The Tub King Blog

Can Walk-in Tubs Help with Pain?

By Alan Knight

Photo Credit: mrctv.org

Make no mistake, we all deal with pain on a daily basis. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican and potential presidential candidate spoke out recently, “Over half the people on disability are either anxious or their back hurts. Join the club,” he said to laughter. “Who doesn’t get up a little anxious for work every day and their back hurts? Everybody over 40 has a little back pain.”

The Social Security Administration has provided benefits to people with disabilities since President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation in 1956. The program is intended to provide cash assistance to people who are disabled for a year or longer and cannot work or can only work menial jobs for little pay (about $1,000 a month.) The number of individuals receiving disability has been on an upward trajectory for decades. In 1970, there were less than two million beneficiaries; now, the program has surpassed 10 million, far outpacing U.S. population growth. Nearly two-thirds of people on disability are 50 or older. And with aging Baby Boomers continuing to swell the country’s demographics, this number is expected to climb even more.

Photo Credit: fraud-magazine.com

The purpose of Paul’s comments was to establish that the large growth in the program has sparked claims of waste, fraud and abuse. It was reported in an audit of disability insurance in 2013, the Government Accountability Office estimated that in the fiscal year 2011, the Social Security Administration made $1.29 billion in potential cash benefit overpayments to about 36,000 individuals who were working and making more than $1,100 a month.

Living With Chronic Pain

Headlines like the one above are a distraction from a real problem, and that is the number of real, legitimate cases of people with chronic pain who deal with it on a daily basis. Many are getting no help from the government and have to turn to sometimes expensive and potentially dangerous prescription drugs to dull their pain.

Many times, chronic pain conditions develop over many years and are difficult to manage without the use of medication and injections. Living with chronic pain is very difficult, and people who suffer from chronic pain know how it can disrupt and damage their lives. It can be nearly impossible to enjoy normal daily activities.

Photo Credit: news.yale.edu

Here’s a list of some of the primary causes of chronix pain that people suffer from:

Fibromyalgia
Cancer pain
Headaches and Migraines
Arthritis
Sports Injuries
Joint Pain
Back, neck and musculoskeletal pain
Neuropathic pain
Vascular insufficiency
Post-traumatic pain
Spinal nerve pain
Cervical or lumbar disc herniation
Acute herpes or shingles

It’s hard to imagine anyone today who is approaching retirement age who’s not suffering from pain in some part of their body. The question is, “Where do we turn for relief?” In most cases, medicines are necessary and for certain conditions, there are various invasive treatments available, such as surgery.

Good News for Pain Sufferers

Photo Credit: walkbathtubs.com

But is there something that can be done in the comfort of your own home, without dangerous side effects, to help with pain? The answer is, yes. The Walk-in Tub has proven to be a godsend for many people.

I vividly remember receiving a call a few years ago from a customer who was thanking me for providing them with a Walk-in Tub. She praised the many features of the tub, noting the safety features that made it easier for her husband to get into and out of the Walk-in Tub. She loved the fact that her husband could now bathe himself without any assistance. And then she made a comment that caught me by surprise. She said, “I have one problem with our Walk-in Tub. I can’t get my husband out.” At first I thought she was saying that there was an emergency and that her husband was stuck in the tub and that she physically couldn’t remove him, but she laughed and said, “No, he just doesn’t want to get out. He has lived with pain for so long that the effect of the air jet bubbles and the water jet whirlpool system, which massage his body with soothing warm water, makes him want to stay in the tub all day.” She added that it was not uncommon for him to stay in the tub for an hour at a time.

Photo Credit: supply.com

The Walk-in Tub will not cure the specific cause of certain types of pain. But it is one of the best ways I know to deal with and help relieve pain on a daily basis. The many processes that cause pain can be positively affected by the use of warm water hydrotherapy .

The compact Walk-in Tub unit will fit in any bathroom and provide you with your own specialized spa. It comes in two sizes, with an extra wide door with a low-threshold for entering and exiting. The water-tight rubber seals guarantee against leaking. It has a slip-resistant floor and seat, an interior grab bar, controls within easy reach, modern-looking chrome faucet, fast draining system, hand-held shower sprayer with a four-foot metal braided hose for rinsing the body, air jet hydrotherapy, water jet whirlpool massage, and inline heater for keeping the water warm. The Walk-in could very well be the best thing that has come along for pain management in many years.

