Acrylic liner for restoration of a cast iron bathtub: how much does it cost, where to buy, how to install? Acrylic insert - new life for an old bathtub What is an acrylic insert

A major renovation of a bathroom, which usually means replacing all the plumbing, requires a lot of time, money and effort. In many cases, it is difficult to carry out, while the old bathtub looks bad. To solve this problem, only restoration of the bathtub is performed.

There are several ways to restore its enamel. One of the simplest is to install an acrylic liner. Unlike most other methods, it does not require much time and complex work. A bathtub with an acrylic liner can be used a few hours after completion of work.

This technology has gained wide popularity recently. According to it, a special acrylic liner is placed in the bathtub. It is attached to the cast iron structure using glue. The insert itself has low rigidity, but due to its tight fit to the bathtub, the result is a very strong and reliable structure.

The liner is made of durable polymer with a two-layer structure. The top layer material is acrylic, which has high performance, especially in the area of ​​resistance to wear and damage. The bottom layer uses plastic, which is highly elastic and can withstand significant bending loads. The thickness of the entire liner is within 4-6 mm. It can be made in any colors.

The acrylic insert into the bathtub has a pleasant-to-touch surface. It does not require any special care. To wash it, you can use regular soap and many detergents. If scratches form on the surface, removing them also does not cause problems. They are removed with polishing agents specifically designed for acrylic. This material is dangerous from abrasive materials and products, as well as some chemically aggressive substances.

Benefits from using this technology

The popularity of acrylic inserts is increasing. This is due to the fact that there are many old bathtubs with worn out enamel that require repair.

The technology used to use an acrylic bathroom insert has the following significant advantages:

• It takes about 2-2.5 hours to install the liner, and you can use the updated bathtub after the glue has hardened.
• Compared to a bathtub consisting entirely of acrylic, a bathtub with an insert is more durable. The cast iron mold acts as a frame, which increases rigidity general design and gives it reliability.
• Preservation of all the advantages characteristic of acrylic bathtubs. These include an antibacterial effect, good heat retention, resistance to high temperatures and ease of care.
• Easy installation that does not require dismantling old plumbing.
• Long service life - at least 20 years. This depends on the intensity of use and wear of the surface.
• Affordable prices due to low material consumption compared to a cast iron bathtub.

Selection of acrylic insert

The choice of liner is the first and very important stage restoration.

The quality of the resulting design largely depends on the accuracy of selection. To avoid mistakes, measurements should be taken carefully.

The length and width are determined only by the upper side of the bath. It is not recommended to measure the structure from below - the accuracy of the results may be low, which is due to differences in the design of the equipment. The depth must be measured at the location drain hole– there the depth of the bath is maximum.

It is necessary to take the following measurements to accurately describe the design of the bathtub:

• External overall length.
• Overall width.
• Internal length measured at the sides of the excavation.
• The width of the recess is given to us by the drain.
• The width of the notch at its narrowest point, but before the curve begins.
• Depth from side to drain hole.

The depth at the narrowest point of the bathtub can also sometimes come in handy. In the bathtubs of one design there is a slope, while in others there is a flat bottom.

Based on these measurements, a plastic insert for the bathtub is selected that will satisfy all requirements.

Installation of acrylic liner

The installation process of this product is characterized by its simplicity. It is possible to produce it yourself, even without experience in this field. To complete the installation, you will need a special foam consisting of two components. It can be purchased at the same place where you buy the acrylic insert. You also need a sealant that can last a long time.

Installation of the acrylic insert begins with preparation cast iron surface. To do this, the edges are cleaned old bath. They should not have coatings or any finishing materials, because a new one will be placed on them acrylic surface. Sometimes problems arise with tiles that extend up to the sides of the bathroom. In this case, the interfering finish is dismantled. Without this, it will not be possible to install the insert properly.

The technology for installing an acrylic liner in a bathtub requires a high-quality and smooth surface. To do this, you need to clean off the old enamel. This can be done manually using a large sandpaper or mechanically, using a drill with an abrasive attachment. At the end of cleaning, you need to rinse the bath to remove any dust that has formed. The result of the operation is rough surface. It will have good adhesion, and gluing the liner to it will be quite simple. When the cleaning is completed and the bathtub has a clean surface, the siphon is removed from it - it will interfere with subsequent operations.

