All,
After 40 plus years it’s time to redo my bathroom. I plan on taking the walls down to the studs and starting with fully insulated exterior walls (2in in there now). We plan to use tile for three reasons: 1. There is tile there now, and the wife likes tile, 2. It will help resale value in a few years, and 3) There is a window in the shower (only one in the room). My question at this time is should I use a fiberglass tub? How will that look with the tile? Is fiberglass considered a ‘builders special’?
The house is a 1965 basic ranch, with 1k sq ft on the first floor. It does have a full finsished walk out basement.
Thanks in advance
Replies
As a designer, I'd call your standard formed fiberglass apron tub "builder basic".
It can look OK if the tile surround is standard, but do anything remotely "designer" with the tile and the tub will look cheap.
If it's in the budget, I'd opt for a nice acrylic deck-mount tub (or apron) that has contours for comfort, especially if this is the master or only bath in the house. You should be able to find these from Kohler, Am Std, etc. Get a good mfr, stay away from the cheapies. White is standard, but if your tile color calls for something softer there's nothing wrong with eggshell or ivory.
Just a personal opinion, I like acrylic because it's warmer to the touch. Cleaning is pretty much the same for either cast iron or acrylic - no Comet, no bleach, no anything abrasive on these surfaces.
Take a look at the price of cast iron, it's really pretty affordable. The Kohler Villager is a nice wide shoulder, low-cost unit that is super durable (especially handy if you plan to do the tile yourself)better for re-sale too.
Just my opinion.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Neither, check out American Standard "Americast" Tubs.
The look and feel of cast iron and many lbs. lighter. Won't suck the heat out of the bath water or be cold on the feet when taking a shower.
Just replaced a five year old "Americast" tub that I put in for customer. It developed a low spot that held water after the tub drained. I thought that when we took it out I would find that it was caused by an improper installation(you aren't supposed to put concrete under the tub as we usually do) but install was o.k. It took many phone calls to Am. Standard but they agreed to supply a new tub, and get this- they paid for new Swanstone walls (could'nt get them out in one piece) and all labor to demo, replumb and install tub walls. I was impressed!
As the others have already said the Fiberglass is a basic unit. After a few years they look dull and need waxed occasionally. I had one once, nasty job.
We install a bunch of tubs. American Standard Solar model is a good quality steel tub, nice finish, good price.
Americast is ok. They do seem to chip some and we replaced one last year that was rusting around the drain. We didn't do the original install but there was nothing wrong with the job. So we don't use them very often.
For a big tub (big people like me) the American Standard Standard line bathing pool is nice. Acrylic. Deep. Still a 5' tub and 34"W. DanT