Is Bath Fitter Worth The Cost? 6 Things You Should Know

The bath fitter is the name that is interchangeably used for both the company that manufactures the bathroom acrylic bathtub fittings and the product itself. Bath fitter has built their business around providing an affordable option to giving an old bathtub a new look by overlaying over the existing tub rather than removing and replacing it.

The lowest price of a bath fitter is $800, and the highest is around $3,500. On average, a bath fitter, labor, and any modification would incur an estimated cost of about $1,000 to upwards of $10,000. The total cost depends on variables, e.g., material quality, bathtub size, and finishes. The Bath Fitter cost is about half of a tub or shower replacement. 

You can expect to spend anything in between or sometimes even more.

It is impossible to quantify and have a fixed and summarised cost of a bath fitter, but you can have a quotation from any manufacturing company to study, make a pick, and then do the math.

What does the Average Bath Fitter Tub Cost?

Average prices are hard to determine because every bath liner installation has thousands of custom options. The cost of a bath fitter starts at $800 and goes up to roughly $3,500. You can save money on wall repair if your bathroom is in good shape and only requires little preparation. Otherwise, you’ll need to replace the shower valve and install a new shower liner with antimicrobial properties.

Bath fitter is a significant investment, but when you sum up the cost of replacing a bathtub or doing shower conversions, you will be surprised to learn that it costs more than installing a bath fitter.

When talking about the cost of a bath fitter, consider these factors:

1. Bath fitter cost
2. Labor cost
3. Modifications/Add-ons 

Bath Fitter Average Cost

The bath fitter product, either tub style, shower, or wall panel, is priced differently and depends on: 

• The manufacturing company you are sourcing the bathroom fittings from since companies sell their products differently.
• The region or the state where you reside. Different states offer different prices.
• The quality of material used to make the bath liner, e.g., acrylic, fiberglass, or vinyl.
• The design of the fittings.
• The size of your tub and the measurement of your bathroom shower stall.

Generally, a bath fitter tub will cost around $3,000. Give or take. That is about $800 for the tub and $2,000 for the surrounding wall.

On the other hand, a bath fitter shower includes a wall-to-wall panel covering the floor in one seamless sheet and will cost you between $2,500 and $3,000. 

Labor Cost

Labor charges vary from company to company. When you reach out to the company of choice concerning the bath fitter installation cost, they prefer to come to your house. 

The good thing about bath fitter manufacturing companies is that they will come, but they will not hold you liable or charge you any site visit fee. They will also refrain from pressuring you to buy their product.

When they come, they will collect data on;

Size of the Bathtub Plus the Surface Area the Shower Surround 

• Aside from determining the price of bathtub liners, the shower size also determines the installation cost. 

• Installing a big size bathroom space cannot be the same as the cost of installing a smaller-sized area. The wall panel uses adhesives to stick; meaningless or more adhesives will be used. 

Condition of Your Bathroom

• If the water from a bath cannot drain well and the bathroom stays wet, the chances of mold growing become high, so if your bathroom has mold, You will be charged an extra fee for cleaning service.

• And if the water is not draining well, it means the drainage system is somehow clogged, and it will either mean unclogging or completely changing the sewer pipes. Consider that another extra cost.

Modifications & Other Additions

• Aside from the material and labor cost, you may find the need to change or replace some complementing details such as towel rails and soap holders. Though their cost might be minimal, they will still affect the final bill.

On average, a manufacturing company might charge a labor fee from $500 to $900. Any other add-ons and modifications will all be based on a negotiated agreement. And if any shower valves need replacing, that could cost you around $400.

So, is Bath Fitter Worth It?

A bath fitter is well worth the money spent on acrylic bath liners and installation since they can last a lifetime. For starters, their bath liner is composed of tough acrylic that is stylish and durable.

Advantages

• They have antimicrobial attributes. It ensures that no microorganisms will thrive in your bath area

• The best thing about a bath fitter is that you are guaranteed a lifetime of the investment because a bath fitter is made out of a quality material that is resistant to damage

• Installing a bath fitter saves you time and money as they are installed within a day and be ready within 48hrs

• Bath fitters are not slippery, so you are assured that there will be no accidents around your bathroom

• The surface of the bath fitter is glossy, so you wipe it to clean it. It ensures low maintenance

• Bath fitters can never cause mold in your bathroom because, for one, the tub and seamless walls fit so well that it does not have any space for water to leak through. But it will cause mold if you do not involve a professional who knows his job

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJNJA1j9bPA

What Exactly is a Bath Fitter?

A bathroom bath fitter remodeling is a liner fitted over an old tub or shower, and its walls look as good as new. We must first understand the product to better analyze bath fitters as a bathroom remodeling solution.

We live in a hectic world where no one has the time for remodels that take forever to get done. When bath fitters were manufactured, they were meant to counter the hassle of completely replacing a bathtub or shower. 

Today through the use of bath fitter products, you have the option of quickly and simply remodeling your bathroom in just a day. It dramatically helps you reduce the money you would otherwise incur in replacing the entire bathroom. 

They come in: 

• Different types and a range of styles featuring tubs and showers are similar to the actual ones available in the market

• Different wall panel styles and patterns

• Endless color options to complement the rest of the bathroom

• Fixtures and finishes to match your taste

As you plan your bathroom or shower remodel and favor a bath fitter, you may be disappointed that no bath fitter in the market is compatible with your old bathtub or shower.

Not to worry, though, as most companies offer custom-made designs for such cases. So all you need to do is place a call and give out your requirements.

Bath fitters interactive design tool and millions of installations mean you can be confident in the professional installation of your new dream bathroom makeover. Their design gallery can inspire you with design ideas to transform your current bathtub or walk-in shower.