When updating an old bathtub with an acrylic insert, great attention should be paid to the fit. It is performed from the edges to the center. The insert is placed in the bathroom and outlined with a pencil. The extra parts of the liner are marked. It is recommended to cut the insert with a jigsaw; it can make a high-quality cut along a complex contour. In the same way, the location of the drain holes is marked and they are drilled.

To protect against moisture ingress, a sealing compound is applied along the entire contour of the bathtub and around the drain.. The remaining area of ​​the bath is covered with foam, which is applied in a continuous layer. If there are gaps in it, then the acrylic insert will sag in these places, which will inevitably lead to cracks. After applying the foam and sealant, the liner is installed in place and pressed tightly. Immediately after installation, it is necessary to install a siphon - it will help press the insert.

After the liner is installed, the bath should be filled with water to the maximum and left in this state for 24 hours. Under the influence of the mass of water, the plastic will press the foam and will not allow it to lift the insert. This will ensure high-quality and reliable gluing.

Removing the liner does not present any particular problems. It is cut into 4 parts with a grinder and removed.

The restored bathtub has all the advantages of cast iron and acrylic products. A similar result can be obtained by restoration using a liquid acrylic solution. However, this method is more complex, and without preparation, it is better not to try to do it yourself.

August 11, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction works(laying a foundation, erecting walls, constructing a roof, etc.). Internal construction work (laying internal communications, rough and finishing). Hobby: mobile connection, high tech, computer technology, programming.

You know, dear readers, I thought that I wouldn’t tell you about Grandma Glasha, but it turned out that I look at life too optimistically. My back had not yet gone away after I had bent over and restored the cracks in the enamel coating when my neighbor came up with the idea of ​​installing a liner in an acrylic bathtub.

In principle, I support her in this decision, since installing such a structure allows minimal costs the strength and means to turn an old bathroom into a new one and modern design. However, this time I refused to work for free and billed her for the work. Of course, with all the discounts due to the fact that she is my neighbor.

For those who don’t know how to update a cast-iron bathtub with an acrylic liner, I’ll tell you everything in order. The instructions below will allow you to do everything yourself and without outside help. Unless with sensitive advice from your significant other, as is often the case with me.

Description of technology

Restoring bathtubs made of cast iron and steel using an acrylic liner is a fairly common occurrence. At least in my practice. Its essence is to use a special insert, which is placed inside the old bathtub and secured with a special one. It turns out to be a kind of acrylic bathtub, only the role external frame rigidity is played by the old product already installed in your home.

The acrylic bathtub liner is made from a special polymer and consists of two layers:

1. Upper It uses acrylic, which has an attractive appearance, as well as a surface that is smooth to the touch and resistant to mechanical stress.
2. Nizhny. It is made from a particularly strong but flexible polymer that can withstand significant bending loads without breaking.

The finished bath liner that I used in my practice had a thickness of 6 mm, but there are also thinner modifications with a thickness of 4 mm. When we bought a tab for Baba Glasha, we took white. But the store offers a huge variety of models, so you are free to choose any one.

I would also consider the ease of caring for acrylic to be an advantage of this method of repair. It can be washed with ordinary soapy water, and you don’t have to worry about corrosion at all.

Even such a surface can be rendered unusable. If you wash it with cleaning products containing abrasive particles that damage the top layer of plastic.

Differences from the “fill bath”

In the process of preparing for the renovation, Grandma Glasha was interested in which was better: an insert bathtub or a free-flowing bathtub. Considering that you will also be interested in this, I will enlighten the entire reading audience a little.

As far as I know, and I have studied this issue in some detail, the acrylic insert is made from a special polymer, which is heated and, as it were, blown into a special mold, which forms the configuration of the insert for a specific bathtub model.

By the term “filler bath” I personally, and everyone else professional craftsmen, imply the process of restoring damaged enamel coating using liquid acrylic. It is either applied with a brush or simply poured over the walls.

To make it easier for you to understand the pros and cons of both technologies, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the table that I drew:

As you can see, for almost all technical parameters parity is observed. I’ll just point out two more points that seem important to me personally:

1. The appearance of a bathtub with an acrylic liner is much better than when using liquid acrylic. No matter how you sand the repair compound.
2. The final lifespan of the tab depends on where you insert it. If it is in a steel bath, the structure will last less, if in a cast iron bath, it will last longer.

