About Bathtub Liners

Sometimes DIY projects are best left to the pros, in which case, I like to call a project a Don't-It-Yourself. Bathtub liners fall into this category for a number of reasons, a few of which I spotted over at About.com. But first, what is a bathtub liner?

According to About.com, "Liners are new "skins" for your bathtub, shower pan, or walls. They are installed over your existing tub or shower; nothing is removed. Liners are made of heavy gauge acrylic. So, if you were to demolish your bathroom and put in a new pre-fab unit, this is the same material that the pre-fab unit is made of. You can re-line just the bathtub or shower pan itself, or you can also add wall surrounds."

Bathtub liners can be a great solution for your bathroom if you're on a budget and can't yet afford a full remodel. It's a faster fix than completely demolishing and replacing your bathroom, so you can finish the remodel in a week, rather than a month.

Beware when using bathtub liners, however. Liners cover up underlying problems instead of fixing them, so if the issue is a moisture one, you could be in for a more costly makeover in the long run. Moisture in bathtubs can create mold and even eat away at structural elements which need to be replaced.

Contact a professional if you'd like to consider installing a bathtub liner. It will cost more than doing it yourself, but you're more likely to get a sealed finish that will outlast the DIY version.

Good luck!