You have a lot of options for color, size and style, and the Gelcoat finish used with cultured marble is more durable than that used with fiberglass. These tubs are made from crushed limestone mixed with resin, then finished with Gelcoat. On the downside, they’re somewhat heavy and relatively expensive, and may require a long lead time to get. They can also be made in a variety of shapes and sizes. They’re durable they retain heat well there are a variety of subtle, natural-looking colors available and the finish can be repaired if needed. Solid-surface materials are relative newcomers to the bathtub market. They’re also typically going to be among the most expensive tubs on the market.Īnd now for some less common material options:
On the downside, these tubs are extremely heavy and require extra labor - and often extra floor reinforcement - to install. The heavy material also tends to retain the water’s heat. There are a number of different colors available, and there’s a richness to cast iron that’s hard to match.
It’s probably the most durable tub available, and the finish is resistant to chipping, scratching and denting, as well as most types of chemicals. Cast iron tubs are made by pouring molten iron into a mold of the desired shape, then smoothing it and coating it with a thick layer of enamel. If you’re looking for a material that will last, this would be it. You also have a lot of choices of shapes, sizes and colors.Īcrylic is a good all-around choice, although it may lack a certain high-end appeal for some people. The advantages are pretty much the same as for fiberglass, although acrylic tubs are more expensive.ĭisadvantages are that the finish can scratch or discolor over time, although the better grades of tub finishes have now reduced that problem to a minimum. On the downside, they’re heavier than fiberglass or acrylic the surface can rust and chip under impact and you’re very limited in the number of shapes and sizes available.Īcrylic tubs use fiberglass sheets for reinforcement underneath vacuum-formed sheets of colored acrylic. They’re also especially useful when replacing fiberglass or acrylic tub/shower units, as they fit in the same 5-foot opening and can be finished off nicely with a ceramic tile surround. The finish is resistant to most common chemicals, and retains its gloss for a long time. These tubs are durable and easy to clean. The tub is stamped from a thin sheet of steel, then finished with a layer of porcelain enamel. Personally, it’s one of my least favorite materials.Īlso sometimes called enameled steel, this is another inexpensive and very common bathtub material.
On the negative side, fiberglass tubs are thin they flex and don’t have a stable feel they’re not very durable and the finish is prone to fading, scratching and cracking. The advantages are low cost, light weight, ease of installation, and a finish that can be repaired. A fiberglass bathtub is made by forming layers of fiberglass into the desired shape, then coating it with Gelcoat resin. Let’s start with some of the more common options:Īlso known as FRP, or fiberglass-reinforced plastic, this is typically going to be the least expensive bathtub material. Which one you ultimately choose is going to come down to a combination of looks, comfort, ease of maintenance, and, of course, cost. To begin with, you might be surprised to find that you have more options than you would have thought. Let’s look at some of the different choices, and try to clear up a bit of the confusion. Several years ago, we discussed some of the many options available when replacing a bathtub or a tub/shower combo.īut what we didn’t look at, back then, were the many different material choices you have, and since that time I’ve gotten several questions from homeowners looking to change out their bathtub, all with a similar dilemma - “I’m not sure what material it should be constructed of.”
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