Jan and Drew had their home built about 15 years ago. At the time, the builders did a great job on their master bathroom but installed a standard-sized fiberglass shower pan, which left a lot of dead space behind the wall—something that always bothered Drew. Why waste so much space?
They had been happy with their bathroom for many years, but with the shower due for a remodel anyway, they decided it was time to find a company that was more than just a “1-day bath” gimmick.
Jen Hugill, Buffalo native, project manager, and part-time rock star, spoke with Jan over the phone to discuss options, provide ballpark pricing, and explain how we differ from most of the local competition. For starters, we don’t shy away from bigger, more complex remodels—they’re our bread and butter. While “strictly showers” might be more profitable, it can also lead to installer burnout. All of our installers have been with us for a long time, and we intend to keep it that way. If we can keep them on a larger project in one place for a week and give them a break from constant travel, we absolutely will. Plus, it gives us an advantage: we’re willing to take on the projects that require a little more finesse, while others turn them down.
Within 48 hours, Jen was inspecting the couple’s bathroom. Drew even had a few photos from before the walls were put up, although they were a little difficult to make much of. We knew there were a few feet of empty space behind the back shower wall (what we call the “soap wall” in the industry), but exactly how much was unclear.
Jen presented a few layout options: a 60″x60″, a 60″x48″, and a standard 60″x36″ footprint. (For those who don’t read all our posts, anything beyond 36″x60″ is considered custom sizing.) She gave price points for each and encouraged them to take a few days to think it over.
Jan, getting excited, leaned toward the full 60″x60″ layout—but they were also trying to be mindful of the budget. Out of all the quotes Jan and Drew received, Buffalo Bath Pros was the only one offering cultured stone. Every other company pitched cheap acrylic. One company (we won’t print the name, but it rhymes with “Shay Swiller”) even came in at a similar price—but the quote was in all acrylic and they also asked the homeowners to handle their own demo and framing. Seriously?
Long story short: Jan sent her deposit the very next day, securing a calendar date about 10 weeks out.
James Gray, our lead install tech, handled this project, arriving bright and early on a Monday. When he demoed the back wall, he didn’t find just “a few feet” of empty space—he found nearly six feet of completely unused space. Jan was thrilled and asked if we could recess the new shower two feet further back into the wall. This adjustment would add nearly 10 more square feet to their bathroom. Since it didn’t cost anything extra, we were more than happy to oblige.
James took his time and had the whole job completed in just six days—even though we had initially estimated 7–10 days. There were zero complications—a clean home, clean work, and a clean install. This particular installation features a custom 60″x48″ Onyx Collection cultured marble shower pan in ‘Breeze’, with matching stone slab walls in imitation subway tile. For extra storage, we installed 2 corner shelves and a recessed niche. Lastly, while we were in there, we included a matching cultured stone vanity top to compliment the new shower.
We checked in with Jan twice (once mid-installation and again after completion), and she couldn’t say enough good things about James’ professionalism, craftsmanship, and work ethic. Honestly, we’re lucky to have James as part of our Bath Pros family.
Thank you again, Jan and Drew. We wish all our customers were as accommodating and easy to work with as you.
If you’re a homeowner in Lancaster, NY or the surrounding suburbs and are looking for a reputable, honest bathroom remodeling company, give Buffalo Bath Pros a call at (716) 216-5794. You’ll work directly with the owner or trusted family and friends—not a high-pressure salesman. Our work speaks for itself—and we’ll give it to you straight. No games. No gimmicks. Just real results.