Personally, I still prefer earbuds. This is what I told Baba Glasha, and she trusted my authority. Moreover, her bathtub is quite standard, so choosing the appropriate type of liner was possible without any problems.

By the way, in some cases, an acrylic liner in a steel bathtub is even better than just a new acrylic bathtub. I will substantiate this message in the next section.

Advantages of acrylic liner

So why do I consider the liner great solution for bath restoration:

1. Installing an acrylic liner in a bathtub takes me no more than two hours. Of course, this may take you a little longer, but in any case, the next day after finishing work, Baba Glasha can already take a romantic bath by candlelight. Well, or arrange a laundry service.
2. A bathtub with a polymer liner inserted inside is stronger than a similar polymer structure with a rigid frame. The old design in this case plays the role support frame increased rigidity.
3. The resulting design combines the strength of steel (cast iron) and the advantages acrylic bathtub. Among the latter, I would include bactericidal properties, low thermal conductivity, ease of maintenance and resistance to external mechanical influences.
4. When restoring a bathtub, you will not need to dismantle the old structure and decide anything about its disposal (after all, it’s easy to throw the old one into the trash cans). cast iron bath If you don’t take it, the neighbors won’t understand).
5. Well, and what is also important - affordable price. Compared to the cost of a finished bathroom, the cost of the inlay will be slightly lower.

Installation procedure

Enough about the features, let's move on to the installation process. As you probably already understood, it consists of three stages, after which you can safely fill the bath with water, add foam and light candles. Well, or soak the laundry, like my neighbor did.

Step 1 – Buying an insert

Let's start, as usual, with the purchase. To choose the right liner model, you need to clearly know the model and dimensions of the bathtub you have.

In the neighbor's apartment there was a complete standard bath, which was produced by many factories back in the Soviet Union. Therefore, I had no doubt that we would be able to find a suitable liner without any problems. We were talking about a straight bathtub 1.7 meters long with straight sides without any frills.

For those who don’t have as trained an eye as I do, I recommend taking and writing down the dimensions, which will come in handy when buying a tab at a hardware store:

• the width of the upper part of the bath at the head and at the feet;
• length of the structure from the inside;
• depth at the point where the drain hole is located;
• total width outside along the side line.

If the bathtub has an elliptical shape, this must be taken into account when taking measurements by measuring the width of all recesses and extensions.

Step 2 - Preparatory Operations

Having bought a suitable insert in the store and brought it to my neighbor’s house (I had to fold the back row of seats), I moved on to installation. More precisely, for preparatory operations.

I acted according to the following scheme (and I advise you to work the same way):

1. The sides of Baba Glasha’s bathtub were covered with tiles. I had to dismantle it. I did this carefully, so as not to be guilty of chips later. At the end of the work, I carefully cleaned the joint area from any remaining glue, debris and dust.
2. Dismantled the drainage equipment under the bathroom. It is not necessary to remove all the pipes, just unscrew the mesh and remove the siphon, otherwise it will be difficult to drill a hole in the acrylic liner.

At the same time, you need to remove the mesh covering the overflow hole. Immediately pay attention to how all these elements are fastened. After all, after all the work is completed, you will need to put everything in place.

I also recommend removing the bathtub faucet. Although it seems to have nothing to do with it, it will greatly interfere with installation. In addition, there is a danger of staining it with glue and so on. That's why I personally remove the tap to make it less of a hassle.

1. I cleaned the inner surface of the bathtub with a special machine (oh, and just recently I was repairing chips on it). This should be done so that the smooth enamel becomes rough, and the polyurethane foam adheres better to the surface and holds the liner.

If you don't have grinder, rent it from the store. Some people recommend sanding the tub by hand using sandpaper, but I disagree. You will waste a lot of time and effort, and the quality of grinding will be worse.

1. Having finished cleaning, you need to thoroughly clean the surface of the bathtub from dust and debris, and then degrease the rough enamel. For this, as you probably know, kerosene, gasoline or white spirit are perfect. As a last resort, use alcohol (but wait, what am I talking about).

