This East Syracuse bathroom remodel transformed an aging builder-grade bathroom into a custom space centered around an Onyx Collection walk-in shower. The project included a complete renovation with new luxury vinyl tile flooring, a custom Onyx Collection vanity top, updated plumbing fixtures, lighting, drywall finishing, paint, and a heavy glass shower enclosure.
Although the remodel was ultimately a success, it also reinforced an important lesson for our team. A flooring style that looked beautiful on the showroom floor ultimately failed to meet our expectations in the field. We don’t expect homeowners to identify products that may become problematic over time—that responsibility belongs to us. While the homeowners loved the design and elected to keep it after repairs, the experience led us to remove that particular flooring style from our catalog—a reminder that real-world installation experience should always shape the products we recommend.
Every Bathroom Remodel Begins with a Different Story
Before contacting Bath Pros, these East Syracuse homeowners had already met with several regional and national bathroom remodeling companies. After comparing products, proposals, warranties, and installation methods, they still felt something was missing. Rather than a standard shower replacement, they were looking for a bathroom that felt thoughtfully designed from the beginning.
Looking Beyond a Shower Replacement
The existing bathroom had faithfully served this family for decades. It had seen busy weekday mornings, children growing up, holidays, and all the routines that make a house feel like home. Like many original bathrooms, however, time had simply caught up with it. The direct-to-stud fiberglass shower was beginning to show its age, the flooring and vanity no longer reflected the homeowners’ style, and years of moisture had taken their toll on the ceiling, lighting, and ventilation. Rather than replacing only the shower and leaving the rest of the room behind, the homeowners decided it was finally time to renovate the bathroom as a complete space.
The centerpiece of the project would become a custom Onyx Collection walk-in shower featuring built-in storage, a decorative mosaic accent, and heavy glass. Everything surrounding it would be updated to match.
Why the Homeowners Chose Bath Pros
The homeowners had already received several estimates before meeting with us and had seen a wide range of products and sales presentations. Our proposal actually came in slightly higher than the competing estimates, but after comparing everything side by side, they felt the additional investment was justified.
For them, it wasn’t simply about replacing an old shower. It was about building a bathroom using materials they believed would perform well for many years while creating a finished space that felt intentionally designed rather than assembled from standard replacement products. Projects like this remind us that homeowners don’t always choose the lowest number. Many are looking for confidence—confidence in the materials, confidence in the installation, and confidence that everyone understands exactly what is being built before construction ever begins.
During the design process, the couple shared a story that made us smile. The husband had recently purchased the truck he’d been wanting, and he joked that it was only fair for his wife to finally get the bathroom she’d been talking about for years. It’s those little conversations that remind us a bathroom remodel is often about much more than replacing fixtures—it’s about making a home feel a little more complete.
Like many of our projects, this renovation wasn’t scheduled immediately, and they were okay with waiting. At the time, Bath Pros was booking approximately four months into the future. While waiting is rarely anyone’s favorite part of the remodeling process, maintaining a healthy backlog allows us to dedicate the necessary time to each bathroom instead of rushing from one project to the next.
Building the New Walk-In Shower
Lead remodeler Vinny Aponte was assigned to the project, and construction took approximately two weeks from demolition through completion. The shower immediately became the focal point of the room.
The homeowners selected an Onyx Collection walk-in shower finished with a neutral gray decorative mosaic accent that provides visual interest without overpowering the overall design. Storage was an important part of the project, so we incorporated multiple options throughout the shower, including a recessed Liberty Tower caddy, a Liberty Tall corner caddy, and a matching corner foot shelf. The shower was completed with a heavy double-sliding glass enclosure that helps maintain an open feel while showcasing the cultured stone walls.
One of the things we appreciate about designing custom showers is that homeowners aren’t forced into a one-size-fits-all layout. Features like recessed storage, decorative accents, fixture placement, and glass configuration can all be planned around how the bathroom will actually be used every day.
Completing the Rest of the Bathroom
While the shower naturally draws the most attention, nearly every other portion of the bathroom was rebuilt during the renovation. The homeowners supplied their own vanity cabinet after finding a style they liked through Wayfair. We then fabricated and installed a custom Onyx Collection vanity top featuring an integral offset Venetian sink. Matching backsplashes were installed around the vanity, and the sink was paired with American Standard Rumson widespread fixtures to complete the space. Above the vanity, a new illuminated mirror provides both functional task lighting and a clean, modern appearance.
Elsewhere throughout the bathroom, we installed a new toilet, replaced the ventilation fan, updated every outlet and switch, refinished the walls and ceiling to a smooth Level 4 drywall finish, and painted the room using the homeowners’ Sherwin-Williams color selections. By the time construction was complete, virtually every visible surface inside the bathroom had been renewed.
When a Product Doesn’t Meet Our Standards
One reason we enjoy writing these case studies is that they allow us to share experiences that don’t always make it into a gallery of finished photographs. For this project, the homeowners selected Tarkett ProGen luxury vinyl tile in Marquina Nero. We had successfully installed several other colors and finishes from the ProGen product line over the years, but this particular glossy style was new to us. Installation itself proved more challenging than we expected. The finish required significantly more care to avoid cosmetic damage than the other ProGen styles we had previously worked with. Even though we completed the installation successfully, the project wasn’t quite over.
