Choosing the Right Contractor for your Bathroom Remodel

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

You’ve decided to remodel your bathroom, selecting the perfect Best Bath walk-in tub or barrier-free shower, but how do you choose the right contractor for the installation? You’ll want to do a little homework beforehand, but the steps to choosing the right company for the job will be well worth it.

History Matters

If you can find a friend or family member who has a trusted contractor he or she has worked with and would recommend, a referral would be a great start. Finding three different contractors will allow you to make comparisons.

  • How long have you been in business? You’ll want to work with someone who has experience installing shower stalls or tubs and, even better, if you can find someone who has had specific experience installing a Best Bath shower or walk-in tub.
  • Do you have references? It’s important to ask for at least three references, but even more important for you to actually call them. Make sure to ask questions that are important to you.
  • Can you send me copies of your certifications and licenses? Don’t hesitate to ask for copies of his or her contractor’s certificate, worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Also, it’s a good idea to check with your city’s contractor licensing board as well as the Better Business Bureau for any red flags.

Know the Schedule

Having the job written out in detail will define expectations and avoid confusion on both sides. Further, make sure the written estimate outlines the project from start to finish as well as itemizes costs so you know exactly what you’re paying for. If you don’t see the following questions answered in the written estimate, speak up and ask that these concerns be addressed.

  • What are the start and end dates? Make sure the contractor lists actual dates. That way, both parties understand how long the job is expected to take.
  • How will the job be supervised? Ask if he or she has their own work crew or if they will hire subcontractors, such as a plumber. You need to know who will be in charge at all times.
  • How do you plan on keeping me up-to-date? You’ll want to establish how the contractor plans on informing you of the progress of the job. Communication is key to making sure the project is done when you want and how you want it.
  • How are change-orders handled? Sometimes a simple shower or walk-in tub remodel doesn’t go as planned. Especially if the contractor will be tearing out your old shower or tub, there may be hidden damage that requires additional work and costs. Make sure you understand how the contractor handles such situations.
  • Who will coordinate the cleanup? Remodeling is dirty, so you need to know how the contractor plans on handling dust, debris and garbage. Ideally, the contractor should agree to sweep and remove debris at the end of each day.

Cover the Details

Overlooking or being unaware of seemingly small details now may cause major issues down the road. It’s important to clearly understand the contractor’s terms and conditions as well as any other provisions they have. And as with any contract, don’t sign anything you disagree with.

  • Will you pull all the necessary building permits? It’s critical to understand that the contractor will cover all required building permits so that his or her work is up to code. Otherwise, it may affect your homeowner’s insurance coverage – some policies require pulling permits on any major remodeling project.
  • What are your warranties? Make sure the contractor lists what is expected of him or her, and what sort of loss or damage they cover. While hopefully only a worst-case scenario, warranties give you clarity in the event something does go wrong.
  • What are the payment terms? Being upfront about financial expectations is crucial to helping the job go smoothly. This also gives you an opportunity to ask about financing, if it’s available and if you’re interested.
  • How do you handle contract terminations? No one wants a project to end like this, but sometimes it’s the only option. Make sure you understand how these situations are handled, as well as any financial costs you still might be responsible for.

Taking the necessary steps to ensure you’ve chosen a qualified contractor to install your Best Bath shower or tub, as well as making sure all the important details have been addressed will prevent headaches down the road. You’re purchasing a top-quality Best Bath shower or tub – make sure you have the contractor to match!

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Shower Kits Save Time and Money

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

Recently, we had a client suddenly need a walk-in shower kit for her elderly father. Her dad was scheduled to move in within a matter of days, so the clock was ticking to provide her with a safe and cost-effective yet attractive and lasting shower solution. She needed a walk-in shower, and she needed it as soon as possible.

With included accessories and one-day manufacturing times on specific models, Best Bath’s Shower Package units provide the efficiency and savings when people need it most.

Depending on the package, Best Bath shower kits come with the following accessories:

Shower Package 10

Besides providing hundreds of dollars in savings and free shipping within the US and Canada, we deliver Best Bath shower kits with quick turnaround times and expedited delivery options.

Shower kits are based on Best Bath’s most popular shower configurations for simplicity and convenience, yet still give you options, such as color and dimensions, to make your new shower system unique to your home and needs.

