The last thread reached it's limit of 150 post

We are starting an emergency bathroom remodel due to a toilet leaking while we were on vacation so I can use all the help we can get.

Right now our masterbath is gutted at the floor level and we are having to make some major decisions with very little time to do research.

So please help us out and tell us what you love, what you wish you'd done differently and what you think was either a waste of money or a really bad decision.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to previous thread

I was dead set on a cast iron tub until I realized that all of the cast iron tubs manufactured now have a non-slip bottom. I found out that this non-slip bottom is challenging to clean. I even went and looked in the showrooms, and sure enough they were all gray. My research on gardenweb and talking to contractors/plumbing stores also confirmed that they were difficult to clean. Not impossible, just difficult and I just wasn't up for the challenge.

I was very reluctant to go with fiberglass since our current fiberglass tub looks yellowed and horrible. However, I've been told they are built much better now, and we went with a thicker model. I also wanted one with a built in flange.

Next, came the height. I wanted one deep enough to take a nice bath, but not 20 inches high because it is higher than I want to step over as we age. Why don't more manufacturers make tubs 18 inches deep? Why are most 14 or 20?

We considered:
Kohler Bellwether - did not like the nonslip surface, but like the shape
Mirabelle Edenton - saw some complaints about chipping and not draining properly. I visited Fergusons, and the salesman did not deny it and said it was up to my contractor to test the tub. My contractor said he has installed these tubs without a problem, but it was higher than I wanted and decided it wasn't worth the risk.
Hydrosystems Lacey and the Sydney - both 20 inches high or higher
Americh Turo - after much research, went with this tub. Our contractor said these are good tubs, and the Plumbing store said another contractor installed it in his own house. It's only 18 inches high, 32 inches wide (also comes 30 wide), but has a deep bath. We purchased the non-airbath model. It has arrived and we're very happy with how it looks. Here is a picture of it. I'll post better pictures after its installed, but thought this may help someone else out who may be looking for 18" height tub.

This post was edited by belasea on Mon, Dec 3, 12 at 1:18

Our 18 year old home is having major window failures so we are in the market of getting replacement windows. There are 18 double hung windows in the house in a wide range of sizes, but all of which are under 100" of linear glass.

We have done our homework with the local and state building association and gotten some good well respected contractors to come out and provide quotes for us.

We are basically narrowed down to a few and are looking at three different windows.

1. Cambridge line made by ViWinco, seems to be a very good window and good company. Local to where I live so I like that idea and in business for a good 20+ years. http://www.viwinco.com/UserFiles/pdfs/techspecs/Cambridge_Brochure.pdf

2. Reflections by Simonton - Also a good reputation for replacement windows. We have quotes for a 5050 with upgraded Window Kits and also the 5500 series. (told that the 5050 upgraded is almost the same window as the 5500)

Here are my questions.
1. We have a hard time finding out details on simonton windows. There is no brochure that spells everything out like the ViWinco's. Any thoughts??

2. Capping of exterior. Most of the contractors are including custom aluminum capping. Once contractor is not and says it doesn't need to be done and adds cost. To me, I cannot see how the windows will look right if the old dingy aluminum is not capped off am I right?

Really need some honest advice on this major purchase.

Thanks!

Reading this forum proved to be enormously helpful, as I was overwhelmed by having to make decisions!