Understanding Acrylic Bathtub Pros and Cons

Published on Wednesday July 17, 2024

Acrylic is a popular bathtub material for bathroom upgrades. It’s low-maintenance, lightweight, affordable, and available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and designs to suit almost any style.

However, acrylic bathtubs have a few potential drawbacks. Long Home Products explains what to know when considering one.

What is an Acrylic Bathtub?

Acrylic tubs are crafted from transparent plastic that’s shaped under vacuum and strengthened with layers of fiberglass to enhance sturdiness. Because of this manufacturing method, acrylic tubs typically have a higher price tag than fiberglass tubs, but they’re still more budget-friendly than many other types of bathtubs.

The flexible base plastic material of acrylic tubs makes it easy to customize your acrylic tub to the size, shape, color, and style you prefer.

What are the Pros of Acrylic Tubs?

Acrylic bathtubs are a good choice for many homeowners. Let’s examine some of their biggest advantages.

Affordability

Affordability is one of the pros that make acrylic tubs so popular. While not the cheapest tubs on the market, they’re still one of the most affordable options.

Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or just upgrading an old tub, an acrylic bathtub likely fits your budget.

Heat Retention

When considering any bathtub material, you must consider heat retention. Thankfully, acrylic tubs offer good heat retention for their price and will keep bath water warm for longer than many other materials.

Easy Maintenance and Repairs

Acrylic bathtubs are easy to maintain and repair. You can use cleaning materials you already have around the house: water and vinegar wiped down with a soft sponge are usually enough.

While acrylic tubs aren’t 100% resistant to damage, they’re easy to repair should something happen. Scratches can easily be polished out or filled in, making acrylic one of the easiest tubs to repair.

Durability

Acrylic tubs are durable because they’re reinforced with fiberglass. Most last around 15 years, but with proper care and maintenance, they might last even longer.

Customization

Because of the way they’re produced, acrylic bathtubs come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. No matter your bathroom design or personal style, you’ll be able to find an acrylic tub you’ll love.

Lightweight

Acrylic tubs are made of lightweight materials, making them easy to install and replace. They don’t require floor reinforcements, either, so they can be installed on any level of your home.

What are the Cons of Acrylic Tubs?

While acrylic tubs have many advantages, they also have a few potential drawbacks. Keep these in mind as you choose your new bathtub.

Surface Staining or Scratching

Acrylic tubs are easier to repair than many other tub materials, but they’re still prone to staining and scratching when improperly maintained or cleaned.

Less Upscale

If you’re looking for premium bath options, acrylic might not be right for you. While it comes in a wide variety of shapes and designs, it isn’t as high-end as some other materials, such as cast iron.

Sensitive to Certain Cleaners

As we mentioned above, all you really need to clean your acrylic tub is vinegar, water, and a soft sponge. Anything more abrasive than that can cause scratches and stains.

Is an Acrylic Tub Right For You?

You know your bathroom and budget best, so only you can decide if an acrylic tub is right for you. If affordability and customization are your priorities, consider an acrylic tub. But if you’re looking for something more high-end and luxurious, an acrylic tub might not be the right choice.

Upgrade Your Bathroom With Long Home Products

At Long Baths™, we use quality materials and unparalleled craftsmanship in every product we install. We guarantee your Long bathtub will be non-porous, antimicrobial, and engineered to be mold, mildew, soap scum, rust, and stain-resistant for many years to come.

Whether you’re looking for a complete bathroom remodel or just a tub upgrade, visit us online to get a quote or schedule a free, in-home estimate!