[shannon1]

Bath Fitter- RUN!!!!

Do not get Bath fitter to do the tub. My husband and I got suckered into that one. It was about $3600.00 to have them fit a "cover" over the old tub. A custom made tub for our bathroom would have been around $500.00 installed. We just didn't chek into things properly. Do not do it!

The wife and I have just one bathroom. It is a 30 year old room that looks like it's had it even when scrubbed clean. Now we see this Bath Fitter company talking about how in one day they can put us back into this century again. I know it's pricey work, but we can't see a way around this problem all things considered unless we just forget it and live with it as is. We'd like to hear what people have to say about Bath Fitter..especially those who may have had them do this work in their home. Thank you..!

GoodoleBob

 

[jrp604@peoplepc.com]

Very, very expensive!!

We needed two bathrooms updated so decided to give Bath Fitters a call along with two other estimates. To totally remodel both rooms (tub & surround, toilet, counters, etc. - everything) was $2500 less than Bath Fitters to do just the tubs, they wanted $3900 for each tub. Too rich for my blood, I went with having everything replaced.

 

[Female]

Replacing tub & shower wall

Home Depot also offers the service of covering your old tub, and installing a shower wall that is either smooth, or molded to look like a wall of individual tiles [without the potential mess of grout of course!]. Their estimate last summer for my bathroom, which is small with a smaller than standard tub, was $2200 with the smooth wall and $2550 for the "tiled" wall. The smooth came only in white, and the tiled in white or off-white, as of summer 2007.

Their estimate seemed like a lot of money till I read the estimates here. I was also afraid the fake wall might look cheap compared to real tile, in a house I want to increase the value of to sell. And although a tenant or new owner wouldn't know the difference, while I'm living in the house myself, I think I would always be conscious of the delapidated tub underneath the nice new one. Weren't bathtubs circa mid-century made of cast iron? There could be a serious rust problem underneath the old tub, just waiting to break through to the other side!

 

[biketom5]

I had this done to our main bathroom in July 2006 and it was completed in just 1 day! It was about $4k, but to me it was worth it. The tub was in really bad shape (25 year old porcelain with several chipped areas). The old ceramic wall tile was removed and replaced with the new ceramic look-a-like walls. An existing window was cleverly wrapped with a sturdy vinyl trim that sealed out any chance of water leaking behind the wall which was aproblem with the old ceramic tile. The drain and faucet were also replaced with a Moen single lever type replacing an original Gerber (washer type) 2 handle beut! I had a soap dish, corner shelf and safety bar installed too.

 

[Ron6519]

From what you said, you don't really need this company. Any contractor could do what you want. I would get estimates from both contingents.
The advantage of Bathfitters is that they can retrofit the tub and surround without the usual demo and dust scenario. It doesn't address the plumbing. You still have the old waste and supply pipes in the wall.
Ron

 

[rgruenhaus]

Bath Fitter Lifetime Warranty

I work for a Bath Fitter Franchise in western Massachusetts. Bath Fitter can put an acrylic tub over your tub and install a one piece acrylic wall in one day. But, don't take my word for it. When the installation is complete every customer gets a lifetime warranty AND a customer comment card. Contact your local Bath Fitter and ask to read some of those comment cards. We advertise one day installation (In some extreme cases it may be 2) and if we are not telling the truth, I am sure some customers will have some not very nice things to say about us.

Also, it is not cheap. It is a great product that we get a fair price for. Call for a free estimate and then you will have all of the information you need to make an informed decision.

I hope this helps
John

I have seen written that the "lifetime Warranty" is only for the Acrylics, not any accessories such as the faucets and attachments.

Rob

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Lifetime warranty is worth what after a company declares bankruptcy. It amazes me how many companies "sell" their work, increase it's cost by building a value into it by offering a "lifetime warranty" as if they're so damn good they can warrant their work forever and ever. And homeowners just gobble this right up like it means something.

