I also encourage you to look at acrylic. I have a 25 year old Aquaglass acrylic shower/tub combo with a dome top and it looks as good as new - but it's HARVEST GOLD!! I will be replacing this unit with another acrylic shower only unit in the spring. We also have a 15 year old Aquaglass acrylic shower in DH's bath - it's biscuit color (much prettier that the harvest gold :). Go to a tru bathroom fixture/plumbing store and look at theirs. I know that Lowes carries some Aquaglass brand and some Kohler brands, but they do not begin to compare to what I am looking at in the fixture store - much sturdier/thicker. Just about everything I have seen in the big box stores is fiberglass and flimsy. I have read some good reviews on the Vikrell Sterling unit you mentioned - will have to check that out. My favorites are the Aquaglass and Kohler - Kohler being a little more expensive. I absolutely lust after the gorgeous tiled showers that I see here on GW, but we are nearing retirement and I do not want to deal with the maintenance of tile and grout. We NEVER wipe down a shower - the glossy acrylic drain/drys rapidly on its own. I use a good spray cleaner (usually spray Comet) which works well. You can also use baking soda or Soft Scrub (SPARINGLY) if necessary and it will not damage your unit. Like weedyacres said - they are very common in the real world. My two children have the cheezy, thin fiberglass units and they love mine. I also love good, thick, well-made glass shower doors vs shower curtains so I guess that makes me a fuddy-duddy. Again, I have one set of Basco glass sliding doors that are 25 years old and one swing out door that is 15 years old. The 25 year old set is beginning to show a little mineral etching, but they function as good as the day they were installed. Here is a link that might be useful: Acrylic vs Fiberglass

Duplicate post. People have already started responding to your messages at your prior post. Please continue the discussion there: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5886013/bathtub-purchase-acrylic-vs-fiberglass#n=5

Marvin in my opinion is the better product with top notch customer service (dealer dependent of course to some extent). That being said the Milgard is not bad and a solid company to deal with from what I have been told (albeit a few years ago as they are no longer on the eastern part of the country.

I'm shopping for a freestanding tub, but I'm unclear what some of the differences are between an acrylic and fiberglass tub. They seem to be a comparable price and a very similar material. Which material is more durable? Will both fade/change color over time? Which is better for heat retention? I originally was thinking of going with a cast iron tub, but I'm not sure if I will need extra support for it in my house.