Help! I am beginning the process of remodeling a bathroom and am overwhelmed already.

[llmart]

Some people are telling me to just get a construction company to handle all the details, but I'm finding that's going to be more than I want to spend. This is an 8' x 8.5' bath off my master bedroom. Everything must go! I hate the entire bathroom which is done in all of those dated 3" white tiles - on the floor, in the shower, on the shower walls and floor and ceiling. It's very institutional looking. This is a shower only bath which is fine. But everything seems to be crammed in. There's a large linen closet that's extremely deep that I want entirely removed to enlarge the space a bit and maybe be able to move the shower down a bit. I have no need for a large linen closet in my bathroom as I have a linen closet right outside the door and I'm a bit of a minimalist.

Some of my neighbors have told me to just contract with the few people I'll need such as plumber, tiler, electrician; pick out and purchase my own vanity, sink with countertop, faucet, shower fixtures and toilet, etc. I have a painter that I would definitely use once everything else is done and I also have an electrician who's very good.

My biggest question is, this seems like most of the room needs to be taken down to the studs except for one wall that has nothing on it and I'm OK with. Who do I get to do that chore? Any steps I should take and in what order? As I said, I'm getting overwhelmed already!

[brush]

1. Get recommendations from friends, co-workers, church friends etc...

who've had work done and are pleased with it. You can save money by buying the vanity, sink, toilet, shower head, light fixtures, tile etc. yourself (save all receipts in case you have to take something back). Make sure you get enough tile because if you have to get more you might not be able to match it. Haul home what you can and have the rest delivered.

Then call the contractor. You'll already be ahead because you'll have saved all the up-charges he/she would've added on to purchasing all the materials for you. Then haggle with him/her over the total cost. Once he/she gives you the estimate, ask if they can do better as you've already spent so much on materials. They'll come down, you come up a little. If they don't come down at all, call the next guy as you should get at least three estimates anyway.

Also make sure they have licenses and can get city/county approval if needed.

[leighbythesea2]

6. Second this

Ive been remodeling a 100 year old farmhouse for 4.5 years now. Had some budget. Also saved money with good people we found and my husband doing quite a lot or assisting. Or what he could himself. I've assisted.
My best results have come from asking neighbors, friends, coworkers etc for recommendations, and then being thorough researching them.

[llmart]

11. Thank you.

I did get a few recommendations from a couple people and I will call them. I have a painter and an electrician I trust, so that's a start.

I like your recommendation to purchase the stuff myself. I have a very large garage that I've completely cleaned and repainted and since I'm a minimalist by nature, I have next to nothing in it but my compact car which could easily sit out in my driveway if I had to, especially during spring and summer months. That way I could store this stuff in my garage without any problem. I've been looking online for almost a year now on and off and have lots of bookmarks of things I like and that have good reviews from others. I also have a list of what I need to be of very good quality and what I can live with about mid-range quality. For instance, I want a quality vanity not some big box store pressed wood one but I would be fine with buying a mirror from Wayfair or a light fixture from Lowes.

[marble falls]

2. Yipe. How much behind you all the way is your partner?

[llmart]

9. I don't have a partner.

I live alone and I'm 72 years old. I've done so many home improvement projects myself since I've moved into my house nine years ago and this is one I just don't want to do myself. I'm glad I learned how to do the things I did learn how to do (thank you YouTube), but some of it I'd never want to do again. I'm fairly handy for a woman but I certainly don't want to tear down a wall or tear out a shower stall.

[marble falls]

12. You are intrepid! I've seen partnerships disolve after happy decades over home improvement ...

... I think you have what it takes. Your first concern is wiring and plumbing. Your next concern is skinning the studs remembering to account for sockets, plumbing stubs, tile and tub/shower.

I think you got this under control.

[llmart]

13. Thank you. I've been called that before.

And yes, I can be intrepid and I have an incredible amount of perseverance.

My partnership dissolved after decades but not over home improvement.

Now I have to go Google what "skinning the studs" means.