In this article, I first discussed how the federal government, through the Disability Act, has been trying to provide aid and assistance to those individuals who are living with chronic pain. However, I pointed out that due to increasing numbers of recipients, it’s becoming more difficult to attain, and the system is rife with fraud. I then shared some of the symptoms and conditions that are common causes of pain for millions. I then pointed out how Walk-in Tubs, due to their hydrotherapeutic technology, can help reduce, alleviate and better manage different types of pain.

Customer Testimonial for Tub King's Walk-in Tub

If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Or, if you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.

If you have a comment, please type it in the Comment section below. Of course, I encourage you to share this article with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share this information with you.

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Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

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Should I Learn Bathtub Refinishing?

By Alan Knight

Courtesy of uglytub.com

For over 20 years now, bathtub refinishing has been an option for restoring and beautifying ugly bathtubs. I recently read an article that raised the question, “Is bathtub refinishing a scam?” The article concluded, “No, it is not a scam, it is simply an option.” Those interested in the subject are concerned for one of a number of reasons:

1. Their bathtub is an out-of-date color and they want to modernize it. Old colors that date back to the 50s include: blue, pink, green, yellow, red, various earth tones, and black.

2. The bathtub is missing porcelain, or is chipped, scratched or cracked.

3. The bathtub is dull and has lost its shine.

4. The tub is stained and simply looks dirty.

Courtesy of www.fluentd.org

Just a few years ago, most people had never heard of Bathtub Refinishing. It was thought that the only answer to an ugly bathtub was to simply jerk it out of the bathroom and replace it with a new one. That's certainly an option, but unfortunately an expensive one. When you really do the research, you'll find that removal and replacement with a new tub involves several expensive steps.

First, the old tub must be removed. That means it will have to be detached from all plumbing and its connection with wall tile and floor tile. Who is going to do this? The homeowner is ill-equipped to undertake such a thing. The tub may weigh upwards of 300 pounds if it is made of cast iron or steel. If it is made of fiberglass, it will make a tremendous mess. Greater yet, if it is a fiberglass shower surround model, it may require you cut it in pieces using a power saw, just to get it through the bathroom door and out of your house. A major undertaking, to say the least.

That's just the tub. You also must consider repairing the floor and the tile wall. Once all that is repaired and the bathroom cleaned up, you must go shopping for a new tub. That's not an inexpensive choice either. It will require delivery to your home. It must fit in the existing space occupied by your previous tub. All the plumbing hook ups must be made including the drain, which can be very temperamental. The tile and the floor must be repaired and painting may be required in the bathroom. Once you've done all this, the price tag is most likely much more than the cost of having the tub refinished, plus you have lost a lot of your own personal time persuing the project.

Courtesy of www.comedycentral.nl

Many do-it-yourselfers have had the misconception that refinishing a bathtub was a simple process that anyone can do. Maybe they have visited Lowe's or Home Depot and seen a refinishing “do-it-yourself” kit in the paint department. Unfortunately, it rarely works. First, the materials sold are not the quality needed to have pleasing, long-term results. It requires a person to use a brush or roller to apply the coating products. Again, the results are not going to please the average person. There is a huge difference between spraying an application and rolling it on. You might say, “I know how to use a sprayer.” Maybe, but is it the right system? The only system that works with the quality of a fine finish, similar to the original, is an HVLP rig. That stands for High Volume, Low Pressure, and requires a professional to apply it.

If you really want to have your tub refinished, there are only two choices:

1. Hire a professional from a reliable refinishing company to do it right. Make sure you check them out beforehand. Try to get references, and if you can, speak to someone who has used their services. The customary charge to refinish a bathtub can range from $300 to $600,based upon the amount of work that must be done. Believe me, the price is well worth it. Don't try to do something that you are not trained to do.

2. Learn from a professional training center how to refinish your tub. You might be thinking this is too expensive, but really it's not. For as little as $495, you can learn to refinish your own tub (as well as cabinets, counter tops, etc.), and turn it into a business.

A tub being refinished at Tub King.

One such school in Jacksonville, Florida, taught each month by Tub King, offers a convenient three-day seminar around a weekend format to train the layperson to refinish bathtubs and other items. The reason you need professional training is because everything you need to properly refinish a tub is highly specialized. (See our previous blog, "Invest in Yourself for the New Year.")

Among the equipment you'll need, as mentioned before, is an HVLP Spray Rig. This means the low pressure ensures the coating material goes onto the tub surface and not into the air where the smell and over spray can enter the rest of the house.

