Hello everyone. This is my first ever post, and I need to tell you that I have virtually no handyman skills to speak of. That being said, my wife and I are moving into our new house next week. We love the house, except for the very outdated bathrooms. We have agreed to completely update my bathroom first. First off, the room in question is about the size of a small closet. My friend is going to knock out the wall between the closet and bathroom and expand the bathroom a bit. He has all the knowledge in the world so I am not concerned. What I am concerned about is the shower. It is very old and nasty looking, and I want a new shower stall with a bench in it. The fixtures need to be replaced as well. The idea is to tile the entire shower with some sort of stone tile, something non-slip. That being said, what is the process? Basically I want to make sure I ask my friend (who will be doing the whole bathroom) the right questions to make certain he knows what he is doing! Sorry for being so long winded. Any tips will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
COMMUNITY FORUM
I am guessing you will need to find a book at the library with step by step instructions. Your stone tile's morter may come with instructions, but you need to have the room and walls ready before that. Hardibacker board on the walls may come with some instructions, but won't design a bathroom for you.
Hope your friend is good at measuring and math.
Hope your friend is good at measuring and math.
Rather then put your C of O at risk have you considered a legitimate licensed plumbing contractor (not a franchise guy) and have the new construction be put in under "capitol improvement" so at the very least you documented the work was performed legally and yo have a great tax write off plus add real value to your home.
Suppose your friend gets hurt or destroys something who is carrying the compensation and liability insurance?
Better call your accountant and lawyer
Suppose your friend gets hurt or destroys something who is carrying the compensation and liability insurance?
Better call your accountant and lawyer
I noticed that advice givers often stress calling in a professional local plumber and I agree that they are way better than the 1-800 outfits. However, we have had little luck in getting a plumber to give us an estimate on our bathroom remodel. Even our regular (now former) plumber never returned our phone calls!
Very few of my regular accounts ever ask me how much or any written estimate I just do the job and bill them..
I did one job for 7 hours work I billed out over $10,000 and my account paid it within 4 days and a week later gave me a lot more work in another building.
Of course I have been doing work for these folks for a number of years and its a thing called trust.
They know the quality of my work and also know I do stand behind the installations or repairs.
When any account asks for an estimate I take care of the work scheduled and what or if I have time I get back to them.
Even the law firms I work for know already I charge no less then $2,000 per day not including expenses.
If you call a plumber and they state there will be over with in 10 minutes you have to wonder why they are not booked up?.
Looking at my schedule I have worked scheduled for over three weeks and left some time for an emergency that may pop up for my steady accounts.
Another reason to hire a licensed person is you have recourse if they screw up most localities require the license holder to have insurance.
When a plumber or any contractor for that matter gives you a contract price they have to take in something called a fudge factor allowing for time lost and or defective materials and they have to hide their actual hourly charges.
Franchises in general are known for this kind of thing and have what they call a diagnostic fee and other catch all terms.
I do not have time nor do I want to play these game.
I get a call and take care of the problem and bill accordingly.
I have completed jobs in excess over $100,000 with just a hand shake and no money mentioned prior to my starting the job.
Ever go to a doctor and ask in advance how much?
Ever try to get a straight answer from a lawyer how much a law suit is going to cost you?
Plumbing has a lot of unknowns like which valves are going to hold and which valves may break in the closed position when turned off and how corroded the piping is one is going to connect to.
So you either trust your long time contractor or you don't simple as that.
I called a roofing contractor to rip up the old membrane and install a new roof not once was a price mentioned.
When I bought my last trucks and cars I called the dealer told him the model and color I wanted all over the phone he called me three days later to pick it up.
I have been with this same Connecticut dealer for 8 years and he knows I buy a new car every year or two.
He also knows if he screws me once he just lost the account.
Many contractors do not have the time to give an estimate and the ones who did ask me to give them one I charge for as my time has a value on it and do not have time for price shoppers
I did one job for 7 hours work I billed out over $10,000 and my account paid it within 4 days and a week later gave me a lot more work in another building.
Of course I have been doing work for these folks for a number of years and its a thing called trust.
They know the quality of my work and also know I do stand behind the installations or repairs.
When any account asks for an estimate I take care of the work scheduled and what or if I have time I get back to them.
Even the law firms I work for know already I charge no less then $2,000 per day not including expenses.
If you call a plumber and they state there will be over with in 10 minutes you have to wonder why they are not booked up?.
Looking at my schedule I have worked scheduled for over three weeks and left some time for an emergency that may pop up for my steady accounts.
Another reason to hire a licensed person is you have recourse if they screw up most localities require the license holder to have insurance.
When a plumber or any contractor for that matter gives you a contract price they have to take in something called a fudge factor allowing for time lost and or defective materials and they have to hide their actual hourly charges.
Franchises in general are known for this kind of thing and have what they call a diagnostic fee and other catch all terms.
I do not have time nor do I want to play these game.
I get a call and take care of the problem and bill accordingly.
I have completed jobs in excess over $100,000 with just a hand shake and no money mentioned prior to my starting the job.
Ever go to a doctor and ask in advance how much?
Ever try to get a straight answer from a lawyer how much a law suit is going to cost you?
Plumbing has a lot of unknowns like which valves are going to hold and which valves may break in the closed position when turned off and how corroded the piping is one is going to connect to.
So you either trust your long time contractor or you don't simple as that.
I called a roofing contractor to rip up the old membrane and install a new roof not once was a price mentioned.
When I bought my last trucks and cars I called the dealer told him the model and color I wanted all over the phone he called me three days later to pick it up.
I have been with this same Connecticut dealer for 8 years and he knows I buy a new car every year or two.
He also knows if he screws me once he just lost the account.
Many contractors do not have the time to give an estimate and the ones who did ask me to give them one I charge for as my time has a value on it and do not have time for price shoppers
