Covering that tile with cheap thin acrylic panels would be criminal.

How long do you want the new shower surface to last? The epoxy coating that is applied by pros may be good for a few years with careful cleaning. It's not a long term solution.

Large format Corian panels are low maintenance. You'd need to gut the shower. The newer styles of large (say, 12" by 24") tiles may also work for you. New tiles are vastly easier to clean than very old tile with worn surfaces.

If the current tiles are so old that the finish has been eroded away by decades of scrubbing, they will be hard to keep clean.

In the meantime, if you want comments on keeping old tile clean, you can start a new thread under "Cleaning Tips".

Here is a discussion thread on Corian showers: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3509637/corian-shower-walls#n=21

IMO you either rip the whole thing out and start over or leave it . Anything other than the acrylic insert will require a complete gut and redo of the waterproofing. I would really not do an acrylic insert they never look good IMO. I like tub/ shower acrylics but not 3 piece shower inserts which is what you would need.

I agree it looks like I will either need to tear out the existing tile or leave it. I don’t love the acrylic panels either but wondered if Fibo, onyx, or corian would be a good alternative,

Check out Innovate Building Solutions, the US dist for Fibo. I’ve been watching their install videos for months and now getting ready to order my panels. I was waiting for the subway pattern to become available. Innovatebuildingsolutions.com

Hi Carol and Jacqulyn and adotham, please post info and pics if you decide to install Fibo. I’m interested in it as well and I’ve been reading up on it and watching all the videos. I’ve contacted Innovate Building Solutions but haven’t heard back from them yet.

Fibo sounds like a nice option! I have samples from Innovate and the material is high quality. My project is currently on hold (it is too difficult to have a project like this done with all of the remote learning going on at our house). Hope others’ projects turn out well!

@adotham did you ever get time to install your Fibo walls? I am about to order my kit but I would like to fid a local "certified" Fibo installer but having a hard time finding one. I'm in Palm Springs, CA.

Not yet! I am in IL. I talked to a local contractor who was willing to install Fibo, as there are no certified installers here. Good luck!

I am obsessed with Fibo. There’s so many color options and patterns and finishes. I checked out some samples and it’s far superior to most synthetic surfaces. It states that it’s the most popular synthetic in Europe and Canada. I’m going for it in a small apartment shower as it is currently gutted, and this product will go directly onto the studs. I’m sure my contractor can figure it out. They compare it to laying laminate floor, and consider it a diy.