apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This must be pretty demoralizing at times, but you have many many people wishing you well. Best of luck to you both.

Maxwell, this is what we're planning to do with our bathroom in a few months and are anticipating the same problems, right down to the rotten studs. So thanks for the warning.

The tiles, medicine cabinet and sconces are beautiful. With a tiny room, it does pay to splurge.

3. We ran short on tiles!

Though we measured and counted carefully, it is clear that we are going to be about two boxes short of the tiles we need to wrap around the walls. We just ordered more. Expedited shipping is killing us. $180 just to get them here by Friday so this can be finished!

i'm in the exact same boat – right down to the expedited shipping!! if i didn't know better, i'd think fedex is in kahoots with complete tile!

for $9 a square foot you could get carrera marble tiles!

This is why I haven't done my bathroom yet. I just know that some rotten wood is waiting for me behind my poorly tiled bathroom wall :)

Well, you're in too deep to back out now, and you seem to be coping.

Eventually, you *will* run out of things that can go wrong, and you'll have a fresh, new space.

Renovations are always a challenge, especially in old NYC buildings. Hang in there, and you will be glad you did it when it's over!

Shouldn't you use greenboard instead of Sheetrock? Just sayin'...

Maxwell-

So nice to see that everyone, including our fearless bloggers, has to deal with renovation nightmares. Makes me realize how connected EVERYONE on this site is.

Good luck!

I have the exact same medicine cabinet (the old one).

I can't stand it, actually. Plus, it will be a pain in the butt to replace due to its size.

Good luck in the remodel. Bathrooms and kitchens are always the worst.

Where's the old post that had the floorplan for this space? I'm trying to visualize the layout as I read this but I can't find that post.

I love these posts on your progress! Hope that makes the rough spots better while your in the middle. I have been thinking there may be a bathroom reno in my future.

BTW, what's the total cost of the bathroom work?

Holy cow!

I was on the phone with my bathroom contractor as this came up! 45 days into a 2 bathroom remodel, progress is very slow and of course, they want more money!

I feel for you guys! Good luck!!

I am about to start a bathroom renovation in October- I am in the process of ordering materials now- I will over order on tiles- thatnks for the tip!!!

Anyone else have anything to share in advance so I can learn from your problems???

Jean, that's not sheetrock - it's backerboard for tiles. There are several fifferent types and brands out there.

Jean, that's not sheetrock - it's backerboard for tiles. There are several different types and brands out there.

perhaps it's a little late, but nemo tile makes a nice subway tile. it's machine made/cut, so the edges are crisp and not as soft as a handmade tile, but last i checked it runs 4-5$ a square foot.

We are in the design/ fixture ordering stage of our own 2 bathroom remodel hell pre-baby. (HA! It'll be a miracle if everything is done before the baby comes -- and the punch line is that we are being sent to Europe on posting 6 weeks after the baby is born!).

We FINALLY decided on tiles (Vidrotil), only to find that the company in Brazil has gone kaput. If we manage to find remaining stock in our colours, it will be cheap (half price)...Anyone know of a source besides Shep Brown in Chicago??

And what is with suppliers never getting back to you? I chased Inda (for the h20 Basin) for 2 months before getting the name of a US retailer (the distributor in US had just gone defunct). I sent off for info on the Durat sinks, and weeks later, nada. Fortunately, found the name of the US distributor on my own (they were supposed to get back to me today, but guess what....?). The bathtub guy took 2 emails and a phonecall (and 2 weeks) to answer a simple technical installation question. And now the toilet... we decided to go with a wall-mounted Starck 3, and all I could find as a wall tank is the Geberit , which needs to be enclosed in a 48" high wall -- however, I have seen 'em in Europe with tanks no higher than 36"...placed a call to the toilet supplier yesterday, who, you guessed it, still has not gotten back to me. Anyone know of a wall toilet that is compatible and is only 36" or so high???

p.s. Does anyone know of a reasonably priced online source for Tessera glass mosaic tiles by Glasstile (our plan B)? the only stockist in our area has quoted us $56 (Cdn) which I find to be highway robbery, and twice the price of the most expensive mosaic tiles I have found to date. Our bathroom designer said one of her clients had phoned it online somewhere much cheaper -- but I haven't managed to find it online anywhere. I'd be grateful for any tips!

