Bathroom remodeling survival tips?

[Eeyore1954]

My DW and I finally took the plunge and decided to remodel the master bathroom in our townhouse. Fortunately, we have a 1/2 bath (powder room) downstairs, so we don't have to have a pot-a-potty in our front yard ( ).

Yesterday the workmen came to "demolish" the existing bathroom, so all that's left is a shell. I'm told it could take up to a week and a half to finish all the work.

If you've gone through this experience, do you have some survival tips to share? Thanks!

 

[grinningghost]

We completely gutted our bathroom 2 years ago. DH did all the work himself, so it took a LONG time. I think you're doing it the right way having contractors do the work - at least they'll move it along quicker (or so you hope).

I remember alot of swearing - the contractors probably won't do that as long as you're in the house - that's a plus too.

In the end, our bathroom is the nicest room in the house now.

Good luck!

 

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
[B I'm told it could take up to a week and a half to finish all the work. [/B]

Better add a few days onto that


Is everything you picked out in "stock"?

 

[nana2tots]

I have had the outdoor potty since last friday, still got a few things left, like painting the Beach and Ocean Scene on the walls, God can't wait to get that smelly thing outta here!!!!!!!!!nana2tots P.S. Every1 that has more than one bathroom is so lucky!!!!!!!


Iguess if i gave up our WDWtrips, i might could put in another bath, like Disney 2 much!!!!!!

 

[minniecarousel]

Well - at least you have a toliet! My dear Sis had Expo Design remodel her bathroom & kitchen in her one-bathroom townhome. She was without a toilet for 6MONTHS!! I kid you not - it was ridiculous. She had to move in with our other sister. She was so disgusted with the work and poor timeline (partly her fault for not getting in writing the timeline!) Now that you've had the demolition, I have no suggestions - good luck!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
Better add a few days onto that


Is everything you picked out in "stock"?

But i know better than to expect a contractor to finish this "on time."

I was amazed to come home yesterday and find my garage FULL! Our "old" stuff was there (the contractor didn't have the right truck to haul it away) and the "new" stuff was there, too. Well, except for the floor tile ... they had to pick that up from Home Depot yesterday afternoon.

So, now I can't use our master bathroom OR the garage! What have I gotten myself into???

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just don't use OUR contractor! IT will NEVER get done!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
Well - at least you have a toliet! My dear Sis had Expo Design remodel her bathroom & kitchen in her one-bathroom townhome. She was without a toilet for 6MONTHS!! I kid you not - it was ridiculous. She had to move in with our other sister. She was so disgusted with the work and poor timeline (partly her fault for not getting in writing the timeline!) Now that you've had the demolition, I have no suggestions - good luck!

SIX MONTHS??? And here I thought I was really "roughing" it for a week and a half! (NOT!)

We got a timeline in writing ... actually got a lot of paperwork for this. We spent several months selecting a contractor and finally found one we were comfortable with and who had very good references.

Today they are tearing out some wall to put in new electrical work. They also have to get to our circuit breaker in the garage -- now that's going to be a real trick! They have to add a new circuit for the jacuzzi tub (not a splurge on our part -- the contractor is giving us that for free!). The floor will be heated via a thermostat on the wall -- so no more frozen toes in the middle of a Chicago winter.

I told my DW that once this is finished, we're going to want to LIVE in the bathroom!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You'll love the warm floor! We decided on in floor radiant heat for the whole house for our log home, and just for kicks, we ran cold water through it yesterday, and it did make the house a bit cooler too. We do have central air though too.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We gutted both of our bathrooms at the same time. We moved in with my mother with a 5, 7 and 2 1/2 week old! It took our contractor 7 weeks.

Lori

 

[Eeyore1954]

7 weeks! I am not getting a good feeling about this.

The workers are there today ... putting in a new sub-floor and the electrician is supposed to come in to do some wiring work.

I need a smilie that has it's fingers crossed for luck. There's this funny feeling we've embarked on an adventure that may not go as planned.

 

[FroggyinArk]

hi steve,, how ab out a lil encourage ment from a home repair remodeling expert with 20 yrs experience?

move.


