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bathfitter(.com) experience?

post #1 of 6
4/21/09 at 5:37am
Thread Starter 
Has anybody seen/used that Bathfitter one day bath remodelling service?

I believe this sounds a lot like Safelite autoglass where it's a nationwide service that contracts a local contractor as I just checked out their website and found a local dealer/installer right near me.

Any good experience with these guys? Before I contact them, here's the background.

I am doing a complete overhaul of my bathroom, meaning I have already gutted most of the sheetrock and will be replacing the greenboard with Densarmor Plus fiberglass boards. I have already replaced the vanity, toilet, and medicine cabinet and I painted the ceiling with a new light fixture already. I have 12'x12" tile and thinset ready to go and pretty much working on replacing the sheetrock. But soon I'll be at the point where I need to remove the tub and shower door and replace the sheetrock behind that.

Has anybody used bathfitter before and give me any tips and suggestions or advice on these folks? The tub is one area where I don't think I can do it by myself, just because of the weight and bulkiness of it. I managed to do the sheetrock by myself with help of some measured 2x4s to use as support while I nailed it in, wasn't easy, but I did it.

Jay
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post #2 of 6
4/21/09 at 6:31am

Re: bathfitter(.com) experience?

I have used them in a 50+ yo house to cover an existing tub and surround. In my opinion, they are a service for folks that do not want a lot of de-construction of the bathroom and want quick turnaround, and Bathfitter provides this, at a premium. ($$$) Now, don't get me wrong - they are good at what they do, and the final product is good, but you WILL be paying for it.

If you have already done that much work in your remodel, you'll be kicking yourself for covering up (rather than go new) for just the tub area.
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post #3 of 6
4/21/09 at 6:43am
Thread Starter 

Re: bathfitter(.com) experience?

OK.. if I was to use them, I would first, tear apart my old bathroom to get at the sheetrock. It sounds from your reply and some second-hand knowledge of my brother in law, is that Bathfitters simply retiles over the existing wall and will replace the bathtub??? That doesn't sound like what I'm interested in. I want to replace my bathtub and gut the walls..

Jay
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post #4 of 6
4/21/09 at 11:56am

Re: bathfitter(.com) experience?

[quote]Bathfitters simpy retiles over the existing wall[/i]

Bathfitter (no "s" ) doesn't retile at all. They create custom-fit vinyl panels, tubs or tub liners and shower trays the go over existing drywall and tile. The whole point of the exercise: Minimal structural work. They will clear some titles to get at shower fixtures and the like that are being replaced, but otherwise they leave the existing stuff as is and put the new stuff over it. This is how they're able to do the job in a single day (the fabrication is all done at their factory.)

Like Nathan said, they aren't cheap, but my local contractor did a good job. Since I had only one available bathroom during a general remodel of my condo, and wasn't comfortable doing the tile and drywall, it was worth the price to me to have the stall shower project knocked out in a single day with very little muss and fuss. Compared to the 20 year old crap that was in there, the new shower is a work of art. I went with the smooth "marble" panels, rather than the ones molded to resemble tile and caulk.

Regards,

Joe
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post #5 of 6
4/21/09 at 12:35pm
Thread Starter 

Re: bathfitter(.com) experience?

Aha.. Sort of like buying a log cabin these days, you order the house, put in a foundation where you want it to go and the company builds the cabin using numbered logs at the factory... disassembles it and puts it back up on your location when finished...

OK.. gotcha. And gotcha on the singularity.

This is my only bathroom, but I can always pee into a bucket and pour it down the drain and I have friends that I can use the shower or at least wash my hair/brush my teeth in the kitchen sink. I can crap in the woods if I need to I backpack and all that stuff... So I don't mind the hassle too much, it's the getting tub home and moving it around by myself and a lot of time, my schedule doesn't mesh with others...

Jay
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post #6 of 6
4/21/09 at 1:08pm

Re: bathfitter(.com) experience?

Quote:
So I don't mind the hassle too much, it's the getting tub home and moving it around by myself and a lot of time, my schedule doesn't mesh with others...

I hear you. You might want to think about hiring a local handyman or a "man with a truck" to help with the heavy lifting. A guy I used to work with does handyman stuff part-time, weekends and evenings, and he helped me with a couple of things at my place that required more than two hands. And I once hired a "guy with a truck" to help me carry some big items down the three flights from my condo and get them delivered to a thrift shop I donated them to. Neither was an outrageous expense, and both got me just the amount of help I needed.

Since you're perfectly capable of doing the main work yourself, something along those lines might be just what you need. Certainly cheaper than Bathfitter.

Regards,

Joe
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