Bathfitters??

[ResortsFrmrCM]

Has anyone used Bath fitters to replace their tub and tile area? I am wondering what the approximate cost is and if it is the way to go. We are looking for inexpensive ways to re-do our two bathroooms.

 

[Mellie2162]

Am interested in this myself.

 

[Caleb's Mom]

In WI there's a co. called Re-Bath and they fit a tub and surround over your existing tub -- does that sound like what you're looking at??? If so, reply and I be happy to answer any QQQQQQQQQ you may have -- we just had that done 3 months ago.

 

[Mellie2162]

That sounds like Bath Fitters. How did it go and was it expensive?

 

[CheapMom]

I used Bathfitter- I was very happy with their work- It was just under $3000.

 

[KJSJpipe]

They are two different comapanies.
I recommend ReBath. We have 3 bathrooms (2full/1shower only) done by them and love them. Very easy to keep clean. Most jobs can be done in a few hours (tub only), tub/walls usually take the whole day. If you wanted them to do the whole bathroom (all walls plus tub/shower) it may take 2/3 days depending on the size of the bathroom. It is really amazing what a difference it can make going from and old ugly BR to a beautiful new BR in a matter of hours. There is a lot to choose from besides just plain white also. I have family that owns a Rebath franchise and have worked for them as well. In working for them I have had the opportunity to talk to Bath Fitter people at Home Shows and they have been pretty rude, I once stood and listened to them talk and they kept telling lies about the quality of our products. We never had a bad thing to say about any of the other companies that sell similar products. The web site has lots of great info and if you call the 800 number you can find a local dealer~ ok I can not post URL's it is is easy to get on their site by up the name ReBath on the Web. I don't know if was just us but we offered a free in home estimate.

 

[KilleriMac17]

I used Bathfitter- I was very happy with their work- It was just under $3000.

we re-did our whole bathroom for less than that. I had a friend who did it, I was like "why? the charge that much just to basically cover your old stuff.. (and lets not forget about all the mold and ick that gets in there). why do they charge so much.

 

[klj27]

We also redid a bathroom last year. We spent a little over $3000 and they gutted the bathroom down to the studs. We hired a contractor and the cost includes an oversized tub, new flooring, walls, vanity, light fixtures, commode, mirrors, everything! Our neighbor who has the exact same floorplan paid bathfitters $3000 to cover her tub and bath walls.

 

[KJSJpipe]

How long were you with out a bathroom? Some people only have one and could not go more then one/two days with out it. Also when the job will take more then one day we try to do it so the shower/tub is only out of commision for one day. On the mold issue the original tub/shower is cleaned very well with products that will kill the mold.

 

[ticktock]

How much for just the tub?

 

[Caleb's Mom]

We also have only one bathroom so time was an issue for us! They did our job in 9 hours total. I know others said they have had their bathroom totally gutted and remodeled for the same price as a Re-Bath but I'm guessing these are people who had another bathroom to rely on during an extended remodel time, that makes a huge difference.

$3,000 was about what we paid for the new tub, full tub surround walls up to the ceiling, the plumbing fixtures plus the time and labor from the Re-Bath & Plumbing people.

Our home is 55 years old and it was the original porcelain tub that was discolored and pitted. It's so much easier to remove a fibre glass tub for a remodel project than a heavy old porcelain tub so for us the Re-Bath was the answer & we are happy we did it.

Good luck - any bathroom project can be stressful whether it's full re-do or a Re-Bath!

 

[CheapMom]

Bath fitter replaced my tub, hauled off the old tub- and put in a custom size basin and then put their acrylic covering on top. - then added the vinyl shower wall. Every other quote we got (for new tub and surround) was at least twice Bathfitters price. Our high quotes may have to do with the fact that my house is 100 years old- everything is a weird size/shape- and often replacements need to be custom made. I would love to find someone who would rip out old tub and tile- replace itall for $3K- I think our lowest quote was $7500 and he kept saying things like- "$7500 SHOULD be enough- but who knows what we will run into when we rip out tub..."

 

[klj27]

How long were you with out a bathroom? Some people only have one and could not go more then one/two days with out it. Also when the job will take more then one day we try to do it so the shower/tub is only out of commision for one day. On the mold issue the original tub/shower is cleaned very well with products that will kill the mold.

we were without this bathroom for four weeks and.................. it is our only full bath! We drove the kids to my inlaws (5 minutes) every night for their showers and my husband and I went over every morning. It was a pain, but I am so glad we did it.


