We met John around Thanksgiving. A Vietnam combat veteran, John had recently suffered two strokes and was struggling to get in and out of his old one-piece fiberglass tub. To make matters worse, his water had completely stopped working, leaving him with no way to bathe.
Since his medical conditions were connected to his time in the service, John was looking into the HISA Grant (Home Improvement/Structural Alterations) provided by the VA. Veterans with service-connected disabilities can receive a one-time grant of up to $6,800, while those with non-service-related disabilities qualify for up to $2,000. Many companies shy away from these projects because local VA offices can be notoriously difficult to work with, and the process is often slow. Fortunately, we have a great relationship with our local VA and have successfully completed similar projects for veterans in the past.
After calling half a dozen companies that either brushed him off or refused to provide an estimate, John finally found us. We explained the process over the phone, and the very next day, Tom Wolff visited John to provide a detailed estimate.
John shares his home with his loyal companion, Cookie—a small dog who follows him everywhere. His ranch-style home has no stairs apart from those leading to the basement, and he was still mobile enough to handle most tasks—except bathing. As expected, there was no water flow to the tub faucet or showerhead when we arrived. We suspected a clog, either in the valve or further down the line. After seeing the product we recommended—The Onyx Collection—John was ready to move forward. He put down a deposit and signed the contract, eager to have his bathroom transformed. We scheduled the installation for 8–10 weeks out and agreed to repair his water supply as soon as possible. The project scope included replacing his old tub with a cultured stone walk-in shower, installing a new floor, upgrading the toilet, and fitting a custom Onyx vanity top to match.
Eight weeks later, our installers, Ricky and Stacey, arrived to begin work. The job was fairly straightforward, but Day 2 threw us a couple of curveballs. Ricky took a nasty fall on some unshoveled ice outside, slowing progress, and we discovered that most of the plumbing underneath the tub was above grade due to the fiberglass floor sitting 10 inches off the ground. Luckily, with a full basement below, rerouting the waste lines was a relatively minor fix. Despite these setbacks, the entire installation was completed in about six days.
The end result? John’s new walk-in shower, part of The Onyx Collection, features a mid-height cultured stone shower pan in “Adriatic,” with matching imitation subway tile walls, a recessed caddy, and matching cultured stone crown molding. He specifically requested a flip-up seat with legs, and that’s exactly what he got—an 800lb-capacity seat for maximum stability. We also installed multiple safety grab bars inside and outside the shower to help John move around with confidence. To complete the look, we replaced the vanity top with a matching Onyx Collection “Adriatic” surface for a seamless, polished finish. John, it was a pleasure working with you. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out!