Jan called the Syracuse VA on behalf of her husband, John. Both were war veterans — a demographic of homeowners we genuinely enjoy working with. John was dealing with a degenerative disease that made getting in and out of their existing tub increasingly dangerous. Jan, who was fairly handy herself, initially considered tackling the project on her own. But with the help of the HISA Grant, it made more sense to bring in a professional company to ensure it was done right.
For those homeowners reading this story who might be unfamiliar, the VA HISA Grant is currently the only government grant we’re aware of that can offset a portion of the cost of a bathroom remodel. Specifically, the HISA Grant exists to help veterans make their homes safer and more accessible. This might include ramps, handrails, stair lifts, or—most commonly—a tub-to-shower conversion to create an ADA-compliant walk-in shower.
As of this writing (July 6th, 2025), veterans with service-connected disabilities may be eligible for up to $6,800 in assistance. For those with non-service-related conditions, a $2,000 allowance is available. To begin the process, veterans should contact their local VA doctor and request a prescription for a home modification. From there, the doctor refers them to someone in the prosthetics department, such as Susan Alguire in Syracuse, Shane Lowe in Buffalo, or Aaron Williams in Albany. That VA representative will walk them through the paperwork and sometimes refer a few remodeling companies. Ask about us—we’ve worked with all three VA offices across Upstate NY and have a long list of happy veteran customers who can speak to their experience.
Jan knew she didn’t want fiberglass or acrylic. She wanted something more premium that would match the overall look and feel of the rest of the home. That’s where Syracuse Bath Pros comes in. We focus on mid-to-high tier installations and currently prefer working with The Onyx Collection—a cultured-stone material available in nearly 50 different color and texture variations. Most of the time, we can install these stone systems for a price point that’s not far off from basic acrylic. And frankly, while there are companies offering flimsy acrylic for $9,000 or more, we believe that price point doesn’t reflect the value. For just a little more investment, homeowners can get something far more durable, attractive, and functional. If you’re not looking for something higher quality, we do have more affordable options available, but if cheap is your top priority, we may not be the right company for you.
Jan picked her materials, signed the paperwork, and wrote a check for the required deposit. We secured a calendar date for installation nearly three months out—spring is our busy season.
Vinny Aponte and his helper, John, arrived early Tuesday morning to begin work. While the job had originally been scheduled to begin on a Monday, our Buffalo installer’s wife gave birth nearly two weeks early. Vinny had to briefly assist on another project to help cover the schedule, but we kept Jan informed the entire time. Sometimes this is just the nature of construction, and we do our best to set those expectations early with homeowners so they know nothing is ever set in stone, literally or figuratively. Every job is different, and we never know exactly what we’re getting into until we open up the walls and floor.
There was only one minor setback on this project: John really needed an ADA-compliant flip-up seat installed on the right wall. But when Vinny opened the wall, he found a tangled mess of electrical wires running right through the space. Fortunately, he was able to reroute everything safely and code-compliantly, though it did delay the job by about half a day. These surprises are no one’s fault—they just happen.
The bulk of the work was completed in about three days, but Vinny took his time finishing up some damaged drywall and fine-tuning the trim details over the following few days. In the end, Jan and John were thrilled with the final result.
As a company, we’re proud to assist veterans and their families with safe, attractive, and reliable bathroom remodels. If you or someone you love is a veteran in the Syracuse area—including Liverpool, Cicero, Clay, or the surrounding region—and you’re researching the VA HISA Grant, consider giving Syracuse Bath Pros a call at (315) 217-1151. We’ll walk you through the process and treat your home as if it were our own.
You served us, and now let us serve you.