Ultimately, our client ordered, received and installed her Best Bath shower kit before her dad even arrived, far surpassing her expectations of the entire process during an already-stressful time. At Best Bath Showroom, you can count on us to be sensitive to your needs while delivering a prompt and attractive safe bathing solution.

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Finance Your Best Bath Shower or Walk-in Tub!

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

Having a safe bathing solution such as a barrier-free shower or walk-in bathtub is an important home improvement feature that empowers many people to fully enjoy their home. And Best Bath Showroom feels that funding should not be an obstacle to creating the accessible bathroom of your dreams.

We want to ensure we’re doing everything possible to deliver the solutions our clients need, so we now refer clients to financial institutions, such as Admiral’s Bank, that offer home improvement loans for those who need it.

Under the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Home Improvement Loan Program, consumers can finance permanent property improvements that protect or improve the basic livability and utility of the property. These loans are available only through lenders approved by HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). Here are just a few features you can expect with this financing program:

  • Quick pre-qualification and final approvals within 48 hours
  • No equity or appraisal necessary
  • All loans have low, fixed rates
  • No early payment penalty
  • Interest does not compound like credit card or home equity loans
  • Tax deductible interest (consult your tax advisor)
  • Insured with HUD
  • Loans available for single and multi-family homes, condos and mobile homes
  • Flexible terms from 5 – 20 years

If you want to explore the option of a home improvement loan for your barrier-free shower, walk-in bathtub or other Best Bath shower or tub unit, contact us today for more information about how this program may help your accessible bathroom ideas become a reality.

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Six Benefits of a Walk-In Tub

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

Woman in Escape Walk-in TubFew things are better than a warm bath after a long day, soothing an exhausted body and mind. We humans have enjoyed soaking in warm water for hundreds of years, but we now have a growing number of studies to support the health benefits that we’ve essentially known all along.

And best of all, we now have bathtubs that provide safe bathing solutions for people with limited mobility. Walk-in bathtubs offer a luxurious experience that not only can revitalize your soul, but provide noticeable health and lifestyle advantages as well. Here are six benefits of a walk-in tub that nearly everyone can appreciate.

  • SOOTHES MUSCLES AND JOINTS – Many walk-in tubs are equipped with air and water jets, which offer two different relaxing techniques. Air jets surround you with millions of tiny bubbles that gently massage every part of your body, while the water jets target specific areas of your body for a deeper massage experience. You control the flow and frequency of the air and water jets independently to suit your preferences. Furthermore, your body weighs 90% less when submerged in water, easing pressure on joints, ligaments and muscles that normally don’t receive relief. Walk-in tubs are ideal for those with arthritis, back pain and other joint or muscle conditions, and studies have shown that people who use hydrotherapy as treatment use fewer medications to mitigate their pain.
  • IMPROVES CIRCULATION – The warm, soothing water from a walk-in tub improves circulation by opening capillaries near the skin’s surface, increasing blood flow and oxygenation. This helps relieve a variety of ailments, and the increased blood circulation helps remove toxins while improving digestion and metabolic functions.
  • REDUCES STRESS – Soaking in a walk-in bathtub that circulates millions of tiny bubbles around your body will help dissolve stress from even your most challenging days. It also stimulates your body to release endorphins, the body’s natural chemicals that help counteract the effects of stress. Warm water massage has also been shown to relieve headache pain, especially from tension headaches. The circulation and warmth of a walk-in tub encourages your body to unwind and relax on its own.
  • IMPROVES SLEEP PATTERNS – Almost everyone experiences difficulty sleeping at some point in their lives. A warm bath is an effective home remedy that releases muscle tension and relaxes your entire body, resulting in a deeper, more restful sleep. And the slight rise in body temperature has shown that sleep comes sooner to those who soak in a walk-in bathtub before bedtime.
  • INCREASES INDEPENDENCE – While nearly everyone appreciates the benefits of soaking in a warm bath, not everyone has the mobility to do so. A walk-in bathtub makes safe bathing and hydrotherapy a possibility for many people who otherwise are unable or unwilling to take a bath in a traditional tub. Low thresholds, textured non-slip floors, safety bars, comfortable seats and ergonomic faucet and jet system controls allow you to safely take the bath you’ve been dreaming of.
  • PROVIDES VERSATILITY – A walk-in bathtub doesn’t have to be for soaking only. Our walk-in tubs can be equipped with a hand-held shower system, enabling you to sit down and shower for everyday bathing needs. Simply sit in your walk-in bathtub, leave the drain open, and use the hand-held shower to rinse as you would in a traditional shower stall.

