Question from Hope
Hi there,
Does anyone have an opinion on the safety of a fiberglass tub with a gel coat? Many fiberglass tubs, showers, and pools are made with a gel coating integrated into the surface, made of polyseter resin. The gel coats can also contain additives such as UV reducers, pigments, fillers, etc. The most affordable japanese soaking tubs (the style tub that we want) are fiberglass with gel coats. I’ve heard that acrylic is relatively unhealthy.
Our desire is to have a japanese style soaking tub that is as safe as possible. My husband suggested stainless steel (I tried to explain that some people have health concerns about it but he wasn’t convinced). I considered cast concrete but am concerned about sealants. We found a nice fiberglass model that we like, but I need to know if the gelcoat is ok. Thanks =)
Debra’s Answer
There may be many different gel coats with different additives that may or may not leach, so I don’t think one could say across the boards that they are all safe or harmful. I think you’re going to need to evaluate the gel coat of the specific tub you are considering.
