Since there is still a big drop in building new homes, I believe that now is the time for fabricators and installers to focus on bathroom remodeling. What exactly do you do with a seafoam green bathtub anyway?

Many homes have perfectly good but outdated and ugly bathtubs. I have read that most Americans prefer showers. Glass doors are hard to clean. Curtains are irritating and prone to mold and mildew. Over the years many firms have tried to offer solutions. Tub painting, plastic overlays and self-adhesive daisies have been offered. None have passed the test of time.

Natural stone can dress up a bathroom. Replacing an existing tub with a custom shower can add value and provide a showcase for natural stone. The Noble Company has recently introduced a tub replacement size Pro-Slope product in a 40-inch x 80-inch format. Noble also produces benches, niches and preformed curbs that are ideal for remodeling. Noble products save time, labor and provide superior protection from water, mold and mildew-features that will really sell themselves to remodel customers.

One of the real advantages of replacing a tub with a shower is that the larger size will enable you to install a door-less shower. The elimination of shower doors eliminates a big cleaning problem. Once a prospective customer sees one, the sale is halfway done. Improved stone sealers and newer backing boards can provide a canvas to showcase natural stone shower along with porcelain tile.

Although most of us think that natural stone is well...natural, many people seem to want to make a statement about their concern for the environment. A new product called GleenGlass is made from at 100% recycled glass. The material is available in panels that can be fabricated using many of the granite fabricating tools that most shops already have. See our coverage on page 26, or visit www.gleenglass.com to learn more about the product. You might even find a way to add it to your portfolio, as well.

Stone fabricators can help beautify America, ridding it of ugly bathtub colors and water and mold-spotted shower doors and perhaps make a little money at the same time. I hope that you enjoy this issue and gain a few ideas to help your business.

Thanks for reading, Rich Hassert

Email responses to: publisher@slipperyrockgazette.net

")