correcting the problem. When my installer put in the Onyx, everything was removed down to the studs; he replaced our shower valve and installed new waterproof drywall. The Onyx product was then installed over brand new walls. I think that's a huge difference.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

redwingsgal — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 13:28:21 GMT

My advice, as we looked into this briefly a few years ago, but went the traditional way, is that if there is water or a leak of any kind behind your wall, this MUST be fixed before you do the "rebath" install. Otherwise, the studs etc behind your beautiful new shower will be rotting away every day!

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 22:11:23 GMT

@sueeich...thank you... I swear I did not see a phone number, so thank you so much.....We were trying to avoid taking out the walls, since the current unit is built around the 3 walls.

Well I will call anyway to see what they say. I am in a rural area that might be a hinderance as car as a competent installer.

Re: Bathtub/Shower Wall Liner replacement -- Anyone w/experience??

bonnielu — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 22:19:12 GMT

Had mine done --- same process as Bathfiters. Over a year and still looks nice and is working for us.