Home Remodel Suggestions

[JCity]

Bumping this. We are looking at remodeling an existing walk-in shower (tile that is a PITA to keep clean plus its older) in our master along with a tub to standing shower conversion in our master bath. I've done quite a bit of research except for bringing potential contractors in to look at it and give formal quotes. A few questions:

1. Has anyone done this on their own? I've flipped houses in the past and am semi-handy but don't have a lot of free time. I'd prefer hiring but some of the initial online estimates say it could be $5k+ which seems insane.

2. Any recommendations in the Des Moines area?

3. Anyone done something similar and have a real cost?

Having recently got some quotes (in Omaha) on a bathroom job I'd say $5k is probably on the low end.

 

[State2015]

SIAP, but has anyone recently added a heated floor to their bathroom? Any idea how much that costs? Our master isn't huge, big enough for his/hers sinks, a bathtub, toilet, and shower.

 

[SCNCY]

Bumping this. We are looking at remodeling an existing walk-in shower (tile that is a PITA to keep clean plus its older) in our master along with a tub to standing shower conversion in our master bath. I've done quite a bit of research except for bringing potential contractors in to look at it and give formal quotes. A few questions:

1. Has anyone done this on their own? I've flipped houses in the past and am semi-handy but don't have a lot of free time. I'd prefer hiring but some of the initial online estimates say it could be $5k+ which seems insane.

2. Any recommendations in the Des Moines area?

3. Anyone done something similar and have a real cost?

One thing you can consider is subbing out parts of the work. I did this for my house in Kansas City back in 2018. As a reference, my house had a dining room and kitchen right next to eachother, with the dining room having a closet for the washer and dryer, and the kitchen had the furnace in a closet in the corner. We essentially flipped the two so that as the dinning room had more space, so would have a nicer kitchen. It also helped that each side had plumbing and gas in the area for us to use.

Things my dad, Girlfriend (now wife), and I did.
- Demolition
- Electrical work
- Plumbing work
- Took out the patio door and put in a normal door (this included framing the space left by the patio door and installing the new vinyl siding.
- Installed new lights
- Installed new door from house to garage
- Paint
- Installed kitchen Cabinets and Appliances

Things I subbed out
- Countertops
- Tile floor
- Drywall installation and finishing

 

[cycloneworld]

Having recently got some quotes (in Omaha) on a bathroom job I'd say $5k is probably on the low end.

For a full gut, yes. I was considering something like a Re-Bath or equivalent which should (?) be more cost effective.

 

[Pope]

Installed a lighted mirror in one of our bathrooms and really like how it turned out.

 

[Pope]

Converted a small, rarely used bedroom to a WFH office/bedroom by building a Murphy bed with shelves and a fold out desk. Total cost was about $700 for lumber and hardware. Wished I'd done this a long time ago!

 

[clone4life82]

Bumping this. We are looking at remodeling an existing walk-in shower (tile that is a PITA to keep clean plus its older) in our master along with a tub to standing shower conversion in our master bath. I've done quite a bit of research except for bringing potential contractors in to look at it and give formal quotes. A few questions:

1. Has anyone done this on their own? I've flipped houses in the past and am semi-handy but don't have a lot of free time. I'd prefer hiring but some of the initial online estimates say it could be $5k+ which seems insane.

2. Any recommendations in the Des Moines area?

3. Anyone done something similar and have a real cost?

5k if you’re lucky

 

[JM4CY]

Converted a small, rarely used bedroom to a WFH office/bedroom by building a Murphy bed with shelves and a fold out desk. Total cost was about $700 for lumber and hardware. Wished I'd done this a long time ago!

Gotta Murphy bed in there?

 

[CYEATHAWK]

For a full gut, yes. I was considering something like a Re-Bath or equivalent which should (?) be more cost effective.

It has been a few years ago, but I remember Re-Bath being more expensive. I gave a quote to do 2 baths (tear out, put back together in slate and travertine) and their bid was more than mine. Customer went with neither.....had a bunch of friends kids throw in some cheap Menards crap. But I remember the customer saying that even though it was more expensive she liked the pitch from Re-Bath that they could do it in one day. Something I could not promise.

Like I said that's been a few years back, so maybe with labor prices going through the roof on everything it might not be true anymore. Check it out.

 

[cyfan92]

Keep saving cash and wait 2 years for recession to be going full steam. Labor plentiful. Supply chain almost back to normal. Prices down. Done.

This is starting to come true, but not back to 2019 levels