[leftieNanner]

3. We did our bathroom last year.

I'm not a capable diy person.

I purchased a vanity from Costco. Hired a tile guy who was EXCELLENT! Hired a plumber. Chose builder grade tile that is beautiful. And found a contractor who did the details.

You can do it!

[msongs]

4. if u get bids make sure the costs are itemized for each component nt

[llmart]

14. Got my first bid today.

They wanted at the very least $27K to completely gut a 8' x 8.7' bath. Then new tile, vanity/sink, toilet, fixtures. They don't break it down to the cost of each item. I did ask per your suggestion. This was a company right down the street from me that specializes in just kitchens and baths and I had heard that they tend to be expensive. The project had way too many steps as far as I was concerned, starting with the designer who would do a CAD drawing and plans, blah, blah, blah. How many different ways can you place a toilet, sink and shower stall in a square bathroom?

I went into this first bid knowing they would be more than I was willing to pay, but at least I learned a few things.

[rickford66]

5. Imagine how it will look when it's done.

Then, imagine taking it apart, a piece at a time and you'll know how it should be done. That's how I built my house. Disclosure: I have been an electrician, worked construction and took a little architecture, but I still find it better to think in reverse to be able to predict problems and decide materials etc.

[llmart]

15. I'm starting to think I should just get someone to gut the bathroom first.

Then do the framing (I learned that term today). Then after that I would only need plumber, electrician, tiler and wherever I purchase the vanity/countertop would do the install. I have a painter who I've used for many of my other rooms and he's amazing so I'd have him finish it all by painting. Does that sound feasible to you or am I missing something?

[rickford66]

16. Whatever you're comfortable with.

Since you're only going to do the framing, make sure you don't interfere with where the plumbing and electrical need to go. In this day and age I wouldn't use nails. Use screws for a couple reasons. Easier than pounding away and messing up how your studs are aligned Also, screws can be removed if there's an error. Good luck.

[llmart]

17. I'm sorry. I think I gave you the impression I was actually going to do the work.

I meant that instead of hiring one company to do everything, I'd just find a contractor to gut and frame and then get the other tradesmen that I've used for other things to "do their thing". I have no problem purchasing what I need myself and storing it in my garage until needed.

[Demsrule86]

19. Ask you painter if he knows anyone good who does bathrooms...

But your plan sounds good.

[llmart]

20. Thank you.

I actually did that and he recommended two different people. I'm meeting with them today. In the meantime I've been reading a lot of comments from people online about their remodels and things to stay away from or do and why.

[Demsrule86]

23. I had a great experience with my remodel...redid a very large house that had been

last decorated in 1970. Ripped out orange carpet, tore down paneling, laid wooden floor all over the house...they loved their carpets in the 70's. The House was remarkable for it's time built by a husband and wife doctor couple...they had two fireplaces, one was in the huge master and the master had a balcony for morning coffee. Walk in cedar closets in three of the 5 bedrooms...and it had a circular staircase. I was my favorite house...but at 4000 square feet, once the kids left and my sister had to to the home as her health was failing, it was just too big! I redid the kitchen completely too...it was great for baking and pretty...lots of storage...ah well I digress. Good luck with hour project.

[llmart]

26. "they loved their carpets in the 70's."

We sure did! We bought out first house in 1974 - a long sprawling ranch on a beautiful half-acre lot loaded with native hardwood trees. I can't remember how old the house was but I'm quite sure it was built in the 60's. Tiny kitchen by today's standards and yet I turned out so many dinners for dinner parties and holidays and 20 people. I shake my head at the women today who have these massive, hugely expensive kitchens and mostly they eat take out, go to restaurants, order pizza delivered, etc.

Back to carpeting, the house had all hardwood floors but they were all covered with carpeting. Even the master bathroom had carpet! I thought it was great at first but now I think, ewww... carpeting in the bathroom?

