Modest Bathroom Rennovation help?

You need a handyman, except the shower base pan thing -- unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean, that's a particularly serious issue in a lot of multifamily buildings, since it has to be perfectly sealed and tied in with the drain piping, or else it has a big effect on your downstairs neighbors.

I would check with the super and see what contractors are doing work in the building already and could do yours as a side job, and/or ask the managing agent if they can list contractors who have done bathrooms for others and weren't a huge pain for the management.

That said, the impulse to gut-renovate is sometimes the right one; tinker with enough little things and you'll find the costs add up and for only a little more money you could have gotten a brand new bathroom. Sounds like you're not there yet but keep an eye on the creeping scope of work...

You need a handyman, except the shower base pan thing -- unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean, that's a particularly serious issue in a lot of multifamily buildings, since it has to be perfectly sealed and tied in with the drain piping, or else it has a big effect on your downstairs neighbors.

I would check with the super and see what contractors are doing work in the building already and could do yours as a side job, and/or ask the managing agent if they can list contractors who have done bathrooms for others and weren't a huge pain for the management.

That said, the impulse to gut-renovate is sometimes the right one; tinker with enough little things and you'll find the costs add up and for only a little more money you could have gotten a brand new bathroom. Sounds like you're not there yet but keep an eye on the creeping scope of work...

Wolfereeno,

If you are changing the lead pan there is a good chance your building will require you to bring all the branch lines back to the riser, if that is the case it would be best if it is a gut renovation. If not you can hire a licensed plumber and find a small contractor to do the other work

Thanks for the replies. Our apt is a duplex. So if the shower leaks, it's leaking on our kitchen! The shower pan is plastic/fiberglass - not even lead with tiles on it so it's not too complicated. I doubt the building will make us reconfigure anything. it's an old brownstone with 8 units. But it was a complete shell renovation in 83. So it's kind of new or at least up to that era's specs. Unfortunately we don't have a super but we have a few handyman types we work with. I think we still need some help designing and choosing things and so far there doesn't seem to be anyone in between the high end places and home depot.

Wolfereeno,

I don't think you need to get a designer to update a bathroom. You should go to showrooms and look online as it seems the only items you are buying is a vanity, sink and light. If you are purchasing more go to a plumbing supply place like Balckman or AF and they will help you

Thx, so far the showrooms (at least the ones that aren't home depot or a hardware store) seem to expect you to have a designer, or contractor, or that they're going to do everything. Any that you recommend that's in NYC? Thx

Go to either Blackman Plumbing or AF supply for vanities and you can go to Nemo tile to look around and see what there displays look like

wolfereeno, I can refer you to an architect who would serve as a designer, but I don't know if the contractors she works with are free for a small job. Would you still be interested? she'd probably charge $200/hr.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

All we want its to re-tile a bathroom, replace the toilet. and paint. The vanity, mirror and light is new. The tile is old and the toilet is old. Not a big job.