If your tub and shower look tired, you have probably seen two very different offers: a custom acrylic liner installed over what you already have, or a full remodel where the old tub and tile come out. Both are real options. They just fix different problems.
We should say up front where we stand. Bath Design Boston does full remodels, tub-to-shower conversions and custom tile work. We do not install liners. So this is not a sales pitch for liners, but it is not a hit piece on them either. Our goal is to help you figure out which kind of job your bathroom actually needs before anyone gives you a quote.
What a liner is
A liner is a custom-made acrylic shell that fits over your existing tub, often paired with acrylic wall panels that go over your existing walls. Bath Fitter, a well-known liner brand, describes its product this way: “Our sleek acrylic baths are custom made to fit right over your existing tub, so there’s no demolition and no mess.”
Its walls work the same way: “Bath Fitter walls are a unique one-piece design that is installed over your existing wall.”
The key words in both are “over your existing.” A liner keeps the tub, the walls and the plumbing behind them in place. That is exactly why it can be a good fit for some bathrooms and the wrong fit for others.
When a liner can be enough
A liner is worth a serious look when all of these are true:
- The tub is solid. It does not flex, crack or move when you stand in it.
- There are no signs of water getting behind the walls: no soft spots, no loose or hollow-sounding tile, no stains on the ceiling below.
- You like the layout. The tub stays where it is, the drain stays where it is, and you are not adding a window, a bench or a niche that needs new framing.
- The faucet and valve work fine, or you are happy to replace only the trim.
- You want a cleaner, brighter surface, not a different bathroom.
If that describes your bathroom, a liner company may be the simpler route, and you should get their opinion. Bath Fitter says its installers check the base first: “Before we install, a Bath Fitter expert will do any necessary cleaning and repairs to your current system to make sure there’s a strong foundation.”
When it is time for a full remodel
A liner covers what is there. It cannot change what is there. These are the situations where we usually recommend opening the walls:
- You suspect water damage. Soft drywall, loose tile, a musty smell, peeling paint on the ceiling below, or a tub that moves are all signs that water may be reaching the framing or subfloor. The only way to know is to look, and the only way to fix rot or mold properly is to remove the damaged material. If there is rot or mold, it has to be removed and repaired before anything new goes over it or in its place.
- You want a different layout. Moving the drain, turning a tub into a walk-in shower, going curbless, adding a bench or a recessed niche, or enlarging the shower all involve plumbing and framing work behind the walls.
- You have a jetted tub, or you want a deeper one. Bath Fitter’s own FAQ is clear on both. On jetted tubs: “it is not possible to cover a jetted tub with PermaFit™ bathtub.” On depth: “we cannot make your existing tub deeper by installing a liner.” (They note they can offer replacement options instead.)
- You want tile or stone. Acrylic panels and tile are different looks. If you want porcelain, natural stone or a custom tile pattern, that is a tile job with proper waterproofing behind it.
- The plumbing is old. If the shower valve is failing or the supply lines are original, a remodel is the time to replace them while the wall is open.
- The rest of the room needs work too. Floors, vanity, lighting and ventilation are often tired at the same time as the tub. If you are going to open up the room anyway, it usually makes sense to do it once.
A quick self-check before you call anyone
- Press on the tile and drywall around the tub. Anything soft or loose?
- Stand in the tub and shift your weight. Does it flex or creak?
- Look at the ceiling under the bathroom (if there is a room below). Any stains?
- Is the grout cracked along the tub edge, or has caulk been redone many times?
- Write down what you want that the bathroom does not have today: a bigger shower, a bench, storage, a lower step-in.
If everything is solid and your wish list is mostly “make it look new,” a liner may be all you need. If you found soft spots or stains, or your wish list involves moving things, plan on a remodel.
What a full remodel with us involves
When we do a full bathroom remodel, we remove the old fixtures and tile, inspect and repair what is behind them, update the plumbing rough-ins as needed, and then build back with new waterproofing, tile, fixtures and vanity. In Massachusetts, plumbing work must be done by a licensed plumber, plumbing permits are required for changing fixtures, and building permits may be needed for structural changes. We can guide you through that process, and your local inspector has the final word. For more on what the permit side looks like, see our guide to tub-to-shower conversion permits in Boston: https://blog.bathdesignboston.com/tub-to-shower-conversion-boston-permit/
You can see our full remodel and tub-to-shower conversion services here:
- Full bathroom remodels: https://bathdesignboston.com/full-remodels.html
- Tub-to-shower conversions: https://bathdesignboston.com/tub-to-shower.html
Not sure which one you need?
Send us a few photos of the tub, the walls and the ceiling below, and tell us what you want the bathroom to do. If it looks like a liner job, we will tell you so. If it looks like something is going on behind the walls, we will explain what we see and what a remodel would involve. Request a free estimate: https://bathdesignboston.com/quote.html