Fiberglass or Acrylic?

Acrylic is a sheet of material that is heated and vacuum-formed over a mold, creating a continuous waterproof membrane. It is then reinforced with fiberglass for added stability and insulation value. Acrylic is non-porous by nature, warm to the touch and retains its gloss finish better than any other material. Acrylic is well recognized for its ability to withstand constant use and cleaning. It is usually recommended that you avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners since acrylic is easily scratched.

Gelcoat fiberglass is a colored polyester resin sprayed onto a mold then reinforced with fine glass particles. Being more porous and brittle than acrylic, the gelcoat/fiberglass surface has a greater tendency to dull and discolor over time. Some other drawbacks to using fiberglass are the fact that they can flex or break if they are not adequately supported and they show scratches over time that cannot be repaired. There are some pros to owning a fiberglass tub which include the fact that they are lightweight which makes them easy to install, they are inexpensive, and cracks are easy to repair with an epoxy resin repair kit.

Let’s compare fiberglass to acrylic on some very specific characteristics –

Acrylic Fiberglass
Non-Porous Porous
Excellent repairability Good repairability
Color fast- Excellent Color fast-Fair
Useful life- 30+ yrs. Useful life- 1-8 yrs.
Initial cost- Moderate Initial cost- Low
Strength- Strong Strength- Fragile
Surface- High Gloss Surface- Matte
Thickness- .60-.125 Thickness- .008-.02
Cleanability- Excellent Cleanability- Poor
Styles- Wide Variety Styles- Moderate Variety
Colors- 200+ Colors- Good
Value- High Value- Fair

The big plus with acrylic is that it is solid surface, meaning it has a very high filler content and does not have a gel coat. If you have Corian or similar countertops in your home, then you know what solid surface material is. No mildew, mold or bacteria can penetrate because it is non-porous. Acrylic; being a solid surface, is easier to clean, has a glossy finish and will last for many years. It will not fade over time as the color is all the way through the material, not just on the surface. Whereas, with gel coat fiberglass the gel coat rubs off and then the pores/fibers of the fiberglass are exposed. Once the pores and fibers are exposed they can harbor bacteria, mold and mildew and grime and soap scum get embedded into the surface which begins the breaking down of the product. Using a gel-coat is like having a glaze sprayed onto the fiberglass to “seal” it. It wears off over time which is why it fades and wears and becomes even harder to keep clean. The Tub Doctor has done tens of thousands fiberglass and acrylic tub enclosures in the last 25 years saving you money by not having to replace the unit.

Give us a call at 213-BATHTUB (213-228-4882) for more information regarding your project.

Tub Doctor Announces Launch of New Website

“We are extremely proud of our new and improved website. It clearly reflects our position in the reglazing services marketplace,” stated Lou Tirador owner. “We have included a lot of new content, not only explaining what we do, but also reinforcing our dedication to the reglazing industry and our environment. This new site also showcases some examples of the work that can be done using our unique process. We will keep improving it to meet the needs of our customers on an ongoing basis. Updating the site to better serve the needs of our individual customers along with our commercial clients will be priority for our company. We look forward to doing business with you.