Bathtub dilemma

[Warpy]

3. I used the tub paint

and it got brittle over time, failing in about 5 years.

The smell was awful, but open windows and an exhaust fan cured it.

If I wanted to keep the tub (which I don't, it's hard to get into for a shower and too shallow for anyone over the age of five), I'd get a company to fabricate a once piece tub and fibreglas insert and install it. Taken care of, that would likely last a lifetime, fitted over the tub and very sturdy. The main problem with fibreglas is the fact that it scratches, so clear liquid cleaners should be used, not abrasives.

The fibreglas inserts, while pricey, are cheaper than replacing the tub and will give decades of service. It's actually the most economical way of dealing with an unsightly tub in a more or less permanent way.