Can I Install a Bathtub Liner Myself?

Bathtub Replacement

• When your bathtub is worn, even to the point the surface is damaged, you might be thinking of replacing the whole bathtub and installing a new one. While this may seem like one way to freshen up the look of your bathroom, removing the old tub and installing a replacement is a large undertaking. You must not only remove the tub’s faucet, but you also must remove all or a portion of the tub’s wall surround and the entire drain assembly, which could involve cutting into the wall in the room adjacent to your bathroom. Setting the new tub requires you to install shims on the bottom of the tub until it sits level and to either fix the old surround's portion you had to remove or install a new surround.

Professional Installation

• Various companies install tub liners for homeowners, requiring you to do none of the work to revitalize the look of your bathtub. These companies measure your bathtub and determine what make and model it is. The installer then sends the information to the company’s fabrication center, where a liner that fits your tub’s contours perfectly is made. This liner is sent to the installer, who trims the liner to fit snug against the surround and floor and then adheres the liner to your tub and seals up the seams to keep any water out.

Durability

• A bathtub liner not only completely makes over the bathtub’s appearance, but it also adds to the tub’s durability. The tub liner is made of ABS acrylic, which is the same material used for football helmets, so the tub can withstand more abuse than before. With a professionally installed liner, a bathtub may even withstand a full-force blow from a hammer, according to Pete Goode of This Old House. This means you do not need to deal with future damage to your bathtub, making installing a new liner down the road an unlikely necessity.

Refinishing

• Rather than opting for a professionally installed bathtup liner, you might decide to refinish or reglaze your old bathtub by yourself. The chemicals used to refinish a bathtub are highly toxic, so you must wear a protective suit and a respirator. Any surfaces that do not need to be refinished must be covered up in the bathroom, because you must spray the new finish onto the tub’s surface, and the finish becomes airborne. Unlike with tub liners, you must not use the bathtub for at least 24 hours to allow the new finish to cure completely.