pack up get a truck,, move


ok noe thatr your hyperventilatin gand scared,, i feel very confident based on what you have listed as being done thast about 2 weeks is a good and fair timeline, bravo on wroiten contract. if it goies over the writen tie line, dont be surprised if the contractor offers you a compernsation. if we go over the labor is at no charge, after the initial labor contract expires, unless the overage is due to additrtions, changes, or un foreseen chalanges( bug damage, water damage ) that were out of site when initial contract was made, if a change, etc comes up, get the addittional cost in writing, keep in mind that there are delays that cannot be foreseen, like the afternoon storm drops power for three hours, its raining on the day they plan to float rock, or paint and it wont dry, something got shipped w rong, and was in wrong box ( amazing how often we find the dood, cabinet, what ever was in the box and is pictured, isnt the same when it gets unpacked and ready to i nstall. we once had a white french door unit delivered from 65 miles away,, it showed up brown vynal,, lost half aday getting correct delivery,,( the guy who ordered the brown had my white ) he was about 50 miles the other way ) as long as you are understanding and willing to see it go a few extra days on unforseeen delays, a 2 weewk bathroom gut and replace is very possible very fair time line and should be a very happy customer.

best of luck. feel free to contact me if you see anything contractor is doing that seems questionable, will to best of my ability try and put it into laymans terms

Jeff

 

[Az Pirates]

It will be so worth it when you're done!

Ours took about 2 weeks - I really hated coming in the door and looking up to the secong floor landing and seeing the toilet sitting there the whole time.

It was worth it - we loved the jacuzzi tub. Too bad we had a job change and had to sell that house just a few months after all the work was done - I bet it got us a higher price though.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Jeff --

I think I can "tough" it out for a couple of weeks. The contractor is replacing the sub-floor today and the electrician is working on additional wiring and circuitry needed for the new jacuzzi, radiant heating for the floor and an additional outlet. Fortunately, our "master" bath is not that big -- we live in a townhouse after all.

Thanks for the advice; it is appreciated. I am hopeful they will not run into anything unexpected. We had them in the house several times before they started to examine, measure, and check everything.

 

[Desnik]

My DH is a contracter with his own home improvement business. This is something he does on the side, his real job is working at Verizon. Anyway, he has gutted many bathrooms. 2 were our own and soon he will start our bathroom in this house before we sell it. With his partner, they gutted a bathroom in 5 days. I mean they had demo'd it to the studs! New sheetrock, the wainscotting, pergo floors, double sink(was single)new electric, extra outlets, new tub, toilet, you get the idea. They painted it as well. When they take on a job they do one at a time. They finish what they started, no we'll be back in a few weeks to finish cause we have another job! He hears so many horror stories of what some contractors do. His clients are pleasantly surprised at how professional, honest and talented they are! It is really hard to find someone trustworthy. Just make sure you get everything in writing. It really shouldn't take that long if what you ordered is in stock.

I have lived through a whole house demo with a 5yo and 1 month old. We had to live with my mom for 2 months. It was really tough but, worth it in the end.

This bathroom that we will be doing soon is our only full bath. So, we will have a potty, but will have to take a shower at my moms. The big plus is DH and his partner will have it done in no more than 3 days!

Good luck!

 

[minniecarousel]

When my brother had his beautiful old house in San Jose remodeled (quite a task - to keep the old "flavor" of the building), he and his wife had to shower at the gum. He said it was the best shape he's ever been in! They added an upper floor & remodeled their exsisting bathroom. It took many months! (they showered at our house on Thanksgiving & Christmas that year!)

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Steve, when I said 7 weeks I should have given some more info. We had extensive water damage between our 2 full baths connecting wall. We could see the NC red clay under our floor boards after they torn everything out. We had floor joists replaced under the house. We also put in a new tub in one of the baths.

This was all being paid for by the insurance co. of a contractor that didn't solder our plumbing correctly! We unknowly were spraying the inside of our wall for 8 months everytime we took a shower. So there was a lot of talking back and forth between our general contractor and the insurance adjuster.

Hopefully, you won't be inconvenienced for very long. It was ssssoooooooooo worth the wait.

Lori

 

[bballmom56]

Good luck, Steve! We are doing the same thing when we return from our trip. We have 2 other bathrooms, so that shouldn't be a problem. The heated floor sounds WONDERFUL! I haven't used our master bath in about 8 years because it is built over the garage which had doors that leaked cold air terribly, so the bathroom was always freezing in the winter.

Since then we put in insulated garage doors and that helped. We are putting a heat lamp in the re-modeled bathroom, but I really love the heated floor idea. Hmmmmmm, I may have to contact the contractor!

 

[Celluloidgal]

Repeat this mantra:
"It will be done soon, and be the best room in the house...It will be done soon, and be the best room in the house..."

 

[Eeyore1954]

Lori -- (breathing a HUGE SIGH of relief) -- Thanks! I think the worst part of our's is replacing the sub-floor. We had some minor flooding thanks to a toilet that kept running. I was afraid they would find some water damage after removing our old tub/shower, but the walls there are fine. (PHEW!)

This is my 1st remodeling experience with a contractor -- I've heard so many horror stories it took a long time to build up some courage to do this. But, so far, so good.