As the years go by, the area surrounding your tub will start to experience the toll of time. The tile will start to appear old, drab, and damaged. The tub itself, however, will often age well, and thus needs no replacing. This means that you can modernize a significant part of your bathroom, simply by updating the bathroom tub surrounds and then giving the tub a good scrubbing.
A good question then arises. What is the best way to update the item?
Replacing the Tile
One option for updating the tub surround consists of tearing down the old tile and putting up brand new. This is a solution that makes sense, if you appreciate the current look of the area around the tub, except for its damaged appearance. What are the downsides? First of all, it needs to be mentioned, that installing the tile surrounding the tub is difficult and requires skill. For most consumers, you will need the assistance of professionals, which makes it a costly affair. Another downside to retiling is the fact that it is a relatively slow process, meaning you might not be able to fully use your bathroom for several days.
Installing Panels on Top of the Tile
An alternative to retiling is to install solid panels on top of the tile. This is a solution offering several benefits. You can achieve a modern look this way and there is a plethora of colors, styles, and designs available. You can choose to alter the shape of your bathtub area and install new features, such as a built-in soap dish. When it comes to the price, it will greatly depend on whether you choose to install the tub surround panels yourself or if you hire the help of professionals. Doing it yourself is a relatively affordable option, while a professional solid surface panel installation is a luxurious and expensive solution. If you choose to utilize do it yourself tub surrounds, you can further lower the price, by choosing acrylic tub surrounds, a cheaper option compared to fiberglass surrounds.
Updating your tub surround is a great way to modernize your bathroom. The best way to do it depends on factors such as your budget, handyman skills, patience, and sense of style.