Planned communities, fiberglass units, and HOA rules.

Almost everything here uses a molded fiberglass or acrylic tub-and-shower unit. They don't rust and they rarely chip, so the complaint is different: the surface has gone dull, it's scratched from abrasive cleaners, and it no longer wipes clean. That's a worn gel coat, and coating it restores the surface without anyone touching the plumbing.

The second reason is that a molded unit is genuinely difficult to replace. It was often installed before the walls were finished, which means getting it out involves cutting. That's the point at which a small problem becomes a large project.

Irvine also has a lot of managed and HOA housing, where work inside a unit is easier to approve when it doesn't involve permits, dumpsters or a plumber. Refinishing doesn't.