Free makeover offered in Bath Planet sweepstakes

As homeowners age, many find they no longer want to deal with climbing in and out of a tub that doubles as a shower. They hear horror stories about friends and family members who have slipped and fallen during this daily chore and don't want the same fate to befall them.

Younger homeowners, too, are choosing to get rid of their old tubs, preferring to enjoy a walk-in shower. Few have the time or inclination to enjoy a lengthy soak, so why take the chance on a tub/shower combination when they just want to take a shower?

Bath Planet of Chicagoland, based in Streamwood, has been the solution for many. They offer stylish, cost-effective, low-maintenance acrylic bath improvements that are also made locally - in Palatine.

Many Bath Planet products install right over existing chipped or faded tubs, and outdated wall tiles or showers for maximum cost-effectiveness and minimum mess.

For the second consecutive year, Bath Planet and the Daily Herald are teaming up to offer a tub-to-shower conversion worth up to $7,000 to a lucky, randomly chosen reader. More than 800 entries were received for the sweepstakes last year.

To enter, visit events.dailyherald.com/contests and fill out an application during April.

On April 30, Bath Planet will randomly select ten semifinalists and ask each to send in a photo of the bathtub they would like converted to a shower. The grand prize winner will be announced May 15.

That winner will receive a white shower base, an acrylic wall system with a smooth finish, a shower accessory, new chrome fixtures including a new valve and trim kit, and a glass shower door with chrome trim.

One runner-up will receive a Detecto Bluetooth Connected Body Fat Scale from Lifespan Brands.

Renee Vogt of Lombard was last year's winner. Winning the shower/tub makeover from Bath Planet turned out to be the impetus Vogt and her husband, Richard, needed to gut their whole bathroom on their own, replacing the old galvanized steel plumbing with copper, as well as replacing the floor, doors and everything else in the room.

Bath Planet's products feature the elegant look of ceramic tile, granite or marble - in a wide variety of colors and finishes - but without the grout, mess and irritating maintenance because the liners are made of a nonporous, easy-to-clean material. In addition, an array of finishing touches are available including shower caddies, soap dishes, grab bars, curved shower rods and a selection of shower doors - so homeowners can easily create a complete, unique bathroom that meets their particular circumstances.

"Our exclusive product line, ranging from spa showers to walk-in tubs, is constructed out of the toughest acrylic, specially designed to withstand the wear and tear of daily bathroom use," the Bath Planet website states. "The acrylic is custom fitted to your existing bathroom and installed with triple-seal technology. Not only will your new bathtub or shower be stunning, but it will also fit seamlessly into your current design and protect your home from harmful water damage."

In addition, all of that tough cleaning of grout, using harsh chemicals, will be a distant memory. A little vinegar and hot water is all that is required to effectively clean a Bath Planet acrylic shower, according to Dimitris Nacopoulos, owner of the Chicago-area dealership.

And you don't have to count on workers invading your home for days or weeks for a bathroom renovation. Installation can be completed in as little as just one day, he added.

Bath Planet offers replacement tubs and shower bases in a wide selection of colors, sizes and styles to add value to the bathroom within your home.

Nacopoulos said Bath Planet also has a full-line of accessibility products and aging-in-place bathroom systems to ensure independent living for as long as possible. Roll-in showers, walk-in tubs, soaking tubs and even jetted tubs are all available.

Nacopoulos has been in the bathroom remodeling business for 18 years. His Bath Planet dealership is one of 122 dealerships around the country and his territory extends from Rockford to Lake Michigan and from the Indiana border to southern Wisconsin.

"What sets us apart is the fact that we offer great service, competitive pricing, the most color and design options in the business, the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and a lifetime warranty," Nacopoulos said.

For more information, call (877) 705-7177.