Shortly after the remodel was completed, the homeowners contacted us after noticing a small area of the flooring beginning to buckle. We immediately offered to replace the entire floor with a different product from our catalog at no cost. We didn’t want the homeowners to feel they had to live with a product that no longer met our expectations. After discussing the options, however, the homeowners told us they genuinely loved the appearance of the Marquina Nero flooring and weren’t concerned about the possibility of future cosmetic wear. They planned to use bath mats throughout the room and preferred to keep the original selection. Instead, we returned to replace the affected flooring, confirmed everything was performing as expected, and the homeowners have remained pleased with the finished bathroom.
For us, however, the experience reinforced an important point. A flooring product can look beautiful in a showroom and still not meet our expectations once we’ve installed it in a customer’s home. We don’t expect homeowners to identify products that may become problematic over time—that responsibility belongs to us. Based on what we learned during this project, we made the decision to remove the Marquina Nero style from our flooring catalog in favor of products we’ve developed greater confidence in over years of installation.
This isn’t the first time real-world installation experience has changed the products we recommend. If you’re interested in another example, we’ve also written about why we stopped recommending a particular Samuel Mueller shower pan after encountering repeated durability concerns in the field.
The Finished Result
Aside from our experience with the flooring selection, the project progressed smoothly from demolition through completion without any major surprises. Approximately two weeks after construction began, the homeowners had an entirely new bathroom centered around a custom Onyx Collection walk-in shower, complete with upgraded finishes throughout the room. Perhaps most importantly, the finished bathroom feels cohesive.
Rather than replacing one fixture while leaving the surrounding finishes untouched, every major component was designed to complement the others—from the shower and vanity to the lighting, flooring, drywall, and paint. The homeowners have since let us know they are very pleased with the finished bathroom, and we’re grateful they trusted Bath Pros to complete the renovation.
Looking back, this project is a good example of why we encourage homeowners to think about the bathroom as a complete space instead of a collection of individual fixtures. By updating the shower, flooring, vanity, lighting, drywall, and finishes together, the room feels cohesive in a way that’s difficult to achieve through piecemeal renovations.
What We Learned
Every remodeling project teaches us something, and this one reinforced several ideas that continue to shape how we approach future bathrooms.
- Beautiful products still need to perform. A flooring sample can look fantastic in a showroom, but real-world installation is where products prove themselves.
- Standing behind your work means responding quickly when something isn’t right. When the homeowners noticed an issue with the flooring, our first response was to offer a complete replacement—not because they asked us to, but because it was the right thing to do.
- Our product catalog should continue to evolve. Every material we recommend has earned its place through real installation experience. When a product no longer meets our expectations, we’re willing to remove it and recommend something better.
Thinking About Remodeling Your Bathroom in East Syracuse?
Every bathroom has its own challenges, priorities, and opportunities. Some homeowners are primarily interested in replacing an outdated shower. Others are ready for a complete renovation that transforms the entire room. Regardless of the project’s size, we believe the best results begin with careful planning, honest conversations, and materials selected for long-term performance rather than short-term appearance.
If you’re considering an East Syracuse bathroom remodel or are exploring options for replacing an aging fiberglass shower with a custom walk-in shower, we’d be happy to discuss your ideas and help you determine the best solution for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did this East Syracuse bathroom remodel take?
Construction took approximately two weeks from demolition through final completion. Because this project included drywall finishing, painting, flooring, plumbing, electrical work, and a complete shower replacement, it required more time than a standard shower-only remodel.
Why did the homeowners choose an Onyx Collection walk-in shower?
The homeowners wanted a shower that would be easier to maintain while providing a more custom appearance than the original fiberglass enclosure. The finished design incorporates cultured stone wall panels, multiple built-in storage options, a decorative mosaic accent, and a heavy glass sliding enclosure.
Can Bath Pros install a custom vanity top if I already purchased a vanity?
Yes. Many homeowners purchase their own vanity cabinet, and we fabricate a custom Onyx Collection vanity top to fit it. That’s exactly what we did on this project.
Do you only replace showers, or do you remodel entire bathrooms?
We do both. While many homeowners contact us for walk-in shower replacements, we also complete full bathroom remodels that include flooring, vanities, drywall finishing, painting, plumbing, lighting, ventilation, electrical work, and much more.
How far in advance should I schedule a bathroom remodel?
Our production schedule changes throughout the year. At the time of this project, Bath Pros was booked approximately four months in advance. We recommend scheduling as early as possible if you’re hoping to complete your project by a specific date.
What areas around Syracuse do you serve?
Bath Pros completes bathroom remodeling projects throughout East Syracuse, Manlius, Fayetteville, DeWitt, Liverpool, Cicero, Clay, Baldwinsville, Camillus, and many surrounding communities across Central New York.
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