All of the coating and other materials that we teach you about (and use when we refinish a tub) are professional grade.

Let's start with the cleaning products. Not just any cleaner can properly prepare the tub for refinishing. It must be good at removing soap scum, oil, grease, as well as dirt. The tub must also be properly etched. That means a mild acid must be applied to the porcelain to rough up the surface and make it more receptive to the coating. The exception would be that if the tub is made of fiberglass, then the process of etching would take place by sanding the surface. The tub would then require another cleaning using a solvent or a high-grade isopropal alcohol solution.

Courtesy of www.thecuresafety.com

The first phase of coating requires a high-grade spray-on primer that dries quickly. Only then is the surface ready for the application of the professional top coat. The very best topcoats are acrylics. They will hold up much better than expoxies. This is also applied using the HVLP Spray Rig. The very best available can only be purchased from bathtub refinishing companies or specialized chemical companies.

During this entire process, many preparations must be made. For example, the tub must not only be cleaned, but any repairs must be made before starting. This is a science in itself and is something that comes only through proper training.

Furthermore, the entire area around the tub must be covered with masking paper and masking tape. The floor must be covered and anything else that might come in contact with over spray. The technician involved in the refinishing process must protect him or herself as well. There should be proper ventilation in the bathroom. A fume extractor with a sufficient length of hose should be used and the technician must wear the proper protective gear, such as a high-quality respirator. Proper skin covering should also be considered.

Check out this video about making your own well-paying job.

You might say, “This is an extremely involved process.” Yes, it is, and that's why you should either hire a professional or get professional training yourself. You could actually go through the training process for about the same price as a bathtub refinishing.

And there is one added bonus. After receiving a Certificate of Completion from Tub King's course, you can start your own bathtub and kitchen refinishing business. With the purchase of a professional spray rig, approximately $700 of coating materials, you're now a skilled contract laborer. Not only would you now be trained to refinish tubs, but also counter tops, ceramic tile, appliances, sinks, and cabinets. Whether part-time or full-time, this could expand your income far beyond just being able to refinish your own tub.

In this article, I discussed what’s involved in refinishing a bathtub and properly preparing the bathroom in advance of the project. I explained the factors and costs and show that for many, it’s worth taking a professional refinishing class to make sure the job is done right. Taking the class provides a special bonus: You're now prepared to do this for others and make money doing it.

If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Or, if you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. >

If you have a comment, please type it in the Comment section below. Of course, I encourage you to share this article with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share this information with you.

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What’s Trending in … Bathroom Design?

By Alan Knight

Photo Credit: thenextweb.com

One of the newly evolved expressions of our modern, online-oriented times is “what’s trending?” The phrase has become nearly ubiquitous, especially regarding social media as in, “What’s trending on Twitter?” “What’s trending on Facebook?” There’s even a successful live, interactive TV show on YouTube entitled, “What’s Trending?”

From online virtual reality, to real-life, pundits and people are talking and texting and tweeting about what’s trending. What’s trending in music? What’s trending in food? What’s trending in fashion? What’s trending in cars? What’s trending in weight loss? What’s trending in ________?

Our own industry is no different. In fact, there are several top bathroom design trends that have been cited by over 420 building design and construction professionals who belong to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

We Tend to Trend

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Always on the cutting edge, several of Tub King’s premier products are also in the NKBA’s uppermost list of what’s trending.

“When it comes to kitchen and bath design trends for both single-family and multifamily residences,” the NKBA points out, “contemporary is in, with clean, minimal lines and little ornamentation.” It says that nowadays, consumers want their bathrooms to be “spaces to retreat and relax … with luxurious details whenever possible.”

According to these industry professionals, consumers are seeking more universal design features in both their kitchens and baths. “A majority of respondents anticipate adding more of these features …” a survey stated. Other bathroom “want-list” items include comfort-height toilets and vanities. Always ahead of the curve, several of Tub King’s products are in the NKBA’s uppermost wanted list:

Photo Credit: houzz.com

As far as colors go, whether it’s paint or tile, beige, bone and gray are the most popular colors. All of our bathtubs ― whether we’re talking or cast iron/porcelain Pedestal and Clawfoot Tubs Walk-in Tubs ― are available in those predominantly neutral colors. Especially regarding our Pedestal and Clawfoot tubs, these are available in any exterior or interior color you prefer. Want a stand-alone tub with a gray exterior and a beige interior? No problem. Simply bring us your bathroom’s color scheme, and we’ll match and/or complement it.

