James and Andrew, both Navy veterans, served together in the 1960s before transitioning back to civilian life. Despite now being in their 80s, both are still incredibly active. Andrew continues to serve at the local VA, running a fully volunteer-funded taxi program that provides transportation to veterans in need of critical care. He proudly shared that the program facilitates over 25,000 trips annually. With several of our owners and employees also being veterans, we have a special place in our hearts for those who’ve served, and we were committed to making this project a success.
The duo wanted to convert an older Bath Fitter installation into a more luxury walk-in shower. As of February 2025, veterans with a service-related disability are eligible for up to $6,800 toward an accessibility-focused shower remodel. For veterans with non-service-related disabilities, the maximum grant is up to $2,000. This grant, known colloquially as a HISA Grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations), is the only government funding available for bathroom remodels that we know of at the time of writing. James had already been approved by his VA doctor and hoped to use the grant to cover part of the cost of a new walk-in shower. James spoke highly of Bath Fitter and their reputation for quick installations and reliable products—and we share that sentiment! In fact, when price expectations don’t align with a homeowner’s budget, we often refer them to Bath Fitter, who can typically offer a slightly more affordable solution for basic installations. But in James’ case, he was seeking something more premium—stone and higher quality. After seeing our ad in Clipp Magazine and the special veteran’s discount we offered, he gave us a call.
This job was straightforward but had its share of challenges. The stairs were incredibly narrow, measuring just 30 inches across. Due to Andrew’s disability, the pair had installed a stairlift to help him access the second story, which further restricted access. The footprint for the new shower was also unusual at 54 inches—a size typically seen only in mobile or manufactured homes. This required us to custom source materials. Additionally, Andrew really liked the original tile surrounding his alcove, and he was determined to preserve it. He selected Samuel Mueller’s “Butterscotch” color, which he felt complemented the tile, and asked us to retain as much of the original alcove as possible. None of these requests posed major challenges and we knew we could make it work.
We initially quoted an 8-10 week lead time for the installation, and we managed to hit the 8-week mark precisely. Demolition began slowly, as our installation team—Ricky and Stacey—carefully disassembled the existing setup, ensuring they preserved as much of the original structure as possible. The team did an excellent job. On day two, the shower pan was plumbed and set. However, on day three, things took an unexpected turn when a panel was accidentally broken in half while trying to fit it up the narrow stairs. We quickly sourced a replacement, but with daylight running out, the team decided to wait until the following day to continue. In total, this installation was completed in five days.
As you can see in the photos, we installed a piece of pencil trim at around 60 inches high along the back wall, with the stone extending the rest of the way to the ceiling. The walk-in shower features a mid-height (~2.75 inches) Onyx Collection pan in “Sandstone,” accented with Samuel Mueller’s “Butterscotch” cultured stone slab. Four matching stone corner shelves were also added for convenience. We installed two safety bars for additional support and an upgraded Spectra+ Duo dual showerhead/wand. To clear the header, we completed the installation with a custom 54-inch low-height double sliding bypass door.
The Final Touch: A few weeks after the job was completed, the VA disbursed the $6,800 grant to Andrew to help cover the cost of the remodel. James and Andrew, thank you both for your patience and hospitality throughout the process. If you ever need another bathroom remodel or just want to say hello, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (315) 217-1151.