I'm scared-my husband wants to have the bathroom remodeled

[The empressof all]

Now you would think this is a good thing and in many ways it is. However, neither of us know anything about doing this. Although he wouldn't attempt to do the work himself he still thinks he knows how to go about doing this through contracting with others.

I'm of the impression we should have a plan before we move ahead-not just having a chat with a "guy" about what it is that he thinks we want.

I think I may be heading into divorce court or worse yet, life without plumbing.

Has anyone out there remodeled a bathroom? How did you do it and what was it like?

[shraby]

1. My husband and I did.

We didn't know much about it either but the floor was getting bad under and around the tub. We tore everything out and played it by ear. Put the floor down, hooked up a new surround around tub, new sink, stool, caulked what needed to be caulked, put down new linoleum and got what I call "pretty board" for the walls. It's a covered board that is water proof. Doesn't look too bad if I do say so myself.

[Bunny]

2. Flush toilets must come before all else.

Divorce him if need be.

;)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Not necessarily

We have a composting toilet, but then we live in the country.

I would strongly suggest you plan plan plan before you do anything. Get Bathroom Redo books from the library for ideas. If you have the funds, get a planning program like the home planner from Punch, which lets you plan out the room, add commode/sink/shower/tub/closets and figure out what size/layout works best. You can even use it to figure out the cost of pipes and electrical wires.

[readmylips]

4. This is funny..sorry..

When I want anything done in the house, I arrange a two week vacation for my husband to spend with his grand daughters, 3000 miles away. When he returns everything is done. He bitches 'cause he didn't get to do it. He's pretty good at fixing things around the house, but God all-Mighty, he's a perfectionist and never finishes. We still have about five projects unfinished, and he's getting ready to go on a vacation. Goody..Goody.

[ezee]

5. The Very first thing

to do is develop a plan. Don't even think about starting without it. This will save your life and your marriage. Trust me, I remodeled bathrooms and kitchens for 15yrs.
Take your hubby to the "home improvement" store in your area. check out all the latest and greatest ideas out there. Look at lots of mags to get ideas about what you want. Draw out a plan. decide on what type of fixtures you want. They can be very expensive. Then call the contractor guy. If hes worth his salt he should be able to advise you. Drop me a pm if you want more advise"

[The empressof all]

7. Yes this is what I think.

We are actually wanting to turn a huge bathroom into two bathrooms. It's going to involve building walls, cutting doors, and sheet rocking up a current door.

It makes it doubly hard for me because I can't visualize anything and need to have it laid out on paper in order to be able to imagine how anything will look.

I don't have a clue how he thinks he's gonna put a wall up and fit a new shower in there too. I don't even want to look at stuff to buy until I see how the rooms will be laid out.

I have a feeling I'm going to be very very agitated over the next few months

[amazona]

6. we did it and it looks terrific

It wasn't enough work to make it worth going through a contractor but my partner is very handy. I was in charge of the creative stuff like picking colors and also the painting. I love painting, especially sponge painting. He did the heavy work like installing the new toilet, new vanity, new tiles, etc. It was quite inexpensive and looks like a million. The tiles are a matte green, while the trim is cream and the walls are forest green sponged over cream. A friend cut us a new mirror framed in a brassy gold that looks really great.

The folks at Home Depot are happy to explain how to do something if you don't know how to do it. We were also able to rent a pro saw for cutting the tiles and then return it the next day -- it was cheaper than buying a saw and was of a quality to make the work go a lot faster.

[NNadir]

8. I used to remodel bathrooms for a living. Be scared, very scared.

Just kidding...

[fortyfeetunder]

9. I feel your fear

I need both my upstairs bathrooms done!!!

[Gogi]

10. Please no 'chat with the guy'!!!!!!!

HAVE A PLAN! My parents built a new house and the plumber did it his way. A joint was'nt sweated right and now they have a water damaged wall. If the plumbing had been done my father's way this would'nt have happened.So,have a plan and supervise!

[HEyHEY]

11. Make it into a sauna/bathroom

[skygazer]

12. Plumbing can be tricky

I am fortunately living with a man who does kitchen and bath remodels for a living. He did our bathroom and its beautiful.

It can be done on your own but a basic knowledge of construction technique and some plumbing knowledge is key.

You can learn a lot from books and places like Lowe's often have workshops that teach quite a lot. They will also do the work for you and from what I understand, its fairly reasonable.

The difference is between having a job that looks professional and a job that looks like someone who wasn't quite sure what they were doing did it. Not bad but not great.

I'd spring for the pro.

[politicat]

13. duped

silly system....

[politicat]

14. Two of them, and have worked on 3 others....

1st Question: Is this your only bathroom?? If so, then figure in X money for going on vacation, renting a hotel room, or similar while it's in progress. You can have a portapotty delivered (as long as your HOA allows it) but there's no such thing as a porta-shower, and it's going to be getting cold soon.

Here are the pictures of the "Finished" products of our labors:
http://home.ricochet.com/sikity/Masterbath.html
http://home.ricochet.com/sikity/MainBathLaundry.html

We did them one at a time, replacing bathtubs, cabinets and sinks, flooring, and wall coverings. (The ex wife painted the bathrooms - and the cabinets - navy. Don't ask me why.) We also replaced one of the two toilets.

It took us about 3 years to do all of the work, but we did it ourselves, on weekends and didn't actually live in the house while we were working on it for a couple of years.

As it happens, we gutted and remodeled that house entirely. Here's the link for the main page, if you're interested. http://home.ricochet.com/sikity/3060ForSale.html
And no, it's not for sale... well, maybe....

Pcat

[The empressof all]

15. Very Beautiful

I love the doors to your Master and I love the garden tub.

SO is not handy at all (he's really kind of a mess with all that stuff) I grew up with a Dad who could build or fix anything so I have absorbed alot but I hate doing it so I won't.

I just would like to have a plan and get at least all the fixtures done and useable as quickly as possible so it won't disrupt our lives too much.

[politicat]

20. Thank you for the praise!

In that case, dear wubette.... get a real contractor, a real designer and plan to spend a few grand.

It's not going to be easy for you two to do that.

Pcat

[sandnsea]

16. Ask your friends

And construction workers, the actual workers. They know alot about the contractors and their standards. I'd do that before I trusted anybody to do anything!!

[miss_kitty]

17. yeah i was going to say what sandnsea says

talk to people who have hired people, and if they are happy with the work, ask who did it. get estimates for the work. get two or three people to bid the job.
if you don't know anyone who can give you a referral, call only licensed bonded and insured contractors-at least licensed and insured. check on their licenses with the state. find out how to check on the insurance. Ask them for referrals to jobs you can go check out. If you don't like what you see, don't hire them.
good luck. :)

[sandnsea]

18. Except in Seattle

Then hire somebody from Oregon! ;)

[miss_kitty]

19. Yeah they're terrible here

no laws for contractors, and the best contractor in town has to be told which end of the hammer to hold-constantly! I tell ya! :D

(Thanks, sandnsea :hi:)