Bathroom remodel question

[futurebeachbum]

I'm looking at redoing the baths at one of our places in SoWal. They are are about 15 yrs old and the color is almond-ish and white seems to be a much more desireable color now. I can easily manage switching out the sinks and toilets, but the tubs are 1 piece fiberglass units and I'm considering relining them.

I've seen some attractive acrylic drop in liners that give you a nice white tub and a tiled (looking) enclosure. This is an example of what I am looking at. They apparently make lots of models so you can get an exact fit in your existing tub (how you figure out what model your existing tub is is another question still to be resolved.)

Has anybody used a product like this? If so, how well did it work? Any advice? Did you use someone local to do the install?

Thanks

FBB

 

[TooFarTampa]

As an experienced homeowner/DIY remodeler I am always leery of the quick fix, especially in upscale neighborhoods. First of all I would think about how almond is almond? Is it creamy white or darker? Regardless, neutral fixtures in good condition without chips, craps or yucky stuff can be decorated around quite attractively with the right materials and color scheme. Just because something is "dated" doesn't necessarily mean it can't be attractively worked with. You can replace vanity, counter and floor coverings to great effect.

I'm going to link to a thread at my other favorite message board, which I have been visiting for years and years. Generally I trust the opinions of the people who post there.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bath/msg1008040727412.html

 

[Miss Kitty]

FBB...listen to me very carefully, I speak from experience....NO WHITE CERAMIC TILE ON FLOORS, EVER!!!!!!!!!

Did you get that? That was the only choice Arvida gave us for our bathrooms and the one thing I would change in a heartbeat!!!

P.S. How ya' been?

 

[iwishiwasthere]

I'm looking at redoing the baths at one of our places in SoWal. They are are about 15 yrs old and the color is almond-ish and white seems to be a much more desireable color now. I can easily manage switching out the sinks and toilets, but the tubs are 1 piece fiberglass units and I'm considering relining them.

I've seen some attractive acrylic drop in liners that give you a nice white tub and a tiled (looking) enclosure. This is an example of what I am looking at. They apparently make lots of models so you can get an exact fit in your existing tub (how you figure out what model your existing tub is is another question still to be resolved.)

Has anybody used a product like this? If so, how well did it work? Any advice? Did you use someone local to do the install?

Thanks

FBB

Living in an old house provides many unique experiences....do not refinish/paint the tub. Our tub is cast iron and cannot be removed with tearing out bathroom walls, so we refinished....nothing like peeling paint when you bath. We used a good company but not durable for long term daily use. As for the enclosure, I would worry about a leak and mold issues. It is unbeleiveable what a water drip can cause. Go with the idea of deocrating around it unless you want to replace the entire tub.

 

[futurebeachbum]

FBB...listen to me very carefully, I speak from experience....NO WHITE CERAMIC TILE ON FLOORS, EVER!!!!!!!!!

We have that here in 4 bathrooms. I have one word for you.........Roomba. Its the only thing that has kept GBM sane.

P.S. How ya' been?

Pretty good. We way over-imbibed at both Red Bar and Sea Bar yesterday and now my back hurts from the drive home. Time to imbibe again I guess.

 

[Mermaid]

Roomba? Are you talking about one of those robot vacuums?

We bought a 20 year old condo in Seagrove and faced much the same as you. Our fixtures--tub, toilet, and vanity countertop were more almond browny color than almond whitey. So maybe you're ahead of the game!

What we ended up doing is replacing the outdated vanity completely. The new one has a white synthetic marble top. The toilet and the tub we kept, but minimized its color by choosing fabrics and paint that were complementary and updated.

It's amazing what a new shower curtain, trendy wall color, towels, and artwork can do. All of a sudden the focus is NOT on the older (but still serviceable) tub and toilet. It's not what you see. I worried at first that a white vanity would make the almond shower/tub stand out like a sore thumb, but it hasn't been a problem since the rest of the bathroom is so well-decorated and coordinated.

 

[imasunbum]

FBB...listen to me very carefully, I speak from experience....NO WHITE CERAMIC TILE ON FLOORS, EVER!!!!!!!!!

Did you get that? That was the only choice Arvida gave us for our bathrooms and the one thing I would change in a heartbeat!!!

P.S. How ya' been?

Please listen to Ms. Kitty - I have white in one of my bathrooms at home and it is a constant to clean it up.

 

[Smiling JOe]

White grout is even a worse problem than the white tile.

 

[Miss Kitty]

We have that here in 4 bathrooms. I have one word for you.........Roomba. Its the only thing that has kept GBM sane.





Pretty good. We way over-imbibed at both Red Bar and Sea Bar yesterday and now my back hurts from the drive home. Time to imbibe again I guess.

And time to drive back down in April....ask gttbm for details! I feel a need to dance at the Seabar again!

 

[futurebeachbum]

And time to drive back down in April....ask gttbm for details! I feel a need to dance at the Seabar again!

Heck, we can't wait for April. She'll be back down for 2 weeks in March (w/daughter and grand-young'un)

Son-in-law and I will be there in spirit during the week and there with spirits on the weekends.