Step 3 – Installing the Tab in the Bathtub

Now you can proceed to the installation. The main thing here is to carefully and accurately adjust the liner to existing bath. The instructions I followed are below:

1. I start the operation from the edges of the bathtub. First you need to place the inserts in the bath, draw boundaries along the edge, remove the insert and trim off the excess polymer. It was quite difficult for me, since my neighbor’s bathtub was adjacent to the wall.
   But, as they say, patience and work will wear out everything, so I coped with the task.

1. Then I cut holes in the liner for water drainage and overflow (as you know, it is located in the upper part).

Everything here is not as simple as it seems. I worked like this:

• installed special crown markers on the drain and overflow holes;
• inserted the liner into the prepared bathroom and pressed it tightly so that back side acrylic frame has a mark imprinted on it that needs to be drilled;
• then drilled the required hole (you can use special skirt drills);
• then I carefully cleaned the holes of the acrylic liner from burrs;
• on last stage inserted the liner and checked again that the holes line up clearly (if necessary, you can make some adjustments with a file or needle file.

When trying on, you need to make sure once again that the liner has a slight slope towards the drain hole. This is important because otherwise the water will not be completely removed from the bowl.

1. Once everything was finished with the fitting, I once again cleaned and degreased the surface of the bathtub on which the glue will be applied.
2. The next stage is the application of a two-component polyurethane foam which will hold the acrylic tab in place.

I also did this for a reason, but according to a special scheme:

• first I outlined the drain and overflow holes in a solid circle;
• then I processed the bottom of the bowl of the old bathtub so that stripes formed on it with a gap between them not exceeding 4 cm;
• after that he moved to the sides, applying to them assembly composition in the same way (it is better to apply the foam using movements from the bottom of the bowl to the sides).

The foam dries very quickly, so all gluing operations must be carried out without hitches or delays. You'll drink tea and pies later, when you're done.

1. Having finished applying the foam, I installed the liner and pressed it tightly.
2. Immediately after this, without hesitating for a second, I screwed back the drain and overflow screens. To avoid leaks, I additionally used for sealing silicone sealant. This is necessary to ensure a tight fit of the acrylic to the surface of the old bathtub and protection from future leaks.

1. On final stage filled the entire bathtub with water, without adding a few centimeters to the overflow hole. As a result, the liquid pressed down the liner with its weight, which, in turn, evenly distributed the foam.

I always allow at least 24 hours for complete hardening, after which the installation of the acrylic bathtub liner can be considered complete.

Of course, I have a good attitude towards Baba Glasha, but I no longer had time to carry out repairs in her apartment. Therefore, in order to avoid problems in the future, I gave her instructions about correct operation polymer insert.

I think they will be useful to you too, so I present them below:

1. You need to wash an acrylic bathtub with special soft household products without abrasive particles. It is better to use a soft sponge and ordinary laundry soap for this.
2. If scratches appear, they can be sanded with a special paste. I said that I would not do this, let him puzzle my son-in-law in the future.
3. To avoid damage, I do not recommend bathing pets that are known to have claws in an acrylic bathtub.
4. If the drain hole becomes clogged, do not use a plunger to clear it. The vacuum it creates can cause the drain to depressurize and water to get under the acrylic liner.
5. Do not pour boiling water into the bath. Acrylic, although durable, is susceptible to too much heat and can become deformed.

Otherwise, you can use the bathroom in normal mode. I would only advise using plastic basins, otherwise Grandma Glasha has a galvanized monster on her farm from the USSR, which scares even me. And for acrylic it is generally dangerous.

Dismantling process

It may seem strange to you, but in my practice I have encountered not only the installation of acrylic liners, but also their dismantling. Don’t ask why this was necessary, but for you, if such a need arises in the future, I will describe a brief action plan:

1. First you need to remove the drain siphon and dismantle the screens in the drain and overflow holes. As you remember, silicone is usually used for sealing, so you need to do everything carefully, otherwise you will damage the mesh.

If you then put the grids back, they must be thoroughly cleaned of traces of old silicone. Otherwise, it will be impossible to achieve complete tightness.

