Updating a bathtub?
by
Tegma
+9
I have an old bathtub with the molded surround all in one pc. I do not have the budget to change out the whole tub, which by the way is perfectly good and stylish looking. However, I hate that it is a one pc. molded type surround. Because of the soap shelf etc. molded into the wall surround, I don't know what I can do to upgrade the look of the whole thing. And because the wall surround is molded to the tub, there's no way to change out the walls without changing the tub, too. Does anyone know if I can cut the molded wall panel away from the tub without ruining the whole thing, &/or having leaks from the shower water if I were to cut? Or, is there some way to give the wall panels an updated look without cutting it away? It is all white with a very nice low tub, great for my age. Any suggestions would help, but bear in mind that the wall panels have dips and curves in them & therefore I cannot tile over it. Any ideas, anyone? Thanks!
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Those one piece tub inserts are slipped and attached to bare studs. The molded wall panels are screwed in along the perimeter and covered with a molding kit. Cutting the wall panel would more likely reveal a stud wall which would have to be covered with either waterproof drywall or cement board then can be tiled. Also the faucet, shower pipe, and spout would need to be removed. Without a photo I can't tell whether the walls can be tiled around the curves and dips with possibly mosaic tile sheets.
Hello use Contact on the walls or Tile Covers they "Peel and Stick"
this is usually one piece and would be hard to update the soap dish, etc that is built in - you could try painting it - you could just use a peel and stick tile sheet on the surround but not on the tub and it's cubby holes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwqvD8IbRkI
You could add some accent tiles, the kind that are peel & stick, in the niche areas for an updated look.
I would not try to remove just the wall panels because the tub doesn't go all the way to the wall and you would have a large gap.
You could also invest in a pretty shower curtain and hang outside the tub surround for a fresh look.
In my experience fiberglass can absolutely be cut. I would use a fine wood blade on a jigsaw or reciprocating saw and go really slow. I would be very hesitant to try it though, honestly. There's the chance you will create cracks etc. I would cut it at least a few inches above the tub.
From there you can use cement board down to the cut line where you could then caulk and seal between the two before then deciding on your tile. Honestly, if I were to attempt this I would be fully prepared to just replace the whole thing if it didn't work out...
That's a tough one for all the reasons mentioned above. The only thing I can think of, is if you wanted to change the color, you can paint the walls, but it too is a big job. And it won't change the function, just the look.
call a company that does this kind of work and ask them about cutting away the top part and what you would have to do -
You could cut the surround away from the tub. But sealing the top of the tub may be a issue.
Plus, once you remove the surround, theres no telling what you may find behind in the way of water damage.
Have you considered painting the surround? Here's a link that would guide you:
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/glaze-old-tiled-bath-30399.html
You could also add a nice trim around your surround, something with peel and stick?
No offense to previous ideas, but paint and peel and stick items are likely to fail given the nature of the tub surround material. It's manufactured to be impervious. You can cut away parts but you'll have to do as William said.
There are various types of skim coat concrete available, you could look into that as a coating that would then need to be waterproofed. I've also seen floating tile systems that can be installed over things, like this: https://www.menards.com/main/bath/showers-shower-doors/tub-shower-surrounds-walls/flexstone-60w-x-96h-shower-wall-panel/flx6096as/p-1484810536769-c-5883.htm?tid=-5186465304082116855&ipos=11
Hello, I hope this helps you out, not really sure aside from replacing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPVCTP847iM
Here's a post that might help https://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/showers-tubs/s-11-easy-ways-to-refresh-your-old-bathtub-19545270