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Remodeling Pros Tame Cranky Bathroom

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By Mary Lou Janson

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 9, 2008

Leaks, cracks and stains could no longer be contained, patched or ignored. It was time to remodel my circa 1970s bathroom.

That meant demolishing decades-old floor tiles and fixtures, banishing a temperamental toilet and annihilating the prefabricated shower and tub. Goodbye never sounded so good.

I bought the condo three years ago. Its sole bathroom included a vanity that stood inches below my hips and an unusually tiny toilet — perhaps people were shorter in the '70s? I longed for a lighter, brighter space, but I'd never done more than hang curtains and paint. And I wasn't sure how I'd live shower- and toilet-less for weeks.

Mind made up and money saved up, I started checking Web sites for ideas and estimates. I quickly realized it would require a parade of professionals to transform my 13-by-5-foot space. Having no idea how to hire capable plumbers, electricians and tile setters, I opted for a one-stop-shop to coordinate everything.

Friends referred me to Kitchen & Bath Factory, whose first step is an on-site inspection. Jeff Hageman spent nearly two hours at my home offering ideas, explaining the process and estimating costs based on my budget and preferences.

The package price he quoted, $8,600, included all labor, materials and fixtures — everything but a fresh coat of paint. It was a bit more than I expected, but I had no idea what the materials and labor cost. I'd heard enough horror stories about homeowners who'd gone it alone that I figured the price was worth the peace of knowing I wouldn't be stuck with shoddy work or an unfinished room.

Plus, Jeff promised I would be back in bath business in five to seven business days.

I handed over my credit card.

A week later, Jeff returned with Dave Nichols, an engineer who would draft the project plans. While Dave measured, Jeff guided me through a daunting list of decisions: cabinet doors, countertops, faucets and fixtures in my price range. I opted to upgrade the sink faucet and declined the light fixtures, a move that added to my price, since the package does not allow discounts or credits for substitutions.

Next I met with Pat Nichols, a design consultant who took me through the diverse display of floor and wall tiles and listellos (ornamental tiles) offered by Gulf Tiles & Creations. I anguished over colors and patterns before selecting a marbleized look in neutral shades.

When I thought I was finally done, Pat informed me I had yet another decision to make: grout color. Grout color? Seriously? My first choice met with a grimace from Pat. So I cautiously pointed to an alternate shade called Buttercream. Pat's smile sealed the deal.

Once the permits were pulled, a start date was scheduled and I had to hustle to find a mounted wall light. It had to fit the space and décor, and create enough bright light to fill the space. And it had to be in stock.

Lights & More, a local lighting store that had just opened for business hours earlier, proved illuminating.

Sunday night the countdown began. I emptied the cabinet and vanity and removed everything from the floor and walls. Monday morning, the shower curtain and rod came down. By 8:30 a.m., the workers were ripping apart my bathroom.

The next few days can be summed up as follows:

Unbelievable luck. Once the rusty shower pipes were exposed, the workers found clogs that had dramatically lessened my water pressure. That repair alone would have been expensive.

Unforeseen problem. Because of the design of the condominium, turning off the water for any unit requires turning off the water for every unit. Signs were posted that first morning to warn my neighbors they'd have no water for an hour or so.

Unexpected disturbance. No way around it. The decibel-level and duration of the noise required to rip out the old and install the new are unbearable. Leave if you can.

By Tuesday I no longer had to brush my teeth over the kitchen sink because the new vanity was installed. Wednesday the toilet was operational, which eliminated trips to the condominium's clubhouse. By the weekend I was bathing at home rather than hauling clean clothes to the homes of friends, or the fitness center where I work out.

The finished room still required painting which I tackled over the next few days. After restocking shelves, drawers and cabinets, installing a new curtain rod and investing in color-coordinated shower curtain and towels, I savored the results.

Yup, my new bathroom was well worth a week's inconvenience.

Resources

Kitchen & Bath Factory

(813) 963-3100 or www.thekitchenandbathfactory.com

Gulf Tile & Creations

(813) 251-8807 or www.gulftile.com

Lights & More

(813) 877-3300 or www.lightsandmore.com

Surviving Your Own Remodel

Be prepared for dirt, dust, noise and the nuisance of workers, supervisors and inspectors filing in an out of your home.

Coordinate your comings and goings with the workers' so that questions can be addressed quickly. But plan some away time for your sanity.

Clear a small, convenient space near the work site for temporary storage of materials (tiles, grout, caulk etc.).

Cover everything that you don't want coated in dust.

Expect to pay 50 percent of the total fee up front and the remaining 50 percent in two payments, with the final amount due once the project passes its final inspection. Financing options may be available.

Correspondent Mary Lou Janson is a Tampa-based freelance writer and publicist.

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