Installation and start up

Q. What are the wood blocks under my tub/shower meant for? May I remove them?

A. The wood blocks are placed under the shower and tub/shower units to keep the shower bottoms from resting on the ground during shipping and storage. They must be removed for proper installation of the unit.

Q. What holes, if any, are cut for me on my shower unit? What do I use to cut the hole with?

A. The only holes that will be cut in your new shower unit will be the drain hole for showers. Tubs and tub/showers have the drain hole as well as the overflow unless otherwise specified. To cut holes for plumbing fixture, the use of a hole saw is recommended. A carbide hole saw is best but a fine-toothed and sharp will work as well. The hole should be cut from the finished side out. Masking tape can be used to minimize chipping.

Q. When I set my tub/shower or shower stall into my alcove, the unit tips to the back. Is there meant to be a void under the unit?

A. When installing the unit, the only portion that touches the floor when the unit is leveled is the front threshold or apron and the rear leveling block(s). There will be a void underneath the unit for drain clearance purposes. Leaving a void under the unit is acceptable, as the unit has been tested to three hundred pounds (ANSI Standard 2124.1 & 2). If desired, the void can be eliminated by setting the unit in wet cement or mortar.

Q. May I cut a portion of my Best Bath unit for an existing window?

A. Yes you may, because of the structural integrity of your new Best Bath product, cutting portions of the bathing unit out for windows is allowed. To cut the window opening out of your shower use a standard circular saw or reciprocating saw with a fine tooth blade. Again a carbide tip saw will provide the best results. Masking tape over the area of the gel cote to be cut prevents excessive chipping. Note: remember to inquire about our window trim kits to assist you in trimming out you window.

Q. Do I have to have access to the backside of my Remodel Line unit in order to install it?

A. No, you do not. This is why Best Bath designed our Remodel Line multi-piece units with a front-installation Snap Joint fastening system.

Cleaning Tips

Q. How do I remove the adhesive stickiness from the labels that are attached to my new shower unit?

A. You may use acetone, WD40, nail polish remover, mineral spirits, on a soft cloth or cotton ball these difficult stains, then follow up by cleaning with a non-abrasive cleaner.

Q. What cleaners do you recommend I use to clean my Best Bath unit?

A. Any non-abrasive liquid cleaner off the shelf may be used. Be sure to read the label and follow the cleanser's recommendations. Do not use harsh abrasives like Comet, Ajax, Bon Ami, etc. as they will harm and dull the finish of your unit.

Q. The anti-skid floor is not coming clean with my standard liquid cleanser. What do you recommend I use?

A. For stubborn floor stains, a paste should be made of a cleanser such as Comet, Spic-N-Span, etc., and spread out onto the floor. Allow the paste to sit for 5-10 minutes and then gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush. The brush should be the texture of a toothbrush and vigorous scrubbing is not recommended as it could damage the finish on your floor. Rinse off all remaining paste.

Q. What do you recommend using to remove hard water stains, calcium deposits, lime scale or difficult soap scum from my unit?

A. Simple automotive paste wax applied twice a year provides the best results not only for cleaning your new shower but preventing and buildup as well. Follow the product manufacturer’s directions including the use of a mechanical buffer. This is the same product as preferred by expensive fiberglass car owners. Do not use wax on any shower floor for safety reasons.

Jetted Tub Tips

Q. My jets are not working or one is more powerful than another.

A. If your jet is not performing or one has less force than the others, gently rotate the outside escutcheon of the jet clockwise to open the jet or counterclockwise to lessen the flow of water.

Q. Is an access panel absolutely necessary? What are the consequences if I do not provide one? May I have an access panel on an outside wall?

A. An access panel is required by plumbing code so that the whirlpool components of the unit may be serviced. If you choose not to purchase a unit with an access panel, a hole in the closest wall will need to be made at the homeowner's expense. You may have an access panel on an outside wall as long as all local and state building codes are followed for your area.

Q. May I install an in-line heater on my Walk-In tub after purchase?

A. If you install an in-line heater on your Best Bath Walk-In tub unit after purchase; you will void the warranty on the jetting system. Please be aware that this is at your risk, so you should be sure that the person you hire to do the installation is qualified. Best Bath does offer the in-line heater as an option

Q. What are the electrical requirements for installing a Best Bath whirlpool?

A. A dedicated 110v/120v amp G.F.C.I protected circuit is required for your new Walk-In tub. If you have chosen the in-line heater option (on applicable models only), an additional dedicated 110v/120v 20 amp circuit is also required.