I grew up in a very large family (seven kids and two parents) in a rental house that was about 900 square feet - not all of which was heated. When I married and we bought that first house I truly thought I'd died and went to heaven. I had no idea how to buy a house or what to look for since my parents never owned a house, but I didn't care or worry about any of it. I just wanted to own a home and raise a family there. The house cost us $45,000. The basement was huge with five separate rooms. It was great for kids and we put indoor/outdoor carpeting in the family room area which had paneling. Paneling was about as ubiquitous as carpeting in the 70's.

[Demsrule86]

31. It sounds lovely. And buying a house in the 70's with interest rates what they were was

a big accomplishment and one had to put a 20% down payment...my Mom and Dad told bought their first house a couple of years before you guys did and paid 36,000 in Connecticut. Can you imagine? I used to be so jealous of the increases in the value of these houses purchased back then.

You know taste change...my Mom covered all the hardwoods with carpeting until the day she died. And she had paneling too. I saw a program where the buyers were laughing at the outdated early 2000 kitchen. And I had to laugh. It looked fine to me.

[llmart]

35. I have always been proud of how we managed to save for that first house.

I was determined to own a home and I saved every extra dollar and penny. I had a budget, very little to work with but I did it. I can still remember the exact monthly expenses, because I wrote every penny down that we spent. It was always just the basics of living that we spent on and nothing else. Anything that was even remotely "extra" went into a passbook savings account. When we bought that house we had $17,000 in that savings account and I said we'd put $15,000 down and save the other $2,000 to buy a washer and dryer and a refrigerator. Back then, sellers didn't leave those items for you like they mostly do now. The house was $45,000, so we actually put down more than 20%. I was 24 years old with a 3 year old and another baby on the way. We had a handful of used furniture to move into that house but I always said the furniture could come later. We'd been married five years at the time we bought our house.

When I see those couples on TV I want to reach through the screen and throttle them with their comments about, "Oh, I can't stand that color" or "Ewww, the kitchen is from the 90's."

[Blue Owl]

7. Google and watch YouTube videos of each step

Break it down into individual steps so it’s not so overwhelming...

[Luciferous]

8. I have learned how to do so many DIY projects just watching

YouTube videos! I also love watching This Old House because unlike the shows on HGTV, they actually show you how to do the projects. As far as major projects, I've completely remodeled a kitchen, four bathrooms, replaced all of the flooring in two of my houses, replaced all of the doors in my house, and built bookshelves for my family room.

[llmart]

10. Yes, I have also.

They truly are helpful. I wouldn't have tackled some of what I've already done without them.

[Demsrule86]

24. Wow, I am extremely impressed. I have done some things but had a contractor for much of

what you did yourself...well done!

[Luciferous]

25. Thanks 🙂 our first house was a foreclosure

and we didn't have a lot of money, so it was more out of necessity. Then I found out I was pretty good at it and I don't like paying people to do stuff I am perfectly capable of doing myself lol

There are some things I won't do, like major electrical work or anything involving gas. I leave the potentially dangerous stuff to the professionals.

[Demsrule86]

32. That makes sense. I have done plumbing recently when hubs was out of work and we had a blockage

under the basement floor...we reran the pipes along the wall and getting the right incline was tricky but it worked ...saved thousands I imagine. It was the drainpipe in the kitchen...the new plumbing stuff you don't have to sweat pipes anymore...works so well.

[Luciferous]

37. Plumbing can be a bit tricky when you are dealing with slopes. When I redid

our walk-in shower in our first house I built a mortar bed for the shower floor and most of the time I spent was making sure the slope was right so the water would drain properly.

I'm sure you saved a lot of money doing it yourselves, so much of plumbing is in the labor cost.

[Demsrule86]

34. You are very talented!

[Luciferous]

36. Aw, thanks! People are always surprised that I do all of this stuff

myself, but a lot of it comes down to being cheap lol

When I remodeled our kitchen I ordered ready to assemble cabinets, then put them together myself. This saved us a lot of money, and I got cabinets that were better quality than you get at the big box store. The entire remodel cost me about 10k and that was including new stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors. If I had paid someone to do it I probably would've spent 4-5 times as much.

