Length of Time for your Rehab/Renovation
I had an interesting situation posed to me today. Someone is looking to rehab/renovate a rowhouse in Crown Heights. I inferred from the conversation that she wants to complete the all the work, by hiring a contractor to do everything, before she occupies the house. She was shocked with the price tag of that scenario….
I had an interesting situation posed to me today. Someone is looking to rehab/renovate a rowhouse in Crown Heights. I inferred from the conversation that she wants to complete the all the work, by hiring a contractor to do everything, before she occupies the house. She was shocked with the price tag of that scenario.
While what she was describing is probably the ideal scenario (for me, at least), I suspect that most people of modest means (including the woman to whom I was speaking) can’t afford it. So, for my own curiosity:
1. How long did your complete renovation take, and did you phase it? If so, how?
2. Did you live in the house as the work was in progress?
3. What percentage (estimate) of the work did you do yourself?
Thanks!
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This is 8:35 again. Thanks 10:07.
It’s one of the design-build firms we may go with that has an architect who files drawings for permits.
As for the wndow, it’s just one of the extension windows, in the cinderblock wall, nothing in the front of the house. Sink is moving a few feet too. Yes, there would be an electrical upgrade and most probably rewiring, with extra outlets, outlets for the DW, range, MW, etc. Most walls will be gutted, with a new floor slab, moving a drain pipe, washer dryer hook-ups in the extension (there are none now). The bathroom will need plumbing for a small sink only, new tiling, walls. Also new stairs to the parlor floor.
It’s garden floor with no basement/ cellar (English basement).
Moving windows would definitely require filing drawings sealed by an RA or PE or is it just the sink that’s being moved? Technically moving the kitchen sink would require filing, too. The plumber of record is supposed to file a boiler replacement.
Is the $125K supposed to cover an electrical upgrade? Are you totally gutting the place -removing all finishes, subfloor, wiring, etc?
Looking at some of the prices you paid, I’m wondering, does 125K then for a gut garden floor kitchen and bathroom reno that we’re planning with non-high end appliances and IKEA cabinets sound reasonable? It might also involve replacing the boiler with a small high efficiency one, a French drain and moving the kitchen sink and some windows. Most will be done by the contractor. No architect involved.
300k for six units 4 months. total gut. only shell was left.
We moved in to our Sunset Park rowhouse in October 2004. Gutted pretty much everything except for the room we were living in. We’re doing most work ourselves with the exception of plumbing, electric, and plastering.
Temporary kitchen for a year (microwave, toaster oven, etc). Temporary bathroom for three. Nothing is done, although the half-bath is down to a punchlist, and much of the space is now relatively liveable. Although it’s still not safe to be barefoot in most of the house.
I think if we did an accounting of how much it has cost, we would cry. At least I would.
25 years, the most active being since Jan ’07. We are not done yet.
We gutted the kitchen, bath, and built out the garage. It took about 6 weeks, though there was a mystery week or 2 where the contractor wandered off. We lived there, have only the one bathroom, and it was HELL. My husband did some of the tiling, and built the ikea kitchen cabinets. He now says he wished he’d done it all himself, no matter how long it took, because at least he wouldn’t be having to do things like re-tile the shower base now. Peeing in a laundry sink is no fun, nor is having no walls in February. Do not recommend our method.