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November 18, 2009
Cost of Bathroom in Basement
I have unfinished basement. it is more than 50% above the ground and more than 7' hight. I want to put bathroom (shower/sink/toilet) in bathroom and want to estimate cost. It would be something really basic and I can do most of the job myself. Of course I will need to hire plumber/electrician if necessary and do all the related legal stuff. Is there any unexpected complications in this process? i.e. will inspectors come in and give me ticket for unrelated stuff? Anything else I should think about before starting with this project? How much do you think it will cost?
Comments
At the very least, you need to hire an architect to submit plans and DOB forms indicating the new fixtures and walls, as well as making sure that it is in fact 50% above ground and therefore a basement, not a cellar.
If the DOB needs to come in and inspect, and you have obvious code violations, yes, they will point them out and give you trouble for them.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Posted by: JimHill at November 18, 2009 1:26 PM
JimHill, thank you for explanation. Do you think the architect can take a look an point out at the "obvious violations" before DOB gets involved?
Posted by: bobjohn at November 18, 2009 2:44 PM
If single or 2 family house I wouldn't get the DOB involved.
Posted by: Petebklyn at November 18, 2009 3:21 PM
oh, is toilet and shower going to be lower than waste main that leaves the house? That is cost factor.
Posted by: Petebklyn at November 18, 2009 3:22 PM
Both of what Pete said.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2009 3:33 PM
Petebklyn - it is above of the waste main.
Houses next to ours have batrooms and I believe they never had problems with waste coming back up.
Posted by: bobjohn at November 18, 2009 3:33 PM
No problem if it is above. What Pete was talking about is that if it was below you'd need a special pump for the drains.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2009 3:39 PM
"hire an architect to submit plans and DOB"
Are you effing kidding me?! We're talking about a dumb bathroom and some non-structural walls-- No offense to your profession Mr. Jim Hill or the ridiculous City of New York -- but I'm thinking he should spend the money on a good plumber and electrician instead.
DIBS -- you know I'm pretty much a bleeding heart liberal, but this seems like a "make work" system for Architects and Engineers... am I right?
Posted by: tybur6 at November 18, 2009 4:02 PM
Also, remember if it is a 1-2 family and is not 4 storeys, you can use Romex and PVC drain pipe. NYC did move into the 20th Century last year.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2009 4:06 PM
not in no landmark district should you try that non-contextual PVC.
Posted by: Petebklyn at November 18, 2009 4:11 PM
If doing lot of work yourself...framing, sheetrock, painting, floor etc, could do for few thou....up to whatever want to spend...Are you gonna use premade stall shower or some fancy large one with expensive tiles and glass door,etc.
Posted by: Petebklyn at November 18, 2009 4:22 PM
oh, and how you gonna vent -- or will room have a window?
Posted by: Petebklyn at November 18, 2009 4:23 PM
The plumbing bill will be the most expensive part. If you are close to the stack and can tie into that, then there aren't more expensive venting issues.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2009 4:38 PM
The bathroom is right under the shaft where windows from 1st and 2nd floor bathrooms look. so I wanted to vent into the shaft. It sits right next to the stack. The floor is made of soft concrete and I wanted to break concrete and dig to the main stack myself leaving plumber only with plumbing part.
I will use pre-fab shower and probably even no sink - just a faucet on top of the toilet (I saw bunch of these in Tokyo).
Posted by: bobjohn at November 18, 2009 4:49 PM
Wait... Romex wasn't up to NYC building codes until last year?!
And what did drain pipes have to be made from, cast iron? Was lead pipe still an acceptable option for water lines too?
Posted by: tybur6 at November 18, 2009 5:42 PM
Actually I do not mind to use BX everywhere. Preferably 10 gauge everywhere. I have all CAT5 and thermostat wires in conduits. I probably should start trend of pulling BX inside of rigid conduit.
Posted by: bobjohn at November 18, 2009 6:41 PM
We did this 10 years ago. Finished the basement (20 x 30) with a new bathroom (w. shower, sink/vanity, toilet), laundry room/ utility room (gas boiler, gas water heater, washer and dryer), 20 X 19 family room lined with closets, new walls, sub-flooring and new sound-insulated drywall ceiling. I paid for all materials. The contractor charged me $28K. He was excellent to work with and we are very happy with the results. BTW, the only question he had for me was when I was going to get rid of the asbestos (he would not touch the job until I got rid of it). He brought in a couple of young plumbers who tore up the concrete floor to connect the bathroom to the waste line. That was the part that really scared me. I do not recommend you try it yourself.
Posted by: marty362 at November 18, 2009 8:26 PM
marty362: Did you do all this in a basement? or a cellar (i.e., below grade)? Sounds like a very good price. Did you like your contractor well enough to give us his name?
Posted by: Silvermax at November 19, 2009 12:03 AM
Careful the vibrations from jackhammering the concrete don't cause the main stack to fail. Maybe talk to a plumber first, see what he advises.
Posted by: mopar at November 19, 2009 7:32 AM
Boy, a lot's happened since I chimed in. As an architect, it's kind of my obligation to say "do it on the up-and-up" and file with the DOB. Also, I can't tell you how many times I've seen stop work order violations for work without a permit, especially recently, with hefty fines attached. The DOB has been very active on following up on complaints, so if a neighbor calls 311 and complains that you are doing the work without a permit - and trust me, this happens ALL the time - the DOB will be there within a few days, ready to hand out violations.
Further, if the owner later decides to do some work that does require filing, and this work is discovered, the owner's looking at thousands of dollars in fines.
Not to mention that the OP stated the basement is over 50% above ground, has a 7' ceiling and wants to do "do all the related legal stuff." So tybur6, I'm not kidding you. I'm answering the OP's question as it was asked.
And finally, bobjohn, a reputable architect should be able to go through the house and point out the obvious code violations as part of the service of preparing the DOB filing.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Posted by: JimHill at November 19, 2009 1:05 PM
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