While those “one day” bathroom remodels may seem appealing I would caution against it. I’m sure you’ve seen advertisements that claim no hassle one day bathroom remodels. They try to sell the convenience of virtually no down time, less mess and expense, and show pictures of newly completed projects that appear fresh and clean. They take the necessary measurements, leave to manufacture the parts, and then come back a few weeks later and glue a pvc or acrylic liner on top of the existing tub, and cover the old surround with the same type of liner.
How great does this seem? Less potential for a mess by not having to tearout the existing components. Less hassle of having your bathroom being renovated for at least a week, only having contractors in your home for 1 day. And a bottom line cost that is typically less than many of the other options for a bathroom renovation.
My opinion is that too often this “shortcut” to a new bathroom will only be covering up problems. Typically, you’re looking at renovation options because the current tub or shower is already on the verge of failure. Already aged building materials are still going to continue to degrade underneath these liners. This also usually means some degree of mildew/mold/fungus has already been forming in the existing materials. In most instances no amount of cleaning/treating will penetrate and remove all of the spores that are just waiting to continue spreading, using the old building material in which it has already established itself as food to fuel it’s growth. These liners are glued in place leaving voids between the new and the old, giving moisture an area to stay trapped, perfect breeding ground for nasty odors and molds to grow.
Instead, I would encourage you to check out the other options for renovating your bathroom. These options can still be budget friendly while insuring that the wettest area in your home does not become a bigger problem later. What may have been more a matter of surface problems may very well turn into a structural or health problem given more time to grow. An experienced remodel contractor can give you a several options, using different materials/methods. Some of these options may even be relatively similar in cost to the “cover up” methods, while yes, many of the other options will cost a bit more…….though this also means a more visual appealing finished product. Regardless, a more complete renovation should give you greater peace of mind over a longer period of time.
Here’s what’s under this tub liner
