Adventures in shower remodeling--beware of Kohler [long]

[daveshoe]

I was contacted by a customer that needed a shower--fast. Husband has cancer and is becoming too weak to make it upstairs to the bath tub.Consensus was to put in a flat shower pan of a size that two people could enter with the patient in a chair and the assistant standing in shower.
June 23- ordered 36x60 Kohler shower pan.[Scheduled delivery date to store -June 29] The main reason I went to Depot was they had Kohler catalog.The reason I did not shop around is they have their own warehouse and had the unit in stock for fast delivery. Downloaded install instructions/blueprints so it was possible to begin.Kohler website rocks! June 25-27-demo'd a nice set of site built cabinets and saved trim to match things up. Had to admire solid construction of the place.removed rear stud wall behind cabinets to borrow a little space out of ajoining closet.Built rear wall,ceiling,and attached shim strips to straighten out existing plaster wall.Alcove frame complete- life is good,but I need the shower to locate drain. Checked with Special Order Services on 29th.Told that it would be in by 7PM on the 30th. 6/30 to 7/5. Called every day and they kept telling me it would be here tomorrow-the local shipper has it.
July 6th,was referred to manager after I threatened to cancel payment on credit card and find another supplier. I told him that three days previous,I was told that local shipper had the unit. The guy was good--he aked me WHAT it would take to satisfy me.I told him that since the local shipper seemed to forget this item every day,that Depot needed to pick it up and bring it back to the store.They did by driving from dayton to cincinnati. 7/7-- Picked up shower,but carton had been opened-back corners were slightly damaged[was this the reason the order was'lost']? Damage did not hurt the unit at all for alcove installation,but ''vinyl trim beading'' was missing from box==I knew to look for vinyl trim beading because I had downloaded instructions on the 29th and knew it should be in the box.The instructions said ''install the INCLUDED trim beading before placing the shower base in the opening'' I took the base with me
After calling the manager about the open box, He said he would call Kohler and try to expedite the order.I told him air freight NOW is only thing acceptable.Meanwhile,I called Kohler,and they said that the beading was a recommended option.[I guess so,the instructions said the unit wouls seep water into the wall without it] As an option,it had not been included,even though the installation instructions said it WAS included.They could have it to me in Fourteen days.The cost was a little over a HUNDRED BUCKS.Kinda like buying a car and the salesman saying''you wanted a gas tank with that''?
Home depot manager was a prince.He made many phone calls,located the beading,air shipped it and the beading was no charge.Got it in two days
BTW-the beading was so poorly designed that I will not use it.I plan to install a strip of ice and water shield instead of the beading. Some bean counter at Kohler must have really impressed his buddies when he came up with the idea that one shower pan could be used for a right or left corner,a three -glass wall enclosure ,or a stadard tiled alcove enclosure. [that was what created the need for the beading as an add-on flange.] Even though the quality of Kohler is beyond question,stay away from their shower receptors [low pans] if you plan a corner or alcove installation.It only has a nailing fin on one side.
I sure am glad that i am capable of plumbing,carpentry,tilesetting,and electrical.Can you imagine this how this job would be going with four different people to schedule?