At Best Bath Showroom, we offer four walk-in tub models—Best Bath’s Escape, Liberty, Escape Plus and BigE—each with different dimensions but all available with water and air jets. Plus, each model can be customized to your needs and bathroom décor. Bring the spa to your home and start enjoying the benefits of hydrotherapy and air massage with a luxurious Best Bath walk-in tub!

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Five Steps to Choosing a Shower or Tub for your Accessible Bathroom

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

Remodeling your bathroom with a barrier free shower or walk in tub can be a big task, especially if you are not familiar with the variety of accessible bathroom products available. Fortunately, there’s no need to scroll through an exhaustive list with confusing product numbers – leave that to us. We’re always available to help you find what you need, but reviewing the following suggestions will definitely help narrow down your search.

  1. THINK OF YOUR SAFE BATHING NEEDS – Do you need a barrier free shower that is wheelchair accessible, or do you want the relaxing soak of a walk-in tub? Do you want a glass shower door now, but want the option to convert it to a barrier-free shower later on? It’s important to look at your needs now as well as into the future, so you won’t have to remodel your bathroom in another few years.
  2. TAKE SHOWER STALL MEASUREMENTS – Measure the shower length and width of the framing pocket (stud to stud) to give you the shower dimensions to search for. If you still have your old shower in, measure wall to wall for length, and back wall to the current shower or tub’s edge for depth. Make sure to account for the drywall, which is usually 5/8” thick in residential homes, and add this measurement to each wall measured. For example, if your shower area measured 58 ¾” wide from wall-to-wall and 31 ¼” deep from your back wall to the current shower or tub’s edge, you’ll search for a 60 x 32” unit.We recommend consulting your contractor first, but you may be able to go an inch smaller or larger than you measured. To make searching for your dimensions easier, we’ve made the Barrier-free and Remodeler categories organized by size, smallest to largest, on our website.
  3. DECIDE ON YOUR THRESHOLD AND DRAIN LOCATION – These two points are important enough to mention on their own. If you have decided on a shower, there are two types of thresholds you should be aware of. Standard thresholds, as featured in the Remodeler showers, are typically 5-6” high, requiring you to step over the curb. Barrier-free showers, on the other hand, have thresholds 2 ¼” or less and are available as traditional bull-nose or beveled. These shower curbs are low enough to roll a wheelchair into, if needed.Drains are available on the left, right or center. You can determine your drain position by facing your existing shower or tub unit and noting its current position from your perspective.
  4. CHOOSE YOUR STYLE – You deserve to have the shower or tub unit you want, so the aesthetic details can be just as important. Choosing a tile pattern or selecting custom and accent coloring will ensure you have a shower or tub unit that not only is functional but beautiful, as well. Also, some showers have neo-angle or two-wall options.
  5. DON’T FORGET YOUR SAFETY BARS AND SHOWER SEATS – Usually an afterthought, but shower and bathtub accessories are just as important to your safe bathing needs. Plus, you could significantly save by including shower accessories with your order. Have you thought about safety bars, shower seats, curtains, shower heads, drains and others?In the case of Best Bath products, you can find a list of recommended accessories on the Specifications Sheet. These can be found on our website on every product page under the Documents tab.

    6. Knowing what to look for is half the battle. Once you’ve narrowed down your options and identified your needs – for now and into the future – you can focus on finding the best pricing and discounts to make choosing your safe bathing solution a hassle-free and cost-effective experience.

Posted in Accessible Bathrooms, Barrier-free Showers, Best Bath Shower Kits, Shower Accessories, Shower Suggestions, Walk-in Tubs | Leave a comment

Tax Break for a Barrier-free Best Bath Shower

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

Tax season is upon us, and we all are happy to discover additional deductions that we qualify for. Did you know that your Best Bath shower may be tax deductible? If you are purchasing an ADA compliant shower out of medical necessity, it may be considered a tax deductible expense. It is also not necessary that you own your home; renters may be eligible, as well.

