| Author |
Message |
    
SN
Citizen
Username: Snoland
Post Number: 25
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 8:30 am: | 
|
We're embarking on renovating our bathroom. We have to completely gut it out. We've got a quote from RGH (HUME), K. Hoeler, and we're thinking about Finishing Touches and Jarek, based on threads we've read. Anyone want to add their two cents on those companies and what they've learned throughout the process? And if you love, love, LOVE your bathroom contractor, please PL me and let me know which one and why.
Thanks so much,
Shari |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1229
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 9:19 am: |
|
We used Hume, who did a fantastic job (also a gut).
The one thing I learned and highly recommend is to hire a designer/decorator. Their fees are pretty much offset by the trade discounts they get for you.
In our case, the designer had worked with Hume previously so they had a rapport and could talk over the details, bringing me in for just the decision-making. She also worked out the logistics of ordering and delivery, and if there was an issue regarding an out of stock item, she was the one to do the legwork in terms of alternatives.
In all, I got exactly the bathroom I had envisioned, but I could not have made it happen on my own.
Good luck. And think about planning a trip about four weeks into it. Construction will run long, and after a month you'll be ready to pull your hair out.
|
AdamMosk
Citizen
Username: Adammosk
Post Number: 51
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:40 pm: |
|
We just finished our bathroom project (also a total gut). We used Bill Rega (908-296-1415). He did a wonderful job and was a pleasure to work with. He produced a very high quality end result (and we are tough critics). I highly recommend him and will use him again in the future. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 461
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 7:29 am: |
|
Lessons learned:
Triple the amount of time expected
Be very specific about every detail
Shop around for fixtures prices very dramatically
If you change your mind midstream, address it. Putting it off will only make it permanent, and you've got to live with the results.
Remove as much furniture/clothes from surrounding rooms as possible. There will be oodles of dust.
Good luck! |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 260
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:34 pm: |
|
I just used Bench Mark Interiors. Looooove my bathroom! Ned can be reached at 862-368-3154 |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 261
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:39 pm: |
|
Also, don't cheap out on the faucet and stuff--we got Price Pfister because it looked great for the price, but the shower was not such a good contraption- has a mushy handle. I recommend not getting any fixtures from a Lowes or Home Depot, because the package you get from them might include inferior parts compared with online or from a better bathroom showroom. Well, that's what I've heard, and that's where we got our shower body. |
lizzyr
Citizen
Username: Lizzyr
Post Number: 235
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:23 pm: |
|
make sure you see the work of whomever is going to do the tile work. sloppy tile work can ruin the look of any bath. we rejected one contractor (who came highly recommended), as we found the tile work sub-par. |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 400
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:50 pm: |
|
We shopped a lot of showrooms to pick out what we wanted, but bought most things on-line for a good deal less(though we did buy a few things in Maplewood out of loyalty to the town). For example, faucet.com has lots of what you will need, and I believe shipping is free if you order enough. We had absolutely no problems doing this, and saved a lot by not having our contractor make all our purchases. |
jeb
Citizen
Username: Jeb
Post Number: 102
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 6:17 pm: |
|
just because a shower looks good does not mean it is well constructed. if pvc was used over the curb were dam corners also used? if cement board was used on the walls was it buried in the mud ( should not be ). is there a preslope beneath the pvc? is the floor sturdy enough for tile?
steam showers are another story altogether. |
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 314
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:48 pm: |
|
If you have 75 year old galvanized pipes, dig them out. They are ready to go. |
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 147
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:03 pm: |
|
Any mortar bed that I've done always had the side walls below the top of the mortar bed.How do you think its suppose to be done,Jeb? |
Flik Chik
Citizen
Username: Flikchik
Post Number: 184
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:03 pm: |
|
Look at the John Bridge forum for how to make mud showers and more importantly shower niches
http://johnbridge.com/serv02.htm |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2568
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:20 pm: |
|
Don't stop and take a break half way through, I still haven't finished my bathroom.... |
jeb
Citizen
Username: Jeb
Post Number: 103
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:54 pm: |
|
you dont want the side walls embedded in the mortar because the material can wick water. i dont use pvc to waterproof my showers. i primarily use schulter products although there are others out there.
yes, please check out johnbridge.com. i have been viewing the site for years now. i have attended ceramic tile education classes as well as various seminars on building bathrooms. it is surprising how many "pros" get it wrong... |
MKH
Citizen
Username: Mkh
Post Number: 52
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 4:10 pm: |
|
RGH (Bob Hume) just finished a bathroom renovation (total gutting, moving fixtures & plumbing . . .) at our house and we couldn't be happier. Excellent attention to detail, beautiful tile work, and the guys were friendly, polite, and easy to have around, relatively speaking (although it was difficult having our house turned into a construction site for such a long time. It really started to wear on us by the end). I also agree with Smarty - remove as much as you can from surrounding rooms. When you see the dust flying, you'll be comforted knowing it's not landing on anything that would be difficult or impossible to clean. We did not use a designer, and I was surprised at how much time and energy it took to choose, coordinate, and gather all of the materials we wanted to use. All in all, a draining process but worth it in the end. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 384
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 12:46 am: |
|
Ditto on the, cough cough, dust. Achoo!
We're in the middle of a bathroom redo right now. Megna Tile. So far, so good.
J.B. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2349
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 10:08 am: |
|
Double ditto on the dust. We're about 3/4 of the way through a kitchen and bath renovation and I'm ready to throw in the towel on the dust factor. They put plastic up but it doesn't matter, sheetrock dust gets everywhere. I get home from work, change and start vacuming. I even bought a new canister vac prior to renovation and its hard to keep up. Just when you think there couldn't be any more dust you'll pick something up and it will be dusty. Computers, printers, televisions, furniture it doesn't matter.
While our project has gone very well I can't wait for it to be over. |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 418
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:01 am: |
|
So, based on my own experience and the above posters who are discussing the dust-bowl nature of home renovation, I recommend that you budget for hiring a housekeeping service to help you out sometimes.
We're just finishing our kitchen/powder room/bath reno, and I have scheduled the housekeeper to bring a team for a special all-day cleaning as a final touch. I decided to budget for extra cleaning after the first week of living in the dust-bowl. Of course, my personal priorities are such that I'd rather miss a few meals, wear old shoes, and consider selling my first-born child rather than give up the housekeeping help . |
aneighbor
Citizen
Username: Aneighbor
Post Number: 105
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:31 pm: |
|
Greg Fulop of Bovli Inc. just finished our master bathroom. We love it and as long as you're not in rush highly recommend him. you can go to their website... Bovli.com for more info. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page