Bath fitters may be a very popular term for Americans. Just like many products that eventually start taking the name of their most popular manufacturers, bath fitters have also come to be known by that name due to the popularity of Bath Fitters. Originally referring to shower and tub liners, bath fitters have now come to encompass a wide variety of services that deal with covering and repairing the tub/shower area of a bathroom with specialized materials.
This guide will give you a better idea about bath fitter cost and what to look for when you want to purchase said service. The bath fitter cost mentioned below deals with normal bath and shower liners and not the official pricing policy of the brand. To get a better understanding of bath fitter cost, you must first understand some fundamentals of bath fitters and know what to look for.
What is a bath fitter?
Before we begin, let’s talk about what a bath fitter is. A bath fitter is a lining primarily made from acrylic but also from PVC and other materials. The lining goes on top of your tiles, shower walls or bathtub, with the typical installation lasting less than a day. It is considered a quick fix-up if the original tub/tile is damaged or worn out, but it can also be a good option to renovate your bathroom with an easy fix.
The bath fitter is usually considered a single piece but since it is made of acrylic, you have the option of incorporating design and art into the surface, making it much cheaper than bathroom tiles to do the same.
The best part about a bath fitter is that the bath fitter cost is very low compared to other versions of remodeling and repairing the surface of a bathroom, and the time saved on labor itself is a huge advantage as it only takes a day to install. Overall, it is known to be cheap but effective.
Why use a bath fitter?
Other than the bath fitter cost being on the low end of refurbishing/remodeling options, why should one go for a bath fitter? The answer is simple, it will ensure that your bathroom lasts longer.
Generally, bathrooms come with their own tiles, and tiles are usually meant to last for over 40 years. Usually, that is. The tiles may last, but the coloring may not, giving your bathroom a dirty look. Some tiles can be also of such bad quality that they’ll only last a few years, or the adhesive has lost its capacity to hold the tile up.
You may also come across bathrooms with water-proof drywall instead of bathroom tiles, or even just brick and concrete covered in paint. As long as it is not made of glass, all of these surfaces will have trouble holding out against continuous exposure to water.
This is where bath fitters shine. They are made from acrylic and are water-proof by nature. Other than holding out against exposure to water, they will also protect the material underneath. What this means is that the original material will last just as long as the acrylic lining, giving your bathroom a decent life of at least 20 years without any wear and tear.
Other than protecting your bathroom, the acrylic lining will stay the same for years, making sure that the looks remain pristine for years to come. The acrylic lining is also easier to clean as it comes in a single piece without nooks and crannies.
The last reason is that it is the quickest and easiest solution if you want to fix, remodel or refurbish your bathroom.
Bath fitter alternatives
As mentioned before, a bath fitter is only a lining and can only be used for fixing and remodeling existing tubs and showers. It is only possible to fix existing bathrooms and there are only a few alternatives to bath fitters if you want to remodel your existing bathroom.
One of the first alternatives is to reconstruct the entire thing. This means removing the tub, shower walls, etc, and building a completely new one. This is only a good idea if you want a completely new layout for your bathroom and is the most expensive option you have. If you only want a small remodel of your bathroom, this option may seem expensive.
The other alternative is to replace the parts. The tub, shower, and tiles are all things that can be taken out of the bathroom and replaced with new ones. Depending on the extent of the changes you want to make, this could end up being the cheapest option or one of the most expensive ones. The advantage is that you can choose the parts individually and take your own time changing up your bathroom.
The last option is to use a more expensive lining. Not all lining comes under bath fitters. Expensive linings like marble can be considered one that does not fall under the category of bath fitters as it comes in multiple pieces. One of the disadvantages of bath fitters is that bath fitter cost is too high, but if you add marble lining to it, you should be able to spend even more than that.
What to look for
Now that you have a better idea of bath fitters and their alternatives, let’s take a look at what you need to look for before knowing the bath fitter cost you will encounter and if it is worth paying it.
The first thing you need to do is identify your needs. Why are you looking for a bath fitter? Is it to add a layer of protection, is it to remodel the bathroom or is it to cover up a few issues?
Depending on your answer, you can choose what type of lining you want and adjust the bath fitter cost, or may need to choose one of the alternatives if your needs are beyond what a lining can provide.
The large majority of customers who go for bath fitters only do so for adding a layer of lining to their bathtub, as the original product was designed for. A few of the also add it to their showers as a shower liner, or the bathroom walls/floor as well.
Therefore, choose carefully after understanding your own need. You may only need to add a liner to your tub or may need to add one to your entire bath/shower area. Choosing the right one can maybe reduce your bath fitter cost or give you a better idea of how much you will need to spend.
Once you have a better understanding of your needs, consult a professional. As bath fitters can only be installed by a professional, it is best to take their opinions seriously as well. They can identify flaws you might have missed or simply overlooked, or even provide alternative solutions to reduce bath fitter costs.
How much will a bath fitter cost
Now, we get to the meat of the matter. Once you have identified your needs and sought professional advice, it is finally time to analyze the cost. The bath fitter cost mainly includes three components. Typically, bath fitter cost falls between $1000 to $3000 but it has a lot of variables.
The component with the most variables is the first one, which is the cost of labor. It is entirely dependent on the region. Even inside a state, it will vary between cities and between individual contractors in the same city. If you want the best service as well as a reasonable price, you will have to search on your own. Thankfully the internet has made this step much easier.
The component which has the most predictable cost is the material used. As mentioned before, bath fitters generally use acrylic and it is the cheapest option available. The more expensive one available is PVC vinyl liners and fiberglass. PVC vinyl liners provide the best finish while fiberglass has the highest durability among the three.
After choosing the material, there are variants among each, as well as designs and textures, all of which will add to their own cost. Generally, bath fitters provide enough grip and are anti-microbial so there is less risk in choosing the cheapest one out there but it doesn’t hurt to have options.
The final component is the extra fittings you will require if you are going for a remodel. This usually includes bathroom shelves, shower curtains, bath fittings, shower heads, etc. In terms of bath fitter cost, this component is the cheapest one with very little impact on the overall cost. That does not mean that expensive options are not available. If you really want it to, it can cost as much as the other two combined.
Conclusion
Now you can understand what to look for and identify the bath fitter cost you will incur when you decide to install one in your bathroom. You can get a rough estimate just by going on the internet, but if you want to have a more accurate estimate, you will have to identify your needs, decide on the amount of lining required and then calculate it based on the cost of labor, material, and extra expenses.
In the end, once you have a better idea of how much to spend, you can hire a professional and judge how accurate you are.
Frequently asked questions
Does the bath fitter replace the tub?
No, the bath fitter is only a lining and does not replace the original components of a bathroom, including the tub or tiles.
Why use a bath fitter instead of bathroom tiles?
Bath fitters are single-piece with a seamless surface, making them easy to clean and maintain. Replacing existing tiles can also damage the walls.
How long do bath fitters last?
Bath fitters are very long-lasting. You can expect a minimum of 20 years of life expectancy from it.
Is bath fitter cost worth it?
That is entirely on you. It is one of the more expensive bathroom remodeling options out there but the cost is usually associated with the convenience of an easy installation.
