Bathtub liners are pieces of PVC plastic or acrylic which are molded to the shape of a tub, placed over your existing tub, and then glued down to cover it up. Liners are marketed as an alternative to replacement or refinishing.

While most liners are fairly durable, liners may not be your best option.

This is the condition of a tub
after the removal of a liner.

• More expensive
  Liners are more expensive, $650 to over $1000 just for a bathtub compared to $400 to $550 for refinishing.

• Time intensive
  Liners take several weeks from measuring and ordering to actual installation. Here's the typical process:

  1. A salesman comes to your home to have you sign a contract.
  2. If the salesman can't, an installer then comes to your home to measure your tub.
  3. The factory uses the measurements to fabricate a shell.
  4. The factory ships the shell to the installer.
  5. Another appointment is scheduled to install the shell or liner.
  6. The shell is installed, usually in one day, but weeks after you signed the contract.

• Can create plumbing problems
  Liners can create plumbing problems because the added thickness of the liner may require an extension of the drain and overflow.

• Squishy feeling with mold and mildew potential
  Liners suffer a bad reputation for allowing water to leak between the old tub and the new liner. Any small crack or hole which develops in the caulking along the seam between the liner and the vertical wall surround can allow water to penetrate and build up between the liner and the old tub. Water can also leak around the drain or overflow joints. If water does leak and get trapped between the liner and the tub, the water is almost impossible to remove. The result can be a "squishy" feeling each time someone steps in and out of the tub. Not only can the misplaced water create a "squishy" feeling, worse yet, the standing water can become stagnant, creating obnoxious odor problems. Stagnant moisture can lead to unhealthy mold and mildew build up.

• Can be difficult to replace
  Liners eventually wear out and have to be replaced. Since liners are glued to the old tub when installed, they usually have to be ripped or cut out in order to replace them.

• Can crack
  If liners do not match the contours of the existing tub, then the liner may flex back and forth and can crack.

• Limited color selection
  Liners come in a limited number of colors.