I am buying a house that has a half bath downstairs and I need to add a
shower/bath combo or, at the very least, a corner shower unit.

On the otherside of the bathroom wall is a wetbar that sits in the
hallway.

We have been told by the sellers RE agent, that a full bath was an
option when the home was first built, and that underneath the wet bar
is the plumbing necessary to add a bathtub

I called a contractor and he said that it would start at $8k....that
being on slab, he couldn't be sure that the drain was large enough and
might have to get it correct.

So, this project entails, "demo"ing the wetbar, and the wall behind,
installing a shower/tub combo or at least a corner shower, and building
a new wall between the bathtub and the hallway.

I was hoping to spend around $3k

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| BTHRM | WB ENTRY
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Grufyydd wrote:

I am buying a house that has a half bath downstairs and I need to add a
shower/bath combo or, at the very least, a corner shower unit.

On the otherside of the bathroom wall is a wetbar that sits in the
hallway.

We have been told by the sellers RE agent, that a full bath was an
option when the home was first built, and that underneath the wet bar
is the plumbing necessary to add a bathtub

I called a contractor and he said that it would start at $8k....that
being on slab, he couldn't be sure that the drain was large enough and
might have to get it correct.

So, this project entails, "demo"ing the wetbar, and the wall behind,
installing a shower/tub combo or at least a corner shower, and building
a new wall between the bathtub and the hallway.

I was hoping to spend around $3k

-------------------
| |
| BTHRM | WB ENTRY
| |
| |
| ____ ___ |


I don't think you'll do it for $3K.
I'd run it by the local bldg dep't to find out any "gotcha's"
in the design.
If the bath doesn't have an exhaust fan, figure that in too.
Jim

Well, if you can verify that a drain already exists and that it is 1-1/2" or
larger you should be able to refine the quote better. Sounds like the
contractor added in a little CYA factor

$3k maybe with the cheapest of contractor tubs or a real basic shower and
you do some finish work yourself. You could spend that much on fixtures
alone, no labor, without trying hard. There are some nice shower units with
steam, footbath, multiple heads and even radios for around $2k, all you need
is the hookup and some caulk (well, maybe a little more)

Doing some of the work yourself will save money. Can you tile, do
demolition, paint, sheetrock, etc.



"Grufyydd" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am buying a house that has a half bath downstairs and I need to add a
shower/bath combo or, at the very least, a corner shower unit.

On the otherside of the bathroom wall is a wetbar that sits in the
hallway.

We have been told by the sellers RE agent, that a full bath was an
option when the home was first built, and that underneath the wet bar
is the plumbing necessary to add a bathtub

I called a contractor and he said that it would start at $8k....that
being on slab, he couldn't be sure that the drain was large enough and
might have to get it correct.

So, this project entails, "demo"ing the wetbar, and the wall behind,
installing a shower/tub combo or at least a corner shower, and building
a new wall between the bathtub and the hallway.

I was hoping to spend around $3k

-------------------
| |
| BTHRM | WB ENTRY
| |
| |
| ____ ___ |

3k is a dream. Just think of all the work required to do this job and
how long it would take. An average carpenter works for about $35/hr.
Add in all the materials required (2x4, tile, sheetrock, paint, shower
stall, plumbing) and you're looking at $10k. Anything less, you'd have
something that looked like it cost $3k.

I remodel my own houses (2 of them now), and have learned that things
always cost 2x more than you first think. If it involves plumbing or
electrical or demo, add another 2x on top of that.

good luck, tim1198