# Has anyone ever used one of those tub overlays? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251 "2018-06-01T12:16:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/1 "2018-06-01T12:16:37Z")
Like Rebath or the like? I just did a gut job on one of my rentals that ended in March. Now I have another tenant leaving and the bathroom needs work. I’d like not to spend the time to gut the bathroom and replace the tub and surround. And another issue is that I may have the porcelain enamel tub rusting from the bottom up. Fucking tubs installed wrong in all of my rentals. I have a prospective new tenant who desperately wants in July 1. I’[d like to keep some cash flow coming since the remodel on the other was costly. I know I am delaying the inevitable but… ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/2 "2018-06-01T12:54:19Z")
Is it a free standing tub like a claw foot? My understanding is that Rebath and the ilk tend to specialize in tub/shower units which are installed against a wall at the time of the build. We have one of those in our “old” bathroom which originally had a claw foot tub. Looking at it, you can tell it once had one of those Rebath refurbishments. We seldom use it because the shower in the master bath is so much better. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/3 "2018-06-01T13:02:26Z")
It’ll do, but keep in mind, you’re getting what you pay for. The thing I don’t like about them is that they are flimsy. When you step into them, they make all sorts of noises. And the tub moves underneath your feet which leaves you with a feeling that you’re about to fall on your ass. And this problem is only compounded by the fact that the tub is slippery. On the plus side, they’re easier to clean. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/4 "2018-06-01T14:17:05Z")
I had a tub liner installed by Bathfitters twenty years ago, and it has held up just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/5 "2018-06-01T14:59:34Z")
My Bathfitters liner was installed about a year ago, and so far so good. I’m happy with the quality, and no leaks so far. The walls are bowing a bit, which makes me think the installer didn’t remove the damaged drywall like he said he would, but that’s a problem specific to my installer. The Sales guy said that my region was the busiest in Bathfitter’s entire company because of a housing boom that happened over the past few years. I imagine they’re using whoever available for installs. Depending on the severity of the rust in the tub, the liner might be a fairly permanent fix. You might be able to get decades out of the liner. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/6 "2018-06-01T17:14:40Z")
My father-in-law had one installed. It looked cheap, it felt “wrong” when you stepped into the tub and it had big warnings not to use any kind of abrasive cleaner on it. Somehow, in a bathroom that hadn’t been updated in 50 years, it made the tub look like the worst thing there. I’m guessing there have to be different levels of quality available, because no business could survive selling that level of bottom of the line junk and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/7 "2018-06-01T19:26:08Z")
I’ve done it twice. The first time, they had to make 3 prototypes before they had one that fit my very old tub; I decided to go this route when I found out that they would have had to cut a section out of my house to remove the tub. I sold the house shortly afterwards, so IDK how it’s held up. I did use both of them quite a few times, and didn’t have any problems with it. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/8 "2018-06-01T21:24:22Z")
Most people don’t take baths anymore. Rip that old tub out and put down a drain pan and then tile everything across the floor and walls and install frameless glass doors. Probably wouldn’t be more than double what those cheap-ass tub overlays will cost you, but will quadruple the value of the investment to your home value. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/9 "2018-06-02T00:15:45Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Most people don’t take baths anymore. Rip that old tub out and put down a drain pan and then tile everything across the floor and walls and install frameless glass doors. Probably wouldn’t be more than double what those cheap-ass tub overlays will cost you, but will quadruple the value of the investment to your home value. What if the tenant who’s moving in or a future tenant desires a bathtub? ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/10 "2018-06-02T07:49:51Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I had a tub liner installed by Bathfitters twenty years ago, and it has held up just fine. Mine was installed about 5 years ago and I’m very pleased with it. The installer was meticulous with both the tub liner and walls and Bathfitter guarantees the product for life. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/11 "2018-06-02T13:28:11Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Most people don’t take baths anymore. Rip that old tub out and put down a drain pan and then tile everything across the floor and walls and install frameless glass doors. Probably wouldn’t be more than double what those cheap-ass tub overlays will cost you, but will quadruple the value of the investment to your home value. While true, I do find it somewhat amusing that I am reading this from the comfort of a nice, warm bath. I personally would never want to live in a place without a tub. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/12 "2018-06-02T16:09:03Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Most people don’t take baths anymore. Rip that old tub out and put down a drain pan and then tile everything across the floor and walls and install frameless glass doors. Probably wouldn’t be more than double what those cheap-ass tub overlays will cost you, but will quadruple the value of the investment to your home value. We considered that several units ago, but were told that A. we would limit our rental pool, some people love baths, and people bath children (and pets!) in tubs. And B. it would bite us on resale. Remember, these are investment multi-properties. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-used-one-of-those-tub-overlays/815251/13 "2018-06-04T04:16:33Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Most people don’t take baths anymore. Rip that old tub out and put down a drain pan and then tile everything across the floor and walls and install frameless glass doors. Probably wouldn’t be more than double what those cheap-ass tub overlays will cost you, but will quadruple the value of the investment to your home value. Good idea, I had bathfitter in, a single long day they bashed the 60s cast iron porcelain tub into lumps, hauled out the old tub, tile wall and ancient shower doors and put in a seriously wonderful hanicap access shower stall and barn door style glass door for just under $5k. Year and a bit later, still in love with it. Grab bars, seat, fixed and handheld shower in a custom spot, 2 corner shelves, they also put the plastic wall stuff on the ceiling to protect it from spray.