Kithens and bathrooms are the 2 rooms that define and actually sell your house. Bathfitter is a quick fix, nothing more. Who dreams of a bathfitter white acrylic bathroom in their dream home?

I understand many are turned off by a full renovation including tile work. It's a lot of work and a big mess. Many HOs are aware of the pitfalls of tile, but don't understand that most of tile work done by tract home builders and developers was crap to begin with and often tiled right onto sheetrock, greenboard if they're generous, and most of the subsequent pitfalls stem from that.

I can't fathom how in this day and age, when anyone can walk into any number of home improvment chain stores and see the thousands of different tiles from ceramic to porcelian to granite and marble, in the multitude of colors and finishes available, how anyone could even consider a plain white acrylic tub and surround anywhere except in a hospital or nurshing home.

 

[rgruenhaus]

True! The one reason I see is that when a HO tries to get a contractor to do a facelift on the bathroom it ends up being a lot of individual items and one I have talked with suggests that I pick up the materials to save money! I am not a contractor or a delivery person for a contractor and if they want to do the work they should know that they need to bring the materials themselves. That's why Bath Fitters gets some customers for such high amounts. They have new tubs that are not liners. I would never get a cover for an old tub anyway. It's asking for trouble unless you are selling the house soon.

 

[jazzjunkysue]

Avoid all tub liners: Get a real replacement

I just had my tub/surround replaced by a real, old-fashioned local plumber. He used a real tub, Americast, and swanstone surrond: (It's 1/4 corian. solid as a rock).

I love it.

I priced 3 liner companies and they came out either very close in price or alot more. I was stunned.

The sales pitch is astounding, and all 3 told me how bad the other 2 were. I decided to believe all 3 of them and get a regular replacement and I'm glad I did.

My plumber makes alot of money tearing out the cheap liners. They bubble and crack and leak. Don't do it.

The only drawback is that it does take 3 days to replace with real materials. But there's no guarantee that a liner company will actually do it in one day, anyway.

Think of it this way: By the time you discover they can't do it in one day, what are you going to do about it? They've already torn apart your old tub and it's unusable. So, are you going to take them to court?

Skip the liners and get a real americast tub and swanstone surround.

 

[Steve_Jones]

Alternative To Bath Fitter

Have you though of installing a modular steam shower instead of a bath fitter unit? Here is a picture of one.

You can purchase them online I would highly recommend http://www.my-bath.com this is where i purchased the one for my mothers house.

 

[cj1802]

bathfitter

:no: i worked for a bathfitter for a year, the product is overpriced and tends to not go in as easy as it says. id love for you to contact me on this and i can tell you more.

The wife and I have just one bathroom. It is a 30 year old room that looks like it's had it even when scrubbed clean. Now we see this Bath Fitter company talking about how in one day they can put us back into this century again. I know it's pricey work, but we can't see a way around this problem all things considered unless we just forget it and live with it as is. We'd like to hear what people have to say about Bath Fitter..especially those who may have had them do this work in their home. Thank you..!

GoodoleBob

 

[Linda from Bflo]

My husband and I are having BathFitters come out this Saturday to give us an estimate. Our neighbors had BathFitters redo their tub/surround three yrs ago and it looks like it was just done yesterday. They said its very easy to keep clean and no problems. For us, we have a 27 yr old autistic daughter, the one day process of being without our only bathroom is worth the cost. Our tub looks so filthy and I've used everything to try and clean it, but it looks awful. WE looked into having the tub reglazed first but found cost to be about $500 and everyone we talked to said it doesn't last and the fumes from this are terrible. Anyone else used BathFitters?

 

[courtney.burrus]

Hi, I’ve gotten a price for a new acrylic bath tub to replace the old one. With a seamless wall. You’d suggest not? But it Ed many years ago

 

[chandler48]

@courtney.burrus I think you hold the prize for responding to the oldest thread available. It is 19 years old, so the audience is definitely limited. If you have a problem or a question, start your own thread and give us a ton more information than you did and post pictures if needed so we can see what you see.