1. After this, you need to take a grinder and cut the silicone insert crosswise. Along and across the bathtub. Otherwise, it will not be possible to dismantle the liner that is tightly seated on the foam. A metal or cast iron bathtub can be completely damaged.
2. After removing the pieces of acrylic, you should take care of the mounting foam on which the liner was attached. To do this, I first used a spatula, tearing off the thickest pieces, and then again a grinder with a grinding wheel installed came to the rescue.
3. The final stage is cleaning the bathtub from debris. A vacuum cleaner or hair dryer helps a lot in this case, blowing out dust particles from all, even the most distant, corners.

Further actions depend on what purpose you pursued when dismantling the bathtub. For example, at the request of the owners, I covered the bathtub liquid acrylic. But I’ll tell you about this some other time.

Conclusion

My considerable experience shows that installing an acrylic liner in a bathtub is quite simple and even an inexperienced person can handle it House master. The issues of bathroom renovation and bathtub restoration are described in more detail in the video in this article.

And I would like to ask you to express your opinion on what is better: an acrylic liner or an enameled bathtub. Send your answers in the comments to this article. It would also be interesting to hear about your personal experience restoration of baths. Perhaps one of the readers will like your method and adopt it.

August 11, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Reading time ≈ 3 minutes

An old bathtub often disrupts the sophistication of a bathroom design and requires complete replacement. Painting or applying a new layer of enamel in such a case will not completely get rid of the ugliness of the product, and purchasing a new model requires a significant investment. The optimal solution will be the installation of an acrylic liner.

You need to buy an acrylic insert based on your parameters installed bath, its forms. The purchased product must be of high quality and durability to avoid problems with operation in the future. At correct selection product and correct preparation for operation, the update process will take about 2 hours. In addition, installing an acrylic liner in a bathtub does not require any special skills and any person can carry out the installation.

Bath preparation procedure

To securely attach the old bathtub to the liner, it is necessary to clear its edges from the adjacent baseboards.

Cleaning must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the product and not to leave grooves in the enamel around the perimeter. The space around the bathroom must be completely freed, so the old screen must also be dismantled.

The most difficult stage of preparation will be removing the old drain/overflow system.

On an acrylic liner, to adjust it, you will need to cut off the side protrusions (shipping sides) before installation.

When carrying out the work, it is necessary to try on the acrylic insert to the existing bathroom. Particular attention is paid to cutting holes for the strapping: they must perfectly match in size and location with the holes on old bath.

For durable and reliable installation A new drain and overflow will require immediate assembly of the system using sealant.

Professional photos will help you carry out this stage correctly and prevent protrusion of the binding compound at the joints of the strapping.

Step-by-step instructions for installing an acrylic liner

The installation of an acrylic liner in a bathtub with your own hands begins by attaching the siphon to centralized system plum. A harness is laid out under the bathtub and brought to the previously vacated holes. Further work is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. To avoid problems with water leaking between the liner and the tub, you will need to apply sealant around the holes.

2. Two-component polyurethane foam is applied to the surface of the bathtub and its sides.

3. An acrylic liner is inserted inside the bathtub and pressed tightly to the base.

4. On installed liner drain and overflow grids are installed.

5. The drain hole is closed and filled full bath cold water: This procedure will allow the liner to “sit” tightly on the mounting foam.

6. Installation in progress plastic skirting boards along the perimeter of the liner and sealing the joints with sealant.

7. Construction debris is removed, and the acrylic insert itself is cleaned of contaminants obtained during the installation process.

On at this stage installation of the acrylic insert in the bathtub will be completed and the owner will need to wait until the compositions have completely hardened. The duration of setting depends on the characteristics of the binder mixture. Typically, the drying process takes about 30 minutes or 1 hour. Therefore, soon after installing the protective baseboards and cleaning the liner, household members will be able to enjoy water treatments in the updated bathroom.

Before carrying out the work described, it is recommended that you additionally familiarize yourself with the attached video. Studying the nuances of installation performed by specialists will help eliminate problems when preparing the liner, installing the trim and subsequent installation of the acrylic lining on the bathtub. Following the requirements and careful execution will be the key to a high-quality update of the old bathtub and improvement of the interior of the room.

