Bath Planet sponsors annual makeover contest

Taking your daily shower in a deteriorating tub/shower combination or stall shower can be highly unpleasant. Climbing into a tub can be difficult as you age and if, in addition, your tile is chipping and cracking and you are also suffering from an invasion of mold, taking that shower can become the most off-putting thing you do on a daily basis.

That is why the Daily Herald will team up with Streamwood-based Bath Planet of Chicagoland this spring for the third annual Tub-to-Shower Transformation Sweepstakes. Entries will be accepted from Feb. 18 to March 30 at events.dailyherald.com/contests.

The Grand Prize winner, to be announced in April, will win a prize package valued at $10,000, which includes a white shower base, a smooth acrylic wall system, one shower accessory, chrome fixtures and a glass shower door with chrome trim.

Bath Planet will review the contestant photos and narrow down the list to ten semifinalists who be contacted April 2 and asked to send in a photo of their existing bathtub and a brief explanation of why they should win the prize package.

Three finalists will then be chosen and site inspections scheduled. The grand prize winner will be notified by April 13 and work will be completed soon thereafter.

Last year 360 entries were received and Jan and Harry Raimondi of Schaumburg were the chosen recipients of a new shower, replacing an old tub in Jan's bathroom.

"My wife and I have lived in our home for 46 years and our tub and tile are the original. We are older now and are seeing the need to change our tub to a walk-in shower, due to difficulty on entering and exiting the tub. Some tiles are cracked and the original plumbing hardware still exists.

We feel its time for changes for our continued safety and health," Harry wrote.

"We both have aches and pains in our knees and backs so it was hard for her to climb in and out of the tub. I, on the other hand, have a small stall shower that she doesn't like to use," he continued.

Soon after the Raimondis won, Bath Planet removed the old tub and replaced it with the shower base, covered the old cracked white tile with a tan acrylic wall system and installed a glass door and new fixtures. "Everything is really good quality," Harry stated.

Then Harry painted the walls and installed new trim, making Jan's bathroom a new and custom space. The floor and the rest of the bathroom that they chose when they had the house built 46 years ago still worked.

"I have to admit that it sounded a bit scary when they said they were going to rip out the old tub to replace it with a shower, but they did a great job and now the bathroom feels luxurious," he said.

All of the replacement work was completed by Bath Planet in one day, Harry said, and the installers were exceedingly clean and professional. In fact, five minutes after they left, he added, you couldn't even tell they had been there.

As homeowners age, many find that they no longer want to deal with climbing in and out of a tub which doubles as a shower. They hear horror stories about friends and family members who have fallen during this daily chore and don't want the same fate to befall them.

Younger homeowners are also choosing to get rid of their old tubs, preferring to enjoy a walk-in shower. Few have the time or inclination to enjoy a lengthy soak, so why take the chance on a tub/shower combination when they just want to take a shower?

Bath Planet is the wet area specialist so it has been the solution for many. They offer stylish, cost-effective, low-maintenance acrylic bath improvements that are made locally -- in a 200,000 square foot facility in Libertyville.

Many Bath Planet products install right over the existing ugly wall tile and chipped or faded tub or shower for maximum cost-effectiveness and minimal mess.

Bath Planet's products feature the elegant look of ceramic tile, granite or marble -- in a wide variety of colors and finishes -- but without the grout, mess and irritating maintenance because the liners are made of a nonporous, easy-to-clean material. Add to that the array of finishing touches that are available including shower caddies, soap dishes, grab bars, curved shower rods and a selection of shower doors, and homeowners can easily create a complete, unique bathroom that meets their particular circumstances.

"Our exclusive product line, ranging from spa showers to walk-in tubs, is constructed out of the toughest acrylic -- specially designed to withstand the wear and tear of daily bathroom use," the Bath Planet website states. "The acrylic is custom-fitted to your existing bathroom and installed with triple-seal technology. Not only will your new bathtub or shower be stunning, but it will also fit seamlessly into your current design and protect your home from harmful water damage."

Bath Planet offers replacement tubs and shower bases in a wide selection of colors, sizes and styles to add value to the bathroom within your home. It also has a full line of accessibility products and aging-in-place bath systems to ensure independent living for as long as possible. Roll-in showers, walk-in tubs, soaking tubs and even jetted tubs are all available.