Chrome faucets are also trending. Of course, all of our tubs and showers are available with chrome faucets, temperature and additional controls, hand-held shower wands, shower heads, safety grab bars, etc.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Regarding colors for our Safety Suite Showers, (see trends regarding: No-Threshold showers below), they’re also available in a variety of tile color configurations, including trendy, neutral colors such as white, biscuit, or bone, as well as delicious-sounding and looking colors of textured dark granite (with such patterns/hues as Almond, Beach, Coco, Mink, Violet, etc.)

Universal design is becoming more universal. Consumers have been indicating they prefer universal design/accessible bathrooms for several years now. Tub King’s Walk-in Tubs feature very low threshold, water-tight doors that allow easy entry into and exiting from the hydrotherapeutic bathtub. As far as showers go, our new Safety Suite Showers are available in both Low-Threshold and Zero-Threshold models, both of which provide safe and easy access and egress from the shower.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Soaking tubs are in the spotlight. No problem here. Both our cast iron/porcelain tubs and our Walk-in tubs are perfect for luxuriating, healthy soaking sessions. Some respondents said they prefer freestanding, non-jetted tubs ― again, we have you covered ― as these are available both in our Walk-in “Soaker” model as well as our stand-alone, cast iron/porcelain tubs. Given the fact many consumers indicated they prefer more modern-looking bathrooms and bathtubs, our stand-alone cast iron/porcelain Pedestal Tubs (sans the Clawfoot-shaped feet) are perfect for any bathroom. Furthermore, these elegant tubs are available in several different designs and sizes, including our Roll-Top, Dual-Ended, Slipper and Double Slipper models.

Shower seating is here to stay. All of our Safety Suite Shower models can be configured with built-in seating. The bottom line (pun intended)? You decide what type of seating configuration you’d like to have in your shower and what type of seat you’d prefer. Seats can be topped with a slip-resistant acrylic surface, or, if you prefer something more regal-looking, you can have a Brazilian Walnut seat top and back. You can also have a four-legged seat made of ABS plastic. And, depending upon which shower model you choose, there are three different seat configurations, molded, fold-down or four-legged.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

No holding back on no-threshold showers. Again, our Safety Suite Showers fit this trend perfectly. OurLow-Threshold designs have a shallow, four-inch high ledge in the front of the shower, while the Zero-Threshold designs are ideal for those who are wheelchair-bound.

While the different models (one Low-Threshold/six Zero-Threshold) come equipped with different features, in general, each Safety Suite Shower includes:

2" brass body drain w/ strainer, expansion seal gasket
2-in-1 shower valve grab ring
2-in-1 six-inch traditional curved grab bar
HansGrohe Ibox Universal rough in shower valve
HansGrohe Metris S/E pressure balance shower trim
HansGrohe Croma, three-jet, Handheld Shower set, shower arm mount and hose
HansGrohe Porter E Handheld Shower holder
6" shower arm and flange
63" stainless steel curtain rod, 18-gauge stainless steel
Curtain rod cup holders
Rectangular sponge/soap basket

Made in the southeast U.S. exclusively for Tub King, we currently carry several different Safety Suite Showers configurations:

60" x 32" – 4" Low-Threshold
60" x 30" – Zero-Threshold
60" x 33" – Zero-Threshold
60" x 36" – Zero-Threshold
48" x 36" – Zero-Threshold
54" x 30" – Zero-Threshold
54" x 36" – Zero-Threshold

Photo Credit: indulgy.com

Furthermore, what makes our Safety Suite Showers even more special and ahead of the trending curve is that you can also order/have installed such items as the bathroom paper roll, towel bar and shelves, all of which feature a handsomely designed, yet sturdy, built-in grab bar, making your entire bathroom much safer than ever before.

In this article, I shared some of the trending bathroom designs and equipment that building design and construction professionals who belong to the National Kitchen and Bathroom and Design Association have discussed. I pointed out that in all of these ongoing trends, Tub King has bathtubs ― both our Walk-in and Cast iron/Porcelain tubs ― as well as our Low- and Zero-Threshold showers and accompanying fixtures that top this list. We even have products that are even ahead of this curve, such as stylistic built-in grab bars that are integrated into various bathroom fixtures.

If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Or, if you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.

Tub King Customer Loves Her New Pedestal Tub

If you have a comment, please type it in the Comment section below. Of course, I encourage you to share this article with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share this information with you.

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