Someone asked about the price of the tub........ We had an old, heavy stamped metal tub. My husband and FIL removed it so we didn't have to pay someone else to. It was picked up on garbage day. Our new tub (which es extra wide and deep) with the surround walls was only $380! I am not sure what the labor was on just the tub. I would guess the tub, faucet, shower head and labor were easily less than a thousand dollars.

 

[Caleb's Mom]

Turn Key!

The final thing I liked about Re-Bath was the fact that it was turn key. I'm a mommy and I work full time. While I am married this bathroom became 'my' project. I didn't have the know how or the time to coordinate a plumber and electrician and a contractor. I also didn't have the energy (or again time or know how) to rip out a tub myself.

BTW- I had looked into getting my porcelain tub 're-porcelained' but they said 3-5 days. The contractor told me people usually have him do it when they're on vacation so they have use of a shower - I told him there was no way I was letting a stranger in my home to do work while I was on vacation. So once you figure in renting a hotel room so you can have a bath or shower in that time period the cost did it for me.

Again good luck all no matter what you do. I personally find remodeling very stressful - now on to a kitchen make over!

 

[lisabarr]

I am a Realtor and we had them come in and put an overlay over the old tub that had rusted on one of my listings. Took them a few hours and it was around $1400

 

[StephMK]

Wow, those are better prices than we were quoted with Bath Fitters. The saleslady put us through this one hour ordeal of chatting, then we watched a movie while she measured, more talking & showing of permits, glowing letters, the product, etc. We told her we were just doing this for a move because I cracked the fiberglass surround. Price was our main object.

It would have been $4000, including discounts for signing that day & referring 3 other people. Apparently, if your surround is not flat, they have to rip everything out. She tried to guilt us into replacing it saying how bad it looked. We have a handyman quote of $2200 for a rip out & replace so I didn't feel the price was very competitive. We can throw new doors on there & hide the damage where I took out the previous doors so no sale from us.

I am not fond of sales pitches where the "decision makers" are required to be present & pressured to make a decision on the spot. I am the decision maker, hubby just follows my lead. He actually had no idea what I thought of the price until I said it was much higher than expected.

 

[ResortsFrmrCM]

Wow...thanks for all of the responses! Of course I knew it would be cheaper to do it on our own so I guess that is the best way to go. Time was our issue since we both work full-time and that is our only bathing area. We redid our powder room, inlcuding all of the plumbing on our own, but my finace is not sure about the tub and tile wall. He has never done that before. I thnk we'll get a quote from a handy man too. Thanks again.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I had an estimate from bath fitters for a tub over (just tub & nothing else) & an estimate from a plumber for a new tub, new fixtures & piping.. the plumber came in at like $100 more than bath fitters. To be honest, I thought it was better to go with the plumber. Yes, I would have to retile about 3 rows of the tile around the tub area that was not included in the price, but that still didn't make it much more money. I have reservations about a tub over when the tub you have is rusting out. What is to stop that rust...nothing. It will continue to rust under the tub over. Eventually it may even cause the tub over to cave in (depending on where the rust is). It may be fine for remodel/decorate but when your tub is in really bad shape, all you are doing is hiding it, not fixing it & it will run you more in the end.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

I used Bathfitters - I only have 1 bathroom - I don't remember my cost, several years ago - but they did the tub walls etc., they also dealt with the window that is above the tub

Since some of my tiles were coming off, they ended up having to take tiles off the one wall, once the tiles came off - the sheet rock underneath was water damaged beyond repair so that was fixed also.

I love the cleaning - just spray with Windex and wipe or if I am lazy, I just turn on my hand held shower head and hose away.

I did get the bottom that has the ripples for safety, also added a corner shelf, and a grab bar

The only thing I noticed during the 9 hours or so that they were here - was the glue that they use. It was really strong. I would recommend having it done when you can have a window or 2 open.

 

[KJSJpipe]

I have reservations about a tub over when the tub you have is rusting out. What is to stop that rust...nothing. It will continue to rust under the tub over. Eventually it may even cause the tub over to cave in (depending on where the rust is). It may be fine for remodel/decorate but when your tub is in really bad shape, all you are doing is hiding it, not fixing it & it will run you more in the end.

A reputiable company would not line a tub that was not stable.