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Home > Archive > Mar 22, 2007

Bathroom Remodelers Recognized
By Ashley Langston
Contributing Editor
When Alan Hansen’s parents decided to remodel a bathroom and couldn’t find a company that would fit their needs, Hansen had a business idea.
He opened a franchise of a business called Re-Bath, which does one-day bathroom remodeling. The demand was there, and in the two years his location has been open it has done hundreds of bathrooms.
“There was clearly a need,” Hansen said.
The franchise serves all of Southern Utah and, for its market, has completed an exceptional number of bathrooms with impressive satisfaction rates. At least that’s what Re-Bath corporate thinks, as Re-Bath of Color Country was awarded “Best Franchise in a Small Market” at the national Re-Bath summit meeting in Phoenix Jan. 8.
Hansen said the qualifications for this award are volume of business and customer satisfaction. The business was not quite two years old when the award was received.
He said his business has grown significantly and the community has been receptive to it.
Shelly Galliher, operations manager, said most of the company’s remodels are started and finished in one day. They specialize in bathtubs and showers, but they also replace toilets, sinks and flooring and remodel the entire bathroom.
She also said it is a common misconception that a quick remodel is not a quality remodel. Even though they can put a tub or shower over existing tile that is in good condition, they are very careful not to cover up a problem. Their remodels are very thorough, she said.
The material Re-Bath uses for its bathtubs and showers is called durabath. It is an easy-to-clean, low-maintenance product that can be simulated to look like tile or marble and comes in many different colors and patterns.
“A lot of people think tile is high end,” Galliher said. “Tile is a porous surface. It’s got a lot of grout in it and it’s really hard to clean. It grows a lot of mold.”
By contrast, durabath still looks nice, but is easy to maintain, she said.
“Nothing sticks to it,” she said. “You can pretty much just even use Windex to clean your (durabath).”
Perhaps the best feature about durabath is its lifetime warranty. They are confident enough in the product that they guarantee it for life.
One of the most popular remodels Re-Bath takes on is tub-to-shower conversions. Galliher said this is especially popular for seniors who prefer the safety of a shower over climbing into a tub. According to the Re-Bath Web site, www.rebath.com, they also offer grab bars, shower seats and adjustable shower heads.
These are not prefabricated showers, though. Galliher said the durabath material comes in large slabs and the installers cut it to create a unique shower or bath for the customer.
“We have the capability of pretty much doing anything,” she said. “Durabath, or our surrounds, come in big sheets so we can cut them and custom make them.”
“It’s absolutely custom-made,” she said.
They can also install jetted tubs, and just about anything the customer is interested in having.
The franchise has done bathroom remodels in hundreds of houses, some of SUU’s dorms, and, with the help of corporate, some hotels, Galliher said. With about nine employees, they install six to 10 bathrooms every week.
The demand has been very high in the area, but it is also high in surrounding areas, Hansen said. To help meet the needs of customers, he will soon open a second office in Reno, Nev. that will serve all of Northern Nevada.
They are looking for installers for both areas.
The franchise has earned a lot of trust in its short two years. In addition to its award, it also has one of three training centers in the United States. New installers come from all over the western United States to be trained by Hansen’s business partner, Lemoin Skiles.
Skiles is an experienced national trainer for the company, who also puts together all the corporate displays. As one of the most qualified Re-Bath installers, he works personally on many projects in the area.

Re-Bath of Color Country is located at 1322 S. Providence Center Drive. It can be reached at 867-1006.

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