Bathroom Renovations
I have read through almost all the bathroom threads here and I think my question is unique enough for its own post. My wife and I are looking to renovate our tiny 4×6 bathroom. We are also planning to move within the next 18 months (we are outgrowing the apartment, so this is set in…
I have read through almost all the bathroom threads here and I think my question is unique enough for its own post.
My wife and I are looking to renovate our tiny 4×6 bathroom. We are also planning to move within the next 18 months (we are outgrowing the apartment, so this is set in stone). Our bathroom as it stands is a nightmare: the tub glazing has peeled up, the tiles need to be at minimum resurfaced and in some spots repaired, the outlet needs to be moved (right now, it’s built into the light fixture, which isn’t even legal these days), the in wall hamper needs to be replaced, and we need a new floor. We are also replacing the mirror and vanity.
We have gotten quotes from reglazers (who will do almost all of the rest of the work too) in the 3-4 thousand dollar range. Some general contractors charge that much to do the demolition.
My questions are: is that a reasonable price range? And can anyone imagine a GC doing similar work in that price range (or even a thousand or two above it)? And finally, how do other brownstoners who have had Reglazing jobs done feel about them? Save for one or two, most of the glazing threads are from a year or two go. Any new thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks in advance. And anyone who works in our building has to be licensed and the whole nine.
I really appreciate the responses. I will answer a couple of questions then pose one or two of my own:
I understand the sentiment behind the “go big or go home” crowd, but I really can’t justify spending 10-15k on an apartment we will be leaving in a year, maybe a year and a half. There is no way the return will justify the expense. It’s not an emotional, “aw shucks be a swell guy” situation. It would be stupid to do so, as anyone will tell you the return will not be equal to the expense, especially in this market. Now if a decent contractor could do the work for 6-7 grand, no problem. But most of these people want thousands of dollars to carry the toilet to the curb.
I also feel no moral obligation to the buyer as far as tub glazing goes. I can’t compel someone who doesn’t want a glazed tub to buy my apartment, so I don’t see how I have a responsibility to repair the tub in a particular way.
Everything comes down to money. I only spend what I can make back. To do the full deal in the bathroom as it is, I need a plumber, electrician, GC, and God knows who else. To do it cheap, I need a handyman and a glaze guy. Sometimes perfect is the enemy of good. But I am all ears for a contractor who a) doesn’t overcharge, b) can make his appointments, and c) is licensed every which way he needs to be. If any exist.
OP, you’re under no obligation to re-do your bathroom before a sale. Many owners and landlords re-grout the tile and reglaze the tub. Also, you are correct to think swapping out the vanity and mirror is an easy upgrade. Those are all easy fixes that will give your bathroom a new, clean look.
As an architect i would STRONGLY advise to not reglaze, but instead replace. Reglazing, as mentioned above, is simply a thick acrylic paint coating, and is almost impossible to do well because a COMPLETELY DUST FREE environment must be obtained in order to avoid dust getting in the paint. And i certainly wouldn’t reglaze over tile, especially given the quality, inexpensive ceramic tile options on the market.
I was referring to reglazing the tile as a quick and dirty. “Reglazing” is basically just painting the tile with special paint. This is not a proper repair though some buyers won’t know the difference. And if they just want to pretty the room up a bit expecting that buyers would gut the bath anyway, then it might make sense although as I pointed out, new tile might not be much different price-wise. But doing the reglazing 18 months before a sale might be a bad idea if they’re cleaning it aggressively because it is not durable and might start to deteriorate. Better to do it closer to the expected sale time. And if the tile’s really that bad than maybe it would be better to just paint it with regular paint right before the sale if the goal is just to make a purely cosmetic, short term change.
Silvermax,
It isn’t the purchase price of a tub that is a deterrent, it is the installation.
Normally a tub edge installs directly against the framing, and the backerboard (or whatever existing substrate to the tile) comes down to meet the tub.
So to remove, the finish surface and backing has to come out.
To install a tub, the trip lever waste usually must be accessed from below, unless there is an open wall behind the faucet set, through which one could, if very dexterous and lucky, possible reach the connections.
Please add my vote to the do it right or don’t do it at all bloc.
I would also prefer a new tub, but 300 bucks is the price just for the tub. Demolition and installation move that cost into the thousands.
Agree, as a buyer I’d prefer a new tub to reglazed. Even a vintage/antique tub not yet in need of reglazing would be preferable.
If reglazing costs $400, why not just buy a new tub for around $300?
Hmmm…reglazing is fine, will look good for a couple of years. Is there any way you can afford a total gut reno? It would probably be around 10k, but if you did it just before selling you’d really impress buyers, I think, and remove one excuse for not buying. Bathroom renos are a PITA to live thru. Maybe you can get by with an inexpensive reglazing in the next year.