Video of installing an acrylic liner in a bathtub with your own hands

Replacing a bathtub is an expensive and problematic issue. It is much faster, cheaper and less problematic to restore a bathtub with your own hands. Restoration is the most economical way updates: without turning off the sewer, dismantling the old bathtub. The service life of the coating is about 15 years - it is not surprising that the bathtub becomes dull over time, cracks and rust spots appear. But if the body is not deformed and the drain is not damaged, you can restore the bathtub without major expenses.

Eat different ways bathtub updates, here are their comparative characteristics

№	Restoration methods	Advantages	Flaws
1.	Bathtub enamel	— affordable price of the material (500 rub.); - without removing the curb to convert cosmetic repairs in capital; — coating service life 12 years	— with poor-quality processing, the service life is reduced to 3 years; - the enamel lays down unevenly, with smudges, diluting with solvents, we lose quality
2.	Filling bath	– application of enamel with liquid acrylic – new way restoration; — 15-20 year warranty; — Smooth surface, no leaks; — without removing the sides, there is no threat of damage to the tiles	- price - 1500 rub. + materials, delivery, craftsman’s work – total up to RUR 5,000 (including region) - capricious material and correct processing accessible only to a qualified technician
3.	Acrylic insert	- fast and easy installation; — available tools and materials – polyurethane foam, grinder with cutting wheel, silicone sealant; - without dismantling the drain - you just need to remove the decorative cover; - cheaper than a new acrylic bathtub	- cost of liner and new iron bath approximately the same; — the liner sometimes does not match the profile (correct with foam); — it is necessary to remove the curb, there is a danger of damaging the tiles; Requires serious preparation and glue preparation skills

Features of acrylic inserts

The insert has a two-layer design – ASB plastic and acrylic itself. They are made this way, firstly, because of the economy of acrylic - expensive material, secondly, ABS plastic, due to its high strength, strengthens the structure. The two layers have the same color and in the event of a scratch or chip, the defects are not visually visible.

Installation of the liner is less labor-intensive than other restoration methods. It is enough to study carefully step by step instructions, stock up completely available materials and tools, you can restore the bathtub with your own hands in a couple of hours.

Acrylic is not afraid of water with rust and other impurities - they are removed easily and without damage. For care, it is better to choose non-abrasive products and do not leave stains from hair dye on the surface for a long time, and do not soak heavily faded fabrics for several hours.

The metal bathtub with acrylic liner has a very low level noise. Water procedures will become more comfortable due to the low thermal conductivity of the material - the coating will be warm to the touch even without hot water. By the way, thanks to this property, water retains its original temperature for a long time.

The acrylic liner makes the bathtub not only practical, but also beautiful, fitting perfectly into any modern design bathroom, which means there is no need to plan to replace the bathroom in the future.

Please note that the liner is several times cheaper than a bathtub made of the same material; you can also save on dismantling the old bathtub, disconnecting the sewer system, and installing a new bathtub.

A rich assortment will simplify the choice; standard inserts for the two main types of bathtubs can be purchased at any plumbing store, regardless of the height of the side; You can make a bath to order or buy it on the Internet. First, you still need to get acquainted with the features of the product not in the pictures, assessing its appearance and quality. You can visit friends who already have experience installing such a liner or check the details directly in the store. Advantages of ordering goods online - a large assortment offers, relatively low price (not due to quality, but due to savings on rental costs retail space), saving time searching for your option.

To ensure that the liner fits your bathroom exactly, you need to take some measurements. They are very simple, and you don’t need to call a specialist for this. To accurately select a model, consultants need to know three parameters:

• total length of the bath (including sides);
• depth (measured using a bar, which must be installed across the bathtub in the central part and measure the distance from the bar to the bottom);
• the internal width of the bathtub, and the distance between the sides is measured twice - at the drainage point and from the opposite edge.

Cost of a "bath in a bath"

The price of an acrylic insert depends on the size of the bathtub: for a bathtub 150 cm long in Moscow, the insert can be bought for 2500 - 4000 rubles. depending on the thickness of the coating and the manufacturer. The thinnest liner (4 mm) on the Internet costs 1400 - 1800 rubles. For bathtubs measuring 170 cm, the price will rise by 200-500 rubles. The services of an installation specialist cost 5550 – 5850 rubles. excluding replacement of the siphon, removal (if necessary) of the old coating, and travel outside the city.

To install the liner yourself, you need to purchase additional two-component polyurethane foam, silicone sealant, and a new siphon. In total, you need to add another 1000 rubles.