Provide options from basic tub liners to shower renovations with shower doors and seats.

Manufacturing a bath fitter that fits into your existing bathroom takes about two weeks. When they’re done, they will come and install it for you.

Bath Fitter Material

Having established what a bath fitter is, let us find out what it entails. The average ceramic bathroom has its list of disadvantages;

1. The tiles can be hard to clean and may end up getting stained.
2. Exposure to frequent water and moisture makes it grow mold.
3. They are prone to frequent wear and tear.
4. When the time for a bathroom renovation comes, a typical bathtub and shower require plenty of time to install.

Given the above disadvantages of a normal bathtub and shower, the bath fitter company brothers thought of designing a product that is not these disadvantaged.

So they went the acrylic way and designed different tubs with a one-piece wall and shower liner according to tub/shower regiments and shower stall measurements in the market today.

Qualities of the Acrylic material:

• It is a top-quality material
• It is easy to maintain
• It is not porous and does not let air or water pass through
• It is easy to clean and does not stain

The above acrylic qualities make the manufacturing companies confident enough to guarantee the bath fitter products with limited lifetime warranties. It means that the company will fix whatever happens during its lifetime.

Over time, different manufacturing companies have tried incorporating other materials of lesser quality into bath fitter remodeling solutions to give the product a broader market as a more affordable product.

Today, you can go for a bath fitter made from either:

1. Acrylic liners
2. Polyvinyl chloride liners (PVC vinyl liners)
3. Fiberglass liners

It is also important to note that bath fitters are a franchise manufactured by different companies, offering many possibilities.

Installing a DIY Bath Fitter Option

Bathroom bath fitter installment is not always a do-it-yourself project but needs a professional contractor’s skills and craft.

The fitting can be difficult for a non-specialist. Still, many contractors take pride in their work and sometimes go the extra mile to ensure that the job is exquisitely done according to how you want your bathroom to appear.

It involves disconnecting and re-installing:

1. Bathtub overlay
2. Shower surround
3. Install new bathtub faucet & shower valves
4. Optional soap holders

It also involves applying adhesive to the wall before installing a wall panel liner. The adhesive keeps the wall panel in place.

Bathroom Remodeling Alternatives

Some alternatives can be repairing leaks, replacing fixtures, or painting the walls. Opting for a bath fitter is outside your budget, but you can still work on small projects in your bathroom to look brand new.

If you are thinking of a bath remodeling, it means that your bathroom has dutifully served its purpose, and you are now tired of the look of your old bathroom tub or shower and desire something different.

If so, then you must be wondering what choice of bathroom remodeling to go for:

• To repair your bathtub
• To replace your bathtub
• To Install a bath fitter

It is fair to say that whichever remodeling option you go for hugely depends on the budget you have at hand.

Repairing the Old Bathtub/Shower

Repairing an old bathtub or shower means:

• Unclogging drainage pipes and shower heads
• Repairing leaks
• Cleaning molds and stains on the tiles
• Replacing fixtures like the shower head and soap dishes, shower curtains, clogged pipes, etc
• Repainting faded walls
• Replacing chipped and cracked tiles etc

The problem with repairing as a means of remodeling is that the bathroom will need fixing, walls will need updating, and molds and stains will need repair.

There is no lifetime guarantee of this process, and you may end up in a never-ending circle of repairs.

Replacing an Old Bathtub or Shower Remodeling

A replacement tub often involves a complete bathroom overhaul. It means you will have a contractor demolish the ceramic walls, remove the old bathtub, and install a new one in place of the old one.

Bathrooms were used purely as a utility; bathroom remodeling now focuses on luxury and enjoyment.

Replacing is the same as building a bathroom from scratch and may end up throwing away 99.9% of what is in the bathroom. It won’t hurt to hold onto at least one or two things, e.g., mirrors, to save a little on expenditure.

The thing is that replacing something is twice the work and may take several weeks, inconveniences, and debris/clutter spread all over.

Bath Fitter Tub and Shower Remodels Solutions

A bath fitter is a new concept in town, and many people still do not clearly understand what it genuinely is.

Bath fitters products provide a wide range of tub to shower, extra-large shower, and wall panel components that come in acrylic liners fitted on top of an existing bathtub or shower. Think of it as clothing for a bathtub or a shower enclosure.

The idea is to easily remodel and redecorate your bathroom by keeping your old bathtub or shower unit and still achieving a new brilliant look.

What You Should Know About Bath Fitter Liners

Bath Fitter employs a non-porous acrylic tub liner, perfectly smooth and easy to clean with soap and water. These tub liners also have non-skid surfaces and are resistant to rust and chipping. Bath Fitter backs its acrylic products with a lifetime warranty.

Accessorizing something means adding a thing or two to another to make it more useful and look more attractive. Bath fitters do just that. 

Suppose you are thinking of a bathroom remodel. In that case, bath fitters offer an unlimited range of versatile tub and shower fitting options for you to choose from, ranging from various designs to various styles and colors.

The bath fitter idea was birthed in 1984 and is a North American leading company concerned with bathroom renovations. 

Their products have slowly crept into the American market and have branches all over the states.

Final Thought

During the installation process, an issue that is not in the portfolio of a bath fitter contractor to handle may come up. Their job is to install the bath fitter or convert your bathtub into a shower or vice versa. All of these depend on how you wanted the job done in the first place.

When something else crops up, say something needs replacing somewhere else in the bathroom, you will know a good and noble contractor if they point out that problem to you and maybe even give you a referral.

In this case, you will not be obliged to, but it won’t hurt if you tip them to say thank you.