When Mary realized her leaking shower needed a renovation, she reached out to Syracuse Bath Pros for an estimate—one of four she was considering. Unfortunately, her existing tub insert was a very tight, unusual size (54″ x 28″), typically found in trailers or mobile homes. Sourcing quality materials for such a small, non-standard size proved to be a challenge. Additionally, a custom stone composite pan in this size, which we generally prefer to use, would have been very expensive. With a tight budget, Mary found that most of her bids were either impractical or outside her price range. So, we got creative.
Our plan was to build out the left wall of her shower to accommodate a larger, 32-inch depth footprint, giving Mary some much-needed elbow room. Mary had already received a competing bid from Rome Bath for an acrylic installation, and even though our cultured stone bid was similar in price, neither company was within her budget. We came to an agreement to proceed with acrylic at a reduced cost—while it’s a perfectly functional material, it’s not nearly as high-end as the stone options we typically offer. This type of installation only accounts for about 5-10% of the work we do. After finalizing the details, we had Mary scheduled in about six weeks. We got it done within the estimated time frame but our installation team did run into a few unexpected challenges along the way.
Challenge #1: Improper Shower Waste Line Pitch
When we began the installation, we discovered that Mary’s shower waste line was pitched upwards where it connected to the vanity. For any homeowners unfamiliar with plumbing, this meant that water had to travel upward before reaching the main waste line (the home’s primary drainage system). This setup can cause drainage issues, and it was a problem we needed to fix before proceeding with the installation. While we did not charge any extra for the work, it added about a day to our expected time frame.
Challenge #2: Leak After Installation
Less than 24 hours after the installation was complete, Mary called to report a leak. We responded promptly and were back on-site within four hours. After inspection, we determined that the leak wasn’t caused by our work but rather by a previous issue: a handyman had incorrectly seated the toilet. Once we reseated the toilet, the leak was resolved, though there was some initial confusion about who was responsible for the issue.
Challenge #3: Manufacturer Defect in the Shower Door
We generally avoid using custom products for these reasons, but unfortunately, the shower door we selected had a manufacturer defect. This resulted in a small amount of water leaking through the track when water was sprayed directly on it. We addressed the issue using silicone and some creative problem-solving, and while it was a source of stress, we were able to resolve it to everyone’s satisfaction.
Despite the setbacks, we completed the job over the course of four days. To our knowledge, there have been no further issues, and Mary is thrilled with the final result. She now has a new walk-in shower, perfect for hosting extra guests during the holidays.
Mary, thank you for your patience and trust throughout this process. If you ever need any other renovations or just want to check in, feel free to give us a call at (315) 217-1151. Enjoy your new shower!