Installation of acrylic liners

Acrylic liner is the most modern way quickly update your bath. They make custom liners of any shape and color, but you can buy ready-made ones, especially since most bathtubs are standard - 150 cm and 170 cm with slight differences in shape - oval, rectangular. Acrylic is a universal material - quite durable, retains its color for a long time, tolerates well high temperatures. It is environmentally friendly and does not require special care, but it is preferable to choose plastic care products for it.

The principle of installation of the liner is “bath in bath”. In already installed bath insert a new one, align the holes and glue special glue. Work for 1.5 - 2 hours, warranty subject to operating rules - 20 years.

Tools and materials required when installing the liner:

• drill, hammer drill or chisel with hammer;
• small grinder with cutting wheel;
• drill with a crown attachment;
• jigsaw;
• sealant and polyurethane foam;
• mounting gun;
• clamps.

Step-by-step instructions for restoring a bathtub with an acrylic liner

You can see the entire process of installing the acrylic liner in this video.

Perhaps the method is relatively labor-intensive and expensive, but it is still cheaper than installing a new acrylic bathtub. Sufficiently durable, warm and environmentally friendly acrylic will give the bath a new life, and the owners an unprecedented level of comfort.

An acrylic bathtub liner is often called an acrylic insert. The price for the insert is about 4500-7500 rubles. This method bathtub restoration has a lot positive feedback. We have prepared instructions self-installation acrylic liner. Situations arise when at the moment major renovation is not included in the plans, but I want to change the old bathtub, which looks unsightly. Then new ones can come to the rescue innovative technologies. They solve this problem without dismantling plumbing equipment. You can update it by restoring the lost appearance. Bathroom renovation can be done by:

• Enameling;
• Liquid acrylic coatings;
• Acrylic liner installations.

The first two methods of cosmetic renewal are time-consuming and more labor-intensive. Installing an acrylic liner in a bathroom today allows you to get the excellent desired result in a short time.

Acrylic inserts are becoming very popular thanks to:

• Democratic price;
• Quick installation;
• Excellent appearance updated plumbing;
• Long service life.

The liners are installed inside the old cast iron or steel structure, which is an excellent reliable frame for them. They:

• Fully retain all the advantages of an acrylic bathtub;
• Retains heat well;
• They are characterized by sufficient impact resistance, heat resistance and ease of maintenance.

• 1 What is an acrylic insert
• 2 Where to start
  • 2.1 Preparing the base for installing acrylic coating
  • 2.2 Video instructions for covering a bathtub with liquid acrylic
• 3 Installation of the liner
  • 3.1 Video editing
• 4 Recommendations for use
• 5 Conclusion

What is an acrylic insert?

Acrylic bathroom liners are molded products of a certain standard size, made of two-layer sanitary acrylic reinforced with fiberglass reinforcement. Their shapes and dimensions correspond to the bathtubs of Soviet and Russian production. These auxiliary plumbing products light, durable, practical.

Acrylic, which is the main component of the inserts, is a polymer polymethyl methacrylate. By technical specifications it is two times lighter than ordinary silicate glass. Therefore, it is widely used to produce composite glasses for aircraft manufacturing.

In terms of its metabolism, this material is close to to the human body, therefore it is used in the production of dentures. Thanks to the combination of these acrylic factors, a person, lying in an acrylic bathtub, experiences a comfortable sensation.

Today, for the production of acrylic bathroom liners in their main polymer material add biocidal additives that prevent the proliferation of bacteria and pathogens.

This is exactly what sanitary acrylic is top layer liner. To strengthen it structurally in bending, the bottom layer is made of elastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic.

The optimal thickness of the acrylic liner, which ensures its normal long-term operation, is 6 millimeters.

Where to start

Before choosing the right liner for an acrylic bathtub, you need to know the size and type of the main one. cast iron product. Old Soviet-made steel and cast iron bathtubs were produced in accordance with the standards and requirements of GOST. Therefore, the elements of the acrylic coating are made according to the same standard sizes. Basically, these are bathtubs with sides, made of a straight or elliptical shape, with a length of 1.5 to 1.7 meters.