[Demsrule86]

18. Find a handyman (or woman) who does side jobs. I have always found someone like that where ever

I lived. You find them by word of mouth or small adds...The one that works for me now is also a friend after 13 years...he has remodeled two kitchens and four bathrooms...painted, plastered took down paneling...plumbing. He has installed a number of stoves, fixed the electricity after the county mandated electrician screwed it up...He saved me a bundle by rerunning my water pipes when I got a clog under the basement cement. The plumber who came out want to put in some sort pump system buy my guy managed to get the proper angle running the pipes along the wall above the cement...saved thousands. Look for a local guy and ask for references. Also, I redid a small bathroom by myself when I was really broke on year and it really wasn't that bad. I took it one step at a time.

[llmart]

21. I have used a handyman just recently that was recommended by people in my neighborhood.

He did a few small things for me, but I liked him a lot and I need to see if he's capable of doing some of the bigger things. He did say that he would always tell me if he didn't think he could do something and I believe him.

On a side note, one of the things I do is research anyone I'm thinking of using online (mostly Facebook) but also to see if they have a valid contractor's license. If I see anti-Democratic anti-Biden posts on their Facebook page (and I did see some like that) they get the heave ho and no phone call.

[Demsrule86]

22. I don't discuss politics with folks in general...so I didn't know my friends politic when I

I first hired him, but he is a great guy and a Democrat...we both hate Trump. He is really talented. He is helping me get the Austintown house ready for sale. He did the Cortland one too...no more moving after this.

[llmart]

27. I see you're a Buckeye.

I haven't lived in Ohio for almost 40 years, but I'm somewhat familiar with your area.

[Demsrule86]

29. I missed this somehow...yup, I live in Ohio. I really like it actually. We have lived in

Cortland and then moved to Bedford...near Cleveland for a job then to Austintown for a job...and now back to Cleveland guess why? yup for a job. This one seems really good though. Hubs hates commuting and as I will resume substitute teaching in the fall, I can live anywhere. We had a house in Austintown which I am selling and one in Bedford. The kids needed a place to live when we left Cortland as they were attending YSU so we bought a HUD house and fixed it up. I am knee-deep in plaster and paint which is how I keep missing posts! Where are you now?

[llmart]

30. I'm in a NE suburb of Detroit.

Lived in North Carolina for ten years prior to this.

With age comes wisdom and what I've learned from living in different states is that you just can't paint a state in broad brushstrokes. There's good weather and bad weather in most states (or maybe some states just have boring weather), good people and bad people everywhere, good schools and bad schools, etc. etc. You just have to find a place where you can meet like minded folks.

I swore I'd never move to the South and yet looking back, it was the best experience in many ways. I got to see so many of the southern states both through work and vacations. When I left NC to move to Michigan, I couldn't get away from the rednecks fast enough, only to find out there are plenty of them here in the northern part of the state.

What I miss most about NC is the geography of the place. It has so much to offer in that respect.

[Demsrule86]

33. There are rednecks everywhere. NC is a lovely state I have spent much time there at the beach both

as a child and an adult... the outer banks is wonderful. I like Detroit. My daughter was there recently and was very impressed at the comeback of Detroit. Michigan is a great state. Every state has good and bad people, Democrats and Republicans...I hate to see some who live in New York or wherever paint the Mid West as all Trump supporters and GOP types. It is not true. Ohio has much to offer as does Michigan...affordable housing, first-class universities, and public schools, wonderful museums, and the theater is rivaled only by New York. We were on course to be bigger than New York at Playhouse Square until the pandemic shut it all down. And of course, we have the lake which I love.

[Hotler]

38. You can strip the wall and ceiling yourself. Get yourself one of these

and go to town. Get a Waste management Bagster at Home Depot for the scrap. Wear gloves and safety glasses
https://www.vaughanmfg.com/Products/B215-Superbar-15__45001.aspx.

The pry bars are super handy to have around.