What makes Bestbath different?
Bestbath is the world’s leading manufacturer of bathing products for people of all abilities. Our products — from walk-in tubs to traditional shower inserts — are designed to be functional and beautiful now, but also to be easily modified as your needs and abilities change.
Do you do custom designs?
Yes! With Bestbath and Careprodx, you can choose between install-ready, customizable or completely custom solutions. Contact us at 800-413-3302 or customerservice@careprodx.com with your challenge and we’ll help you get started.
How fast can Bestbath Showers ship?
Bestbath has the fastest overall ship times in the industry. Order a Need It Now package today and it ships within 24 hours. All other products, including completely customized designs — even those with pre-installed accessories — can ship within seven days. Need something sooner? Contact us to see if our expedited solutions can help.
Do you work with hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, multi-family and other commercial projects?
Absolutely. We’re a leading provider to building professionals, who prefer Bestbath and CareProdx for our quality and customer service. Put simply — we build products good enough for even the most high-use applications. Contact Careprodx for assistance.
Is every Bestbath product on the Careprodx website?
It is not logistically possible to put every available product on our website. If you don’t see it please call us 800-413-3302 and we will find it for you.
Do you offer bathing accessories?
Absolutely. Careprodx offers a wide range of accessible and universal design-friendly bathing accessories, from grab bars and seats to grip texture and water containment solutions. More importantly, the professionals at Bestbath can pre-install the most challenging of accessories, saving you time and money on the job site.
General Information
Our bathroom is small and oddly shaped. Can you help us?
Bestbath and CareProdx offer over 400 shower and bathtub models to choose from, and available accent colors are limited only by your imagination. Additionally, we offer custom solutions to meet the unique needs of your project. Please contact us for more information.
Will a composite shower stand up to the wear and tear of a growing family?
All Bestbath products are built to withstand the rigors of heavy use. We use only the finest quality materials for our shower and bathing units, including laminate wood reinforced walls and extremely durable gelcoat finishes. Our products are purposely designed to be easily maintained, cleaned, and repaired. Because of our emphasis on durable construction, all our showers are backed by an industry-leading 30-year limited warranty.
Safety is a concern in any shower, but we think looks are just as important. Will we have to choose between safety and beauty?
In our minds, safety, accessibility, and durability should not have to look institutional. Our showers come in an array of simulated tile or smooth finishes. Showers are available in up to five different base colors, along with countless combinations of color accents to choose from. Plus, we now offer TileDesign showers that have real tile or stone accents inlayed into the gelcoat walls. With over 400 models to choose from, we expect that you will find a shower or tub that suits your décor and tastes.
How can I find a price for your showers, tubs, etc.?
Yes. All Bestbath products on our web site show the current price as well as pricing for options and shipping. If you need help, or if you are looking for multi-unit discounts please call us. 800-413-3302
Can grab bars and shower seats be installed in my shower at some point?
Yes. All Bestbath products are constructed with laminate wood core walls, making them strong enough to install grab bars anywhere on the shower wall with screws. No additional structural backing needs to be build into the backing walls or studs.
As long as your shower seat has swing down legs to transfer the weight to the floor, it can be installed in the shower as well. Note that cantilever-type seats may not be installed.
How do I keep water from coming out of my low threshold shower?
If you have not installed shower doors in your unit, as an option you can use a weighted shower curtain in combination with a WaterStopper, our collapsible rubber water dam that installs on the floor along the shower opening. This collapsible threshold allows the unit to still be accessible for a wheelchair, yet immediately spring back to an upright position to prevent water from coming out of the unit.
Why gelcoat finish instead of acrylic?
Both products are excellent finishes for bathroom fixtures. They are similar in properties and are both resin-based plastic materials. The primary difference is that acrylic comes in sheet form while gelcoat is liquid.
When acrylic is applied to a shower wall, it is heated and then stretched and formed to a mold. The process is called “vacuum forming”. During application, the edge of the acrylic sheet maintains its purchased thickness. When it is heated and stretched, the bottom of the tub becomes thinner. That’s why you can often see a shade difference on the floor or bowl/floor corner. The deeper the unit, the less material there is in the primary wear surface where you walk and where water drains.
All plastic products want to change shape because of “memory”. Since acrylic is a thermo forming plastic, when it gets warm enough it softens and can be reformed. Our experience with acrylic is that there is a tendency for the product to be less dimensionally stable.
Gelcoat is applied with a spray process to a mold in a process called “open contact molding”. When gelcoat application is controlled by a skilled operator a very uniform and consistently thick finish is the result. Once it is sprayed and cured, it maintains that shape as gelcoat is a thermoset product.
When a gelcoat finish is repaired correctly, the repair becomes a permanent chemical bond. Acrylic repairs are done with “patches” that can fail. They are also prone to discolor or mechanical bond releases.
At Bestbath we only use gelcoat. This supports our decision to provide our industry leading 30-year limited warranty.
Installation and Start-up
What are the wood blocks under my tub/shower meant for? May I remove them?
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.
What holes, if any, are pre-cut on the shower unit? What do I use to cut additional holes with?
The only hole in your new walk-in shower will be for the drain. Tubs and tub/showers have the drain hole as well as the overflow hole unless otherwise specified. To cut holes for plumbing fixtures, the use of a hole saw is recommended. A carbide hole saw is preferred, but a fine-toothed sharp saw will also work. The hole should be cut from the finished side out. Applying masking tape over the gelcoat can be used to minimize chipping.
When I set my tub/shower or shower stall into the alcove, the unit tips to the back. Is there meant to be a void under the unit?
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 Z124.1 & 2). If desired, the void can be eliminated by setting the unit in wet cement or mortar. Please note that this does not apply to most accessible shower models.
May I cut out a section of the shower wall for an existing window?
Yes. Because of the structural integrity of the walls, cutting portions out of the bathing unit out for windows is allowed. To cut the window opening out of your shower, use a carbide tip saw (preferred) or a standard circular saw or reciprocating saw with a fine tooth blade. Applying masking tape over the gelcoat can be used to minimize chipping. Note that window trim kits are available for trimming out your window.
Do I have to recess my barrier-free shower into the floor? What can I do if I’ve already installed it on top of the floor?
Bestbath showers are available as non-recessing, non-mud set units. If the shower is not recessed in a public or commercial facility, check the local and state ADA codes for public facilities to see if this type of installation is acceptable.
For a private home, the unit can be installed on top of the floor. If wheelchair access is required, the bathroom floor can be built up to the shower as a ramp. Note that ADA code typically does not apply in to private residences.
Do I need to have access to the backside of my shower for my remodeling project in order to install it?
No. This is why we designed our Residential Remodel multi-piece showers with a front-installation SnapJoint wall assembly system.
Cleaning Tips
How do I remove any adhesive from the labels that were on the unit?
You may use acetone, WD40, nail polish remover, or mineral spirits applied to a soft cloth or cotton ball. Then wipe the area with a non-abrasive cleaner and rinse.