Bathroom Remodel – Marion, OH

Who: Josephine & Charles Wiseman 

Where: Marion, OH 

What: Shower Remodel 

Products: White shower base and smooth white walls and a corner shelf, Gibson shower fixtures in brushed nickel, 18- and 24-inch grab bars from the Eva collection in brushed nickel. 

---

When Josephine & Charles Wiseman of Marion, OH learned they couldn’t install grab bars in their brand-new shower, a red flag went up. They called ImproveIt and discovered a number of problems and safety hazards due to poor installation by the original builder.  

ImproveIt installers discovered a badly damaged wall stud and lack of insulation behind one shower wall, which compromised the integrity of the wall itself. Grab bars couldn’t be installed in the old shower because no secure blocking was added behind the wall. Additionally, the shower base was not adhered to the slab below, which created a dangerous slip-and-fall hazard for the Wisemans. “All we had was a little soap dish to hang onto, and we didn’t feel safe at all,” Josephine says. “Sometimes I would bring my walker into the shower with me just to have something else to hold on to.” 

Installers got to work repairing the stud wall, reinsulating, adding blocking for grab bars, and adding greenboard on all three walls to set up for a warm, secure, and waterproof shower installation. The new shower base and surround were properly adhered to the floor and walls, and then sealed. And to meet the Wiseman’s original need, three grab bars were installed exactly where they needed them, thanks to SecureMount anchor technology.  

Mrs. Wiseman says she’s pleased with all the work that was done. “We feel safe now,” she says. “We’re very happy.” 

Read more about the Wisemans scary problems and the solutions ImproveIt was able to provide for their aging-in-place shower.