In addition to the length and type of bathtub, you need to know it:

• Width along the upper inner part on both sides;
• Length of the inner part;
• The total outer width from the line of the outer sides;
• Depth in the drainage area.

For elliptical-shaped bathrooms, you additionally need to know two more top sizes width excluding sides:

1. At the headboard.
2. Above the drain.

Preparing the base for installing acrylic coating

Preparatory work before the main installation of the liner begins must be carried out in the following sequence.

1. Initially, you need to remove it in the area where the bathtub and wall adjoin tiles, plastic panels or other finishing material and clear this entire workspace of debris.
2. The inner surface of the bathtub must be cleaned with a coarse-grained abrasive material or a grinder to give old enamel roughness. This is necessary to improve the adhesion of the polyurethane foam to the surface of the old bathtub.
3. Then you need to dismantle the bathroom drain hole and proceed to the siphon.
4. The crosspiece adjacent to it must be carefully removed without knocking it out.
5. Next, the overflow channel is released and the main nut is removed.
6. Here, at the overflow site, you need to pay attention to the type of thread, so that later you can correctly install the adapter and a new nut.
7. The final operation after cleaning the bathroom is to prepare the action area for work. Its internal surface must be thoroughly cleaned of debris, dust and degreased with acetone, white spirit or alcohol.

Video instructions for covering a bathtub with liquid acrylic

Liner installation

The liner in the bathroom must be installed with special attention to carry out the adjustment process.

1. This operation begins from the edges. The coating placed in the bathtub bowl is outlined around the perimeter with a marker or pencil. Then the tab is removed and the excess plastic is cut off.
2. Afterwards, you need to cut two main holes: overflow and drain. For them, special crowns are used, which, when reinstalling the acrylic coating, will imprint the necessary contours on its outer surface.
3. The marked holes are carefully drilled for future holes, their edges are leveled and cleaned.
4. After all adjustments, the final adjustment is carried out and any shortcomings are eliminated.
5. During installation, it is necessary to take into account that the slope of the bowl to the drain hole must correspond to a ratio of 1.5:3.
6. Before final installation, the cleaned surface of the bowl is degreased again, wiped dry and dried.
7. When all preparatory work completed, the liner is ready for installation, two-component polyurethane foam can be applied to the bowl.
8. First, it is applied completely around the overflow and drain holes.
9. Then the foam needs to be distributed over the bottom of the bowl in strips with a gap of 4-5 centimeters between each other.
10. The sides of the bowl from bottom to top are also treated with foam in the same stripes and distance.
11. Since the foam tends to harden quickly, its application should be done quickly, without delaying time.
12. After treating the bathtub with foam, the liner is inserted, the siphon of the drain hole is quickly assembled, which is additionally sealed with silicone sealant.
13. After installing the acrylic liner in the bathroom, its bowl is filled with water 3–5 cm below the overflow hole. This is done to create a uniform load on the coating, distribute the foam, and harden it within 24 hours until it is completely ready.

Video editing

Installed acrylic coating is full-fledged alternative option acrylic bath. Due to its structure, it:

• Made from environmentally friendly material;
• Does not rust, does not darken, does not turn yellow, does not emit harmful toxic substances;
• Holds temperature well;
• Light scratches on its surface can be easily polished with special pastes;
• Dirt on the surface can be easily washed off with a soft sponge and laundry soap.

As a limitation, to extend the service life and operation, it is recommended in such baths:

• Do not bathe cats and dogs;
• Do not use a plunger if the sewer pipes are clogged, which can lead to depressurization of the drain hole;
• Don't get carried away hot water, since acrylic is afraid of boiling water and can be deformed.

Conclusion

Today offers the use of new technologies in the restoration of old, but still good, Soviet-made bathtubs. The simplest and cheapest way to update them is with acrylic bathroom liners.

They have excellent design, quality and functional properties similar to modern baths made of acrylic. Low price, health safety and environment make these products the most popular among average residents of our country.

These liners cover defects in old cast iron or steel baths as:

• Skolov;
• scratch;
• Darkened areas;
• Scuffs;
• Rust spots.

Installing them always gives excellent result, takes a little time, gives the corner of the bathroom a quite decent and dignified look. An acrylic liner allows a person to feel like they are in a new bathtub. While enjoying her smooth surface, pleasant warmth, beautiful appearance.