WHO:
Doren Garcia was one of the founders of Lifetime Showerpans which has been installing THE BEST quality showerpans in San Diego County for 30 years. Doren has installed an estimated 30,000 showerpans by himself and has no employees.
I do all the installing in order to ensure 100% control over quality. I'm still trying to improve my quality, and bag of tricks. When I can't figure out a way to improve quality I'm trying to find ways to improve my service as you'll see if you hire me.
Doren apprenticed with Showerpans by Curry starting way back in 1979 working all over the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay areas. In 1986 I relocated to San Diego and opened up my own business.
My clients have included Joan Kroc, Helen Copley, Janet Jackson, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Charles Shultz, Sammy Hagar, Gov. Jerry Brown, Alex Spanos, Jenny Craig, Eugene Klein, Pete Rozelle and many more.
HOW MUCH:
- My prices are competitive starting at $300 for a standard 3x3 shower
- How to avoid extra charges - in general
- How to set a drain to avoid extra charges Recommended drains
- Curbless shower preparation - this is usually done wrong
- Situations where hot tar is impractical - for example a condo in a high rise building
WHAT:
- Slope all showerpans and
tubs 1/4" per foot to drain. Over this base I POUR and
TROWEL a layer of 500° hot tar. Since we pour and trowel tar rather
than just spreading it with a mop our pan floors are up to 2x THICKER
than standard mopped pans. I STRONGLY believe my showerpans are more
resistant to damage from drywallers or careless workers. All
of our installed showers are still working as far as I know and should
outlast the homes they protect. Tar does not degrade when not
exposed to light. CERAMIC TILE
INSTITUTE FINDINGS ON LONGEVITY
1. Because of extensive tests run by the Ceramic Tile Institute our recommendation is the use of the 3 layers of 15 lb. felt for the waterproofing membrane.
2. There is no kinder place we can put the hot mopped membrane than in a dark, cool shower. Field experience has proven that they are practically endless in life expectancy if installed as above noted. - Over the tar and shingle slope I interWEAVE a minimum of 3 plys of 15# felt sandwiched between 4 layers of 500° hot tar. I reinforce all corners (including seat corners) with fiberglass netting SANDWICHED BETWEEN felt layers.
- Although although my trade is called hotmopping I rarely use a mop. I use a trowel almost exclusively leaving corners and sufaces extra tight, neat, and square. This also allows me to work with cooler, less smokey tar, which makes you or your clients more comfortable. Most clients are surprised at how little smoke is generated.
- Due to the thick floors and square corners tile setters love working over my showerpans. I believe my showerpans are the best but I'm are always trying to improve my quality.
- Weepholes left opened and clean.
- I'm super neat. On remodels (a specialty) I use hallway drop cloths through the home. I use blue painters masking tape and cover all necesary areas near the shower. I also take other measures to keep clients comfortable unknown to my competitors. After I'm done I dispose of all debris. I like to leave the work area cleaner than when I arrived.
- I'm courteous to homeowner and contractor alike calling on the phone when I'm in route to your job and I call immediately if I'm delayed by traffic.
WHERE:
- I work anywhere in San Diego and even farther out into the desert regions.
- My list of clients includes most of the best home builders in San Diego.
- I've worked on many of the most luxurious homes in San Diego County in areas like Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Fairbanks Ranch, La Jolla , Mission Hills, Vista, Oceanside, Scripps Ranch, Escondido, Bonita, Leucadia, La Costa, Encinitas, Poway, Chula Vista and all of the rest of San Diego County.
- We've also worked for UC Berkeley, University of the Pacific and Pt. Loma Nazerene College.