Linda called Syracuse Bath Pros on a Saturday evening with an urgent request—her aging cast iron tub had stopped functioning, and since it was her only bathroom, she was unable to shower. To make matters worse, she was dealing with leaks that needed to be addressed immediately. While we don’t typically make service calls on Sundays, we made an exception and had Tom Wolff visit her the following morning at 11 a.m.
Upon arrival, we assessed the situation: the existing setup was a worn-out cast-iron tub surrounded by a 5-piece fiberglass enclosure, and it was in poor condition. The wall had already been opened up to inspect for damage, and the valve was no longer functional. The space was essentially unusable. With a tight budget, Linda’s primary goal was simply to have something functional again.
While we don’t often advertise it, we do offer “1-day” budget-friendly options, and in Linda’s case, she opted for a pre-molded fiberglass insert. If you’ve read other posts of ours, you’ll notice that we tend to shy away from fiberglass inserts. While they are far from the premium options we’re known for, they do have one major benefit: they almost never fail. Yes, the material may age or discolor over time, but outright failure is rare.
That said, we’re not huge fans of fiberglass inserts, but they do have a few advantages that made them a viable solution for Linda:
Quick turnaround: Because of the fast installation time, we can often fit these jobs in between larger remodels.
Simplicity of installation: The direct-to-stud design makes the process relatively straightforward, often allowing us to complete the installation in less than a day.
Lower cost: These options are much more affordable than the luxury alternatives we typically recommend.
Lightweight material: It’s easier on our install techs and reduces labor costs.
Reliability: In our experience, fiberglass installations are durable and rarely fail.
Given the urgency of Linda’s situation—she desperately needed a functional shower, and her budget and focus on practicality were top priorities—this fiberglass insert was the best option. To make it even easier for her, we were able to offer financing, which helped ease the financial hit. We scheduled the installation and were able to complete the walk-in shower for Linda within one week. The entire installation was finished in just a single day. Since then, we’ve checked in a few times, and Linda continues to be very satisfied with the results.
Linda, thank you for trusting us with your project. If you ever need another bathroom remodel or simply want to let us know how you’re doing, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (315) 217-1151. Enjoy your new shower!