Is it better to do a 3 piece shower surround above tub or retile for a rental

[Ann Downer]

We have a duplex and the tile around the tub faucet got pushed sideways - upshot is the wallboard is missing behind so we need to tear down existing and either replace wallboard and retile or have a 3 piece smooth surround installed instead.  Which is better for a decent but definitely not high end rental?

[Scott Heinrich]

3 piece, or one piece if you can find one.

Tile requires more cleaning and maintenance than an insert. Grout manufacturers recommend re-sealing every year. No one re-seals their grout every year. 

As a home inspector specializing on mold inspections, I see a lot of problems with tile and grout in showers. The grout can deteriorate allowing water behind the tile. Depending on the type of grout and the width of the line, they can be a huge pain to keep clean. Many tenants don't clean as well as as a homeowner would leading to complaints down the road.

A 3 piece is much easier to keep clean, requires basically zero maintenance and is much easier to repair or replace if damaged. They are generally less expensive unless you tile it yourself. However, most people, including many contractors, do not seal showers correctly, leading to future problems.