How To Make An Informed Decision Before You Purchase: Discover the. Best Options for Your Needs

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Miles Walker
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1 How To Make An Informed Decision Before You Purchase: Discover the Best Options for Your Needs Discover The 8 CRITICAL THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A WALK-IN TUB To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck! SAFE SPA WALK IN TUBS 2011 Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 1

8 Critical Things You Need To Know So you re looking into buying a walk in tub? It is truly a great investment in your safety, peace of mind, independence and the resale value of your home.

2 8 Critical Things You Need To Know So you re looking into buying a walk in tub? It is truly a great investment in your safety, peace of mind, independence and the resale value of your home. If you have learned a little about what s available and what you prefer already, you may feel you re ready to call a dealer to get a brochure and price list, but before you do, you would be well advised to consider these eight critical factors: 1. How To Determine What You Need And What You Don t Need 2. Manufacturing Quality Details 3. Acceptable Warranties 4. Safety Certifications And What They Mean 5. Expected Delivery And Installation Time 6. Choosing An Installation Contractor 7. Opportunities For Financial Assistance, Tax Credits, And Other Deductions 8. How To Handle A High Pressure Salesperson 1) How To Determine What You Need And What You DON'T Need This is usually something that most consumers do automatically, right? One can only hope! It s a good idea to know what your options are before a salesperson tries to sell you a bunch of upgrades and options that you may not have chosen if you had already done your research Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 2

In terms of features and accessories for walk in tubs and showers, there are many options to fit any

For the purposes of this guide, there are three basic styles plus many additional options: A regular

with a seat that flips down across the top edge for transfer and a door to swing legs through.

or simply have your existing tub converted with a door and seat.

with a full door that allows for wheelchair transfer directly to the seat.

removable. Barrier-free or easy-step threshold.

3 In terms of features and accessories for walk in tubs and showers, there are many options to fit any preference and price range. To see a full selection of products, go to For the purposes of this guide, there are three basic styles plus many additional options: A regular sized and shaped tub: with a door to enter so you don t have to step over the side. with a seat that flips down across the top edge for transfer and a door to swing legs through. that is raised off the floor to seating height and has a sliding door entry. or simply have your existing tub converted with a door and seat. A tall tub with a built in seat: with an inward or outward swinging door. with a full door that allows for wheelchair transfer directly to the seat. A barrier-free shower stall instead of a tub: wheelchair accessible with a bench built in or removable. Barrier-free or easy-step threshold. As far as accessories go, the most common options are: Hand-held shower head in tub Grab bars Benches/safety seats Hydrotherapy water/air jets Cabinet base for under raised tubs Safety belts/harnesses and lots more 2011 Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 3

4 In Most Cases The New Tub Will Fit Right Into The Old Tub Space No Bathroom Renovations Required! Your bathroom layout and features are the next thing to consider when thinking of what you need or don t need, as this will have an impact on what renovations may be required or avoided. In some cases there may be minor repairs or upgrades needed but can be kept to the bare minimum by choosing carefully. Sometimes people may choose to have a complete bathroom makeover. The main things to consider are: Will the sink or toilet block the door of the tub? This will be a factor in deciding on a right or left hand door and also whether the door opens in, out or slides. Will bathroom door need to be widened to get the old tub out or the new tub in? Will it require reverse plumbing? If the taps need to be moved from the existing wet-wall to the opposite wall, many companies will charge extra for this, but it s actually a simple job of using flexible piping that runs under the tub and it shouldn t cost more. Does the tub surround or tile need to be replaced or will it fit with the new tub? Do you need a new GFI standard electrical outlet installed? Perhaps you can make use of the existing bathroom plug for shaver/hairdryer if you don t need both sockets for regular use. This would save you some money in having a certified electrician in to run wires and set up an additional socket. 2) Manufacturing Quality Details Here we are primarily talking about how the tub is constructed. You need to know what makes a quality tub versus low quality. The support frame could be made of aluminum, stainless steel, wood, or composite material. Generally speaking you get what you pay for. Wood is poor quality because it is weakest, while stainless and composites are strongest Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 4

The surface material is usually made of acrylic or a spray-on gel coat product. It s debatable whether one is truly better than the other.

floor. Gel coating a tub involves spraying the product onto a mold, which enables the technician who sprays the coating to ensure a more even thickness.

finish. This is covered in section 3 on the next page. With door construction you need to consider hinges, seals and latches.

