Joan and Bill reached out to Bath Pros when their existing tub liner began to fail. While bath liners can be a good temporary solution and an inexpensive option, we at Bath Pros believe they often don’t offer long-term value. Without naming names, Joan’s liner installation cost her over $6,500. Unfortunately, since installation, the tub felt like a waterbed—water was trapped between the old tub and the liner, creating a dangerous situation for the couple, especially given their mobility challenges.
After receiving estimates from several “one-day” bath companies in the area, Joan and Bill were disappointed with the low-quality acrylic options presented. They decided to give us a call. After a brief phone conversation, we scheduled an in-person estimate a few days later. Tom Wolff secured the job with a 40% deposit, ensuring a spot on our calendar eight weeks out.
Challenges We Encountered
As anyone who’s read our write-ups knows, no job is ever as simple as it seems. This job was no exception. The original tub had been installed with the waste line plumbed above grade. This is something we run into occasionally, as it’s a cheaper and easier installation method, especially when there’s some space between the top of the floor and the bottom of the tub (or shower).
However, when installing stone slab shower floors, the surface must be flush with the existing substrate—in this case, the plywood subfloor. Although we typically try to replumb to get the shower as low as possible, we couldn’t do so in this case due to the insufficient pitch (the angle of the waste pipe leading away from the wet space). Changing the pitch would have caused costly future clogs. After discussing the options with the homeowners, we decided to raise the entire shower by 3″ by building a small platform. This solution was both the fastest and most cost-effective. However, it’s important to note that for homeowners with balance issues or the elderly, this 3″ step could be a deal breaker. In this case, it wasn’t, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
The Installation
Other than that adjustment, the installation went smoothly. Ricky and Stacey, our expert traveling installation team, completed the job in about four days, even with the complications. It’s important to remember that when you go with a “one-day” bath company, you’re sacrificing product quality (like acrylic) for speed.
We also recommend reading reviews of these companies, if available. It’s fairly common for “one-day” bath companies to rush installations to meet deadlines, often leading to quality issues that only become apparent after the job is completed. At Bath Pros, we prioritize quality over speed. If that’s a deal breaker for you, we’re happy to acknowledge that we may not be the right fit.
The results speak for themselves—take a look at the photos and give us a call today.