In my current Class C rehab, the existing cheap plastic bath tub surrounds (3 panel set bought at Lowes in 2006) are now beyond cleaning and will need to be removed and replaced with something else.

One option I am considering is 4x8 Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels. Has anyone here used these? Do these panels require a special type of adhesive?

Roy, I have used the FRP panels in the past. You will want use the FRP glue ,

comes in gallon cans, and 1/8 trowel to spread the glue on the sheet rock. You will

also want to use the white button tabs with a nail. They come in bags of 25.

Using the glue and nails will make a more secured tenant proof enclosure.

Thanks Dave!

Rathdrum (ID)

I tried cleaning these panels myself with every known chemical (Clorox, Comet, Ammonia and my old favorite gasoline) and got no results. I then called my cleaning lady and she spent 2 hours trying to clean them without any real results. These panels are technically CLEAN, however, they still look horribly FILTHY.

There comes a time when it is best just to tear it out and replace with something new. That time is now.

I do appreciate your suggestion though. I will try it on my next vacancy, which will probably be in December.

Roy

I used FRP for a shower surround. HD sells it in 4x8 sheets. Somewhere (don’t remember where) I got hold of a roll that was 5 foot wide. Makes the shower wall higher.

I did not remove the sheetrock from the walls as it was in somewhat good shape. What I did was get OSB board and make my backer board walls out of the OSB. Then glued the FRP to the OSB. I raised the OSB up a little at the bottom so water wouldn’t seep under the FRP and ruin the OSB. I brought the FRP all the way down to the tub rim. Caulk the two inside corners and along the bottom and done with that. Been about 4 or 5 years now and looks as good as the day I put it in. (I wonder how good looking that was :)

Hey Roy, use inside corner, and you can use J channel on the tops and side if

you want a finished look.

Another idea, piggy backing off Mike SWMO...he used OSB as a backer for his surround. Why not use Advantech for the backer, overlaid with whatever material?

I've had a scrap piece of Advantech sitting on my back deck in rain, snow, sleet, hail, and sunshine since March of this year, and although the color looks a little faded it's still rock solid and no evidence of mold or mildew. The piece of OSB I put next to it as my "control" is starting to flake apart and has black spots all over it (mold or mildew, I don't know).

My best luck so far has been the surrounds that are nailed to studs. They cost 250-300 and add time to the job to remove and retape the drywall. I have not seen what your talking about yet

Sid,

VCT for shower surrounds,..hmmm,..I guess it would work but how would you seal up all of the seams between the 12x12 VCT squares? Plus, the VCT adhesive would have to be heat resistant or those tiles would be falling off during the first hot shower. I think VCT was only intended to be walked on and I have it installed in many of my houses.

Roy,

Round here it's hard water film that holds the crud. Gotta remove that calcium build up with LimeAway, vinegar, or...muriatic acid.

We have installed WMH's idea of PVC tongue and groove wainscott and it looks GREAT!! Ez and quick. Looks classy. Covers the old glue and holes.

On nicer homes we skip the glue on panels and install ceramic. lasts forever and does nto take too terribly long. Material cost is about the same as the cheap plastic kits.

Durable forever.

BRAD

Brad20K - Yes, it that hard water here too that is holding the crud,...its now embedded in the plastic panels. Yesterday, my handyman removed all panels in less than 10 minutes and they they came off without breaking.

I have used these same panels in many of my other rentals and they seem to last about 5 years. I just want to 'try something new' this time around and I have my mind set on FRP panels. I plan on buying the FRP panels today and my handyman will install them on Monday.

Homer - Spray paint the existing panels? Have you lost your mind? That paint would peel off in a second during the first hot shower. Spray paint for plastic is a joke. Shame on you. :)