It would be terrible to reach for support when falling and have the door come right off the hinges potentially causing further injury!

5 The surface material is usually made of acrylic or a spray-on gel coat product. It s debatable whether one is truly better than the other. Acrylic tubs are made by pressing the acrylic into a form to shape it and some people believe there may be thinner areas where it is stretched to fit the mold, such as in corners or the floor. Gel coating a tub involves spraying the product onto a mold, which enables the technician who sprays the coating to ensure a more even thickness. At the end of the day, what really matters is where the tub was constructed (watch out for cheap labour in China or elsewhere) and the warranty that is offered by the manufacturer on the finish. This is covered in section 3 on the next page. With door construction you need to consider hinges, seals and latches. Panel hinges are of lesser quality than steel reinforced hinges which are designed to support a person s weight in the event of a fall. It would be terrible to reach for support when falling and have the door come right off the hinges potentially causing further injury! Latches come in a variety of different mechanisms; some are easier to use than others. Remember to consider whether the person using the tub has trouble with gripping due to mobility restriction, arthritis or lack of strength. One thing that most tub manufacturers are on top of is a good door seal. However, be sure there is a lifetime guarantee on latches and seals for the tub you buy Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 5

6 A no-scald tap system is a standard feature on walk in tubs to prevent accidentally burning yourself when filling the tub. They are usually built in underneath the tub and are factory set to prevent scalding by limiting the temperature of the hot water. If the factory setting is not to your liking, your installation contractor can adjust it as you wish. It s also good to know that when you turn your taps on initially, you can set the temperature by using the hand held shower head and hold it away from your body. Then when the temperature is comfortable, you turn on the fill spout to fill the tub up more quickly. Behold the warranty the bold print giveth and the fine print taketh away. ~Anonymous 3) Acceptable Warranties When discussing your potential purchase, be sure to ask about warranties. Every manufacturer will have different warranties for three main components of the tub and our suggestions in this section are what we would consider a minimal expectation more is obviously better. Moving parts such as the air or water pump 10 years Door seal and latch Lifetime (25+ years) Surface finish Lifetime (25+ years) Even though many people who buy these tubs are advanced in age and the warranty may outlast them, you still want the tub to add value to the home. Since the warranty will affect the resale value of the house, make sure it s good Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 6

4) Safety Certifications And What They Mean There are six common certifications or agencies that are referred to

Your primary concern should be that the tub has either CSA (for Canadian manufacturers), or UL (for international

use and it can also negatively affect your insurance coverage or premiums.

CSA Canadian Standards Association. A Canadian safety certification (necessary) UL Underwriters Laboratories.

Officials. An international safety certification (recommended) ETL Edison Testing Laboratories.

association for approving products for use by the disabled (unnecessary) 5) Expected Delivery And Installation

It can take anywhere from 10 days to a ridiculous 6 weeks!

7 4) Safety Certifications And What They Mean There are six common certifications or agencies that are referred to with walk in tubs. Their logos are pictured to the left. Your primary concern should be that the tub has either CSA (for Canadian manufacturers), or UL (for international manufacturers) because if it doesn t have these safety certifications it has not been adequately tested for safe use and it can also negatively affect your insurance coverage or premiums. While all of these certifications listed are not necessary, the more they have the better. CSA Canadian Standards Association. A Canadian safety certification (necessary) UL Underwriters Laboratories. An international safety certification (necessary) IAPMO International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. An international safety certification (recommended) ETL Edison Testing Laboratories. A North American safety certification for electrical equipment (recommended) ANSI American National Standards Institute. A U.S. organization that recommends standards for products (unnecessary) ADA Americans with Disabilities Act. A U.S. association for approving products for use by the disabled (unnecessary) 5) Expected Delivery And Installation Time There are a lot of things that may affect how long a company takes to deliver and install your tub. It can take anywhere from 10 days to a ridiculous 6 weeks! Some of the factors include: whether the company has the product in stock locally; where the supplier is located; and whether the tub has to clear customs. Even with all these things working against you, if the retailer is on top of things, it shouldn t take longer than about two weeks from when it s ordered to when it s completely installed Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 7

These days, most tub retailers do not have a warehouse full of stock on hand because it s not cost effective since shipping is relatively quick and inexpensive.

The installation process should not exceed two days as long as there are no other bathroom renovations taking place.

The bathroom should be operational by the end of the first day. They may need to come back the next day to do finishing work such as flooring, painting or tiling.