According to the IRS website:

“You can include medical expense amounts you pay for special equipment installed in a home, or for improvements, if their main purpose is medical care for you, your spouse, or your dependent. The cost of the permanent improvements that increase the value of your property may be partly included as a medical expense. The cost of the improvement is reduced by the increase in the value of your property. The difference is a medical expense. If the value of the property is not increased by the improvement, the entire cost is included as a medical expense.”

Of course, we recommend you keep all receipts and contact your tax professional to see if you qualify for this or other tax exemptions. And you may need to have an appraiser assess any change in your home’s value. But it could be worth it – if you need to make a home modification out of medical necessity, you may be one of millions of Americans who qualify for the type of deduction described above, saving you a significant amount of money in the end.

One of the most beneficial home modifications for your home–and your safety–is installing a low-threshold walk-in or roll-in shower. A barrier free shower is particularly important because it is ADA-compliant and is specifically designed to help those with limited or handicapped mobility. Some Best Bath units have beveled thresholds less than 2 1/4″ high to allow for wheelchair access, if needed. As with many other Best Bath shower or walk-in tub units, barrier-free showers can be personalized according to your needs and can be custom-colored to match your home’s decor.

Simply being informed may save you hundreds of dollars. Contact us today for more information about a possible tax exemption for a Best Bath barrier-free shower or walk-in tub.

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Universal Design: Principles for People of All Abilities

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Best Bath Showroom

“Why would you need to make your home ADA compliant?” my friend recently asked me when I told her of my remodeling plans. She’s got reason to question my logic: My husband and I are both able-bodied adults and my school-age son is not limited in his mobility. From the outside, our nuclear family doesn’t have a pressing need to implement Universal Design elements to our home. But our 30-something neighbor is in a wheelchair. Three of the four grandmothers can’t go anywhere without their walker, oxygen tank, or both. These are important people in our lives, and I’d love for them to visit our home without worrying about how to get around. We plan on staying put for a while, but even if we don’t stay in this house long enough to personally appreciate the accessible design features we’ve incorporated into it, they’ll be there for a family member, friend or even future homebuyer who can.

Universal Design is receiving increased attention within remodeling, homebuilding and designing communities, but the concept is not new. Summarized, it is the architectural and functional planning to accommodate people of all abilities. With increased awareness and popularity, providing functionality without sacrificing style has never been easier. Many companies now offer products or options that are ADA compliant yet have beautiful styles that can be incorporated into any home.

Along with your kitchen, the bathroom is one of the best places to start. Keeping your bathroom safe and accessible is one of the smartest modifications you can do for yourself, your family, and even for the resale value of your home. Below are some basic ways to incorporate universal design into your bathroom while keeping the style you love:

  • Lever-style door handles and faucets – From brushed nickel to oil-rubbed bronze, classic to contemporary, you can find door handles, faucets, cabinet pulls and other hardware in a variety of styles and finishes to match your style.
  • Tall toilets with slam-free seats and lids – Sitting two to three inches higher, taller toilets tend to be more comfortable for nearly everyone, and slam-free seats give additional safety. Both are simple and economical changes.
  • Shower bench – Choose from either a wall-mounted bench or seat that is built-in to the shower design to use as a safe place to rest for those who need it, or a handy storage shelf for those who don’t.
  • Low threshold or barrier-free shower – Barrier-free shower units utilize minimal thresholds and sloped shower drains to meet ADA safety standards. And with beautiful tile designs and custom-coloring options and accenting, these showers incorporate perfectly with your existing décor. You can also expect to spend less time and money on a molded shower unit than a tiled shower stall.
  • Safety bars – Safety bar placement largely depends on current mobility and needs, so only install one if you need to. But it is smart design to frame the tub, shower and toilet surround with ½” pressure-treated plywood for future safety bar placement. If you have a Best Bath unit in your home, it is already made with full-plywood backing for unlimited safety bar placement. And like door handles and faucets, there are a variety of styles and finishes available to blend into your existing design without that “institutional” look.

While there are many other Universal Design features – wider doors, wall-mounted sinks, lower counters and full wheelchair clearance, for example – that you can implement to make your bathroom fully accessible to people with the most limited mobility, even a few changes will make your bathroom safer for everyone.

Universal Design adds value and comfort to my home, and I can integrate various features seamlessly into my existing style. But most important, our loved ones have the peace of mind that our home is safer for their mobility needs. To my friend who asked why I intend to implement these concepts into our home now, I simply smiled and said, “Why haven’t you?”

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