The existing bathroom units’ precast concrete floors posed the team’s first challenge. “We couldn’t change the drain location because of the precast concrete slab,” says Richard Curtis, AIA, architect and president of Richard Curtis and Associates in Portland, Maine. Curtis and his team chose a Bestbath™ shower unit because the drain can be placed in any location on the shower floor.

Focusing on the strength of the shower floor was another important aspect to retrofitting the Stella Maris bathrooms. “You don’t want to have just a fiberglass floor that can crack. You need a solid floor that will withstand weight and use,” Curtis adds. Bestbath floors accomplished this task which included a wood core encased in composite making it solid and sturdy.

Bestbath’s units also could be specified to fit into the existing bathtubs’ 5-foot-by-30-inch footprint. The multipiece tubs allowed the installers to bring in the shower system in pieces, an essential detail due to the bathrooms’ small size. In addition the shower systems are designed for quick and easy installation with leak-free solutions. The managers at Stella Maris didn’t have to worry about water escaping the shower that would risk their residents’ safety.

“Most bathrooms are not big enough to accommodate a handicap person,” says Alan Hinkley, construction superintendent for the Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine. The toilet and sink had to be relocated to accommodate more space, and shower units replaced the tubs.

The team chose a multipiece shower solution from Bestbath for multiple reasons. One, they could easily get the systems through the tight door spaces which are common in older buildings. Second important reason for choosing Bestbath: Grab bars. This system was the only one that met their needs and also allowed for grab bars which are essential for residents. Finally but just as important, the team liked the fact these systems do not require moving the drain.

Bestbath shower system eliminates the installation challenges presented by the concrete walls. The system’s built-in plywood backing simplified installation while allowing precise grab bar placement for each user, another component of ADA guidelines. Meeting all the primary needs in these two facilities was important to all involved. By working together with the engineers at Bestbath, ideal solutions were easily installed that are up to current code standards and improve the safety of all residents without a major remodel of the buildings’ structure.