With the use of a SharkBite connector, there is no soldering, clamps, unions or glue (yet is just as effective), which allows the water to be turned back on in short order.

8 These days, most tub retailers do not have a warehouse full of stock on hand because it s not cost effective since shipping is relatively quick and inexpensive. One thing to be aware of though, is that since most companies order the tub from the manufacturer when the client buys it, a deposit is usually necessary to secure the order. The installation process should not exceed two days as long as there are no other bathroom renovations taking place. It really only takes one morning to remove the old tub and make necessary preparations for installation, then one afternoon to install the new tub. The bathroom should be operational by the end of the first day. They may need to come back the next day to do finishing work such as flooring, painting or tiling. People are often concerned about how long the water will be shut off during installation. This should only be a matter of minutes. With the use of a SharkBite connector, there is no soldering, clamps, unions or glue (yet is just as effective), which allows the water to be turned back on in short order. 6) Choosing An Installation Contractor When you buy a walk in tub, you will have the option of installing it yourself, hiring your own contractor, or having the tub company do the work. If you are doing it yourself or hiring your own contractor, make sure the full installation instructions come with tub and ensure the following: Only use a certified electrician Check references for previous work. Remember that testimonials can easily be falsified or altered to sound better so call people yourself if you can. Make sure they cover your floors and fixtures with drop sheets and make a reasonable effort to keep your home clean. There may be fumes from paint or adhesives, so make sure the contractors use the bathroom fan and windows to minimize the smell throughout your home. A job done well stays well done forever Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 8

9 A penny saved is a penny earned. ~Benjamin Franklin 7) Financial Assistance, Tax Credits, And Other Deductions Available in Canada You may be able to claim your walk in tub as a medical expense on your personal income tax. Here is the Disability Tax Credit Form T2201E. If you are caring for your parent, you can claim the eligible medical expenses you paid on their behalf, up to a maximum of $10,000 per dependent. Renovation costs you incur to accommodate your parents qualify as an eligible medical expense, so they may generate tax savings under both the home renovation tax credit and the medical expense tax credit. The Canadian government also offers the Home Renovation Tax Credit. The purchase and installation of walk in tub products can be used for the HRTC. More information on the HRTC is available here. The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities, offers financial assistance to homeowners and landlords to modify dwellings occupied or intended for occupancy by low-income persons with disabilities. Veterans may benefit from assistance from Canadian Veterans Independence Services who may help with home adaptations in certain areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and doorways. Investigate your personal health insurance plan your walk in tub rep can probably provide some info about which plans cover what, but it s still a good idea to check your own plan. Homeworks Financing may be available from TD Canada Trust. Often, in-house financing plans may be available, or Visa and Mastercard may be accepted by the walk in tub company you buy from. Ultimately, you ll get the best interest rate by using your own personal line of credit Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 9

8) How To Handle A High Pressure Salesperson Some walk in tub retailers hire commission salespeople to close a deal, rather than taking your needs and best interests to heart.

10 8) How To Handle A High Pressure Salesperson Some walk in tub retailers hire commission salespeople to close a deal, rather than taking your needs and best interests to heart. In many cases, unsuspecting and trusting people are sold tubs that exceed their needs and their budget because of the high pressure tactics used. Be careful you don t get pressured into signing a contract before shopping around. If you find yourself dealing with someone like this go in with your eyes open. The following advice will serve you well: Make up your mind NOT TO SIGN today! No matter what they say, waiting one or two more days is no big deal and will give you time to make a sound decision. ALWAYS get a second quote. Never sign a contract without consulting someone else you trust. Do your research ahead of time (this report is an excellent start). Know their tactics so you can maintain control of the situation: o They send a closer (salesperson) to your home who essentially won t leave until you sign a contract, which has been known to take several hours they are patient and persistent. o Often they won t reveal a price before you sign a contract. o They are paid on commission your needs and best interests don t matter as much as making a sale. o They usually won t leave a copy of the contract for you to review with someone else before you agree to sign it. They know if they leave your house, they will likely lose the sale. o They will often tell you that your current form of bathing is unsafe they will play on your fears of falling or illness, among other things. While these scare tactics may be based in fact, they should not be the sole reason to sign right away. Taking a couple days to do some research is time well spent. Courtesy of: Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS (8827) Safe Spa Walk In Tubs TUBS(8827) p. 10

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