Accessible Showers

Q. Can safety bars be installed on my unit after the unit itself has been installed?

A. Yes, all Best Bath products are constructed with plywood in the walls as part of the construction. Plywood is used as a core material in the laminate and will provide proper structural strength to attach safety bars.

Q. May I install a seat on my unit once it has been installed?

A. Yes, no additional backing or blocking is required for installing seats in you new shower. Because you bought a Best Bath unit you can install seats now or any time in the future.

Q. Do I have to recess my Access unit into the floor? What can I do if I've already installed it on top of the floor?

A. ADA guidelines are very clear on what is acceptable to be compliant. Best Bath’s Access models are available as non recessing, non-mud set units. If the unit must pass a code approval inspection, local and state codes must be verified to be sure this installation is acceptable, if it is not recessed. For a private home, the unit may be installed on top of the floor. If the unit must be wheelchair accessible, the bathroom floor can be built up to the shower as a ramp.

Q. How do I keep water from coming out of my low threshold shower unit?

A. Water retention is a multi part concern. Best Bath offers a weighted shower curtain as an option as well as the WaterStopper, a collapsible thresholds that can be installed after the unit has been installed. The collapsible thresholds allow the unit to still be accessible for a wheelchair, yet spring back into shape to prevent water from coming out of the unit. Working together, these options eliminate the need for a floor drain outside of the shower stall.

Warranty Tips

Q. What is the warranty of my new Best Bath product?

A. All manufacturer’s defects are warranted for three years from purchase date for the fiberglass shell. Any accessories or jetting parts are subject to the manufacturer’s warranty. All Best Bath Walk-In tubs feature a Limited Lifetime warranty.

Q. Can I use a rubber mat in my new gel coat bathing fixture?

A. You may do so if you remove and completely dry the mat and the gel coat surface after every use. By using a rubber mat, however, the warranty of the bathing fixture is void.

Q. What is the life expectancy of a gel coat unit?

A. The life expectancy of a gel coat unit will vary from person to person based on the care taken with the product. However industry wide the expectancy is approximately 10 years.

General Information

Q. Our bathroom is small and odd-shaped. Can you help us?

A. Best Bath has over 400 models to choose from and accenting colors that are limited only by your imagination. Please call a Best Bath sales representative to go over your specific requirements

Q. Will a composite shower stand up to the wear and tear of a growing family?

A. Best Bath uses only quality materials for their shower and bathing units and will provide better service for longer than many other options in the marketplace. What’s best about Best Bath products is they are easily maintained, polished, and touched up if necessary. These features are ideal for a growing family.

Q. Safety is a concern in any shower, but we think esthetics are just as important. Will we have to choose between safety and beauty?

A. Best Bath is dependable, safe and esthetically pleasing. We strive to engineer cutting edge technologies into our products to keep up with the ever changing interior design fashions. View our gallery on the web site to get a feel for what is available only at Best Bath Systems.

Q. Why gelcoat finish instead of acrylic?

A. Both products are excellent finishes for bathroom fixtures. They are similar in properties and are both resin based plastic materials. The primary difference is acrylic comes in sheet form and gelcoat is liquid.

Application - acrylic is heated and then stretched and formed to an existing mold. The actual process is called vacuum forming. Gelcoat is applied with a spray process to a mold. This process is called open contact molding. In the application process the edge of the acrylic sheet maintains its' purchased thickness. When it is heated and stretched the bottom of the tub becomes thinner. That is why in many acrylic products you can see a shade difference on the floor or bowl/floor corner. So the deeper the unit the less material there is in the primary wear surface, the bottom.

Gelcoat application is controlled by the operator. Provided the operator is trained and correct equipment is used, it is a very uniform and consistently thick finish.

At Best Bath Systems we only use gelcoat. When we decided to offer our industry leading warranty we determined to use the gelcoat finish because gelcoat can be permanently repaired, correctly with the repair being a permanent chemical bond. Acrylic repairs are "patches" that can fail. They are also prone to discolor or mechanical bond releases.

Fabrication process - our experience with acrylic surfaced product (both gelcoat and acrylic are backed with fiberglass reinforced plastic) is that there is a tendency for the product to be less dimensionally stable. All plastic products want to change shape because of "memory." Acrylic is a thermo forming plastic. When it gets warm enough it softens and can be reformed. Gelcoat is a thermoset product. Once it is sprayed and cured, it maintains that shape.

Most boat hulls are made of Gelcoat.