Tonight I am looking up at a huge gaping, soggy hole in the ceiling. The old apartment above mine is being gutted... one of those tub-in-the-kitchen flats. After two weeks of dripping the ceiling has crashed down, including a dangerous flying brick.

Old buildings are beautiful but if you live in one you definitely have to be aware that the skeleton may be in bad shape. With a flashlight I can see not only the damaged pipes but rotting wood and other debris. It's a good thing this didn't happen while I was overseas a couple of weeks ago, or a lot of stuff would have been ruined.

Max, thanks for the link to the medicine cabinet. Robern always has nice items, and my Pottery Barn medicine cabinet is falling apart after only a few years. Robern might be the right replacement. Fingers crossed that you won't experience any more hurdles!

You measure carefully for tiles THEN ADD 10 PER CENT. This covers wastage in cutting.

In my case about an hour into the job the tiler said: 'Deb, if you wanted to mix two colours of tiles, you should have told us."

Eh?

It turned out I had boxes of Italian tiles all labelled white (in 200 languages). However some of the boxes contained very pale grey tiles - which were the first up on most of an entire wall - and some were white.

Rang the tile store. Disbelief. Tiler confirmed (in 2 languages); goes to lunch. Rep arrives - still can't believe it. Glue has dried. We open all the boxes. I decide to go with a grey bathroom - there was a choice?

Tiler starts kitchen (we checked all the tiles first). They return with more grey tiles - they have to check every one of thousands of boxes in the warehouse; give me refund for all tiles including the most gorgeous trim for the top row (sigh - still miss them 16 years later). As I got the floor tiles from another store, no exchange/refund possible. The walls are 'warm' grey and the floor 'cool' grey & don't really 'go together', although in a bathroom 6 x 7 feet, I'm the only one it still bothers (still, after 16 years).

Trust no-one. Open all the boxes.

I'm considering purchasing a coop in Jackson Heights with a bathroom that needs complete renovation, including the tub (re-finishing the tub might be an alternative here).

Can anyone give me a ballpark idea of what a bathroom renovation might cost--with or without replacing the tub? How long might it take?

Any real-world (NYC) guidance you might be able to provide would be appreciated. I'm about to make an offer on a very nice "wreck" and while the price may not kill me, the renovation work just might.

Thanks.

And you didn't factor in this unforseen extra "surgery"?? naive or overly-optimistic?

35 days remaining?? - my colleague at work has just given birth this weekend gone - 6 weeks early - no problems - all healthy - the baby just decided it was time...

Justin, I know that, but Maxwell's post specifically mentions Sheetrock (which is a proprietary term).

Found the floorplan.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/9-month-cure/the-nine-month-cure-the-floorplan-010299

Still amazed.

Hi Dan.

I'm in Jackson Heights, and am about to undergo a renovation, but kitchen and bathroom. Queens prices are definitely lower for contractors. I would guess it would be about $4k-10k, depending on how much plumbing needs to be done. We are getting our kitchen, bathroom, and a closet done, and have gotten total quotes for $16k to about $18.5k with an additional possiblity of another $5k if ALL our bathroom plumbing needed to be replaced. We, however, are not replacing our bathtub.

If you need names, post your email or I will bug my husband to get me contact info and I'll post it.

Yay, glad to see more AT people moving into Jackson Heights. I really do love it. We just need to curb the litter and get a hang-out-type coffee shop, and we are set.

Sorry--my renovation encompasses kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom closet, so the quotes include all three

for all who are doing renovations, even as minor as a bathroom, it never hurts to try to get an architect friend to look over your shoulder, that way tile shortages, toilet issues, and contractor woes, can all be avoided or kept to a minimum......

Dan,

if you are renovating a bathroom in a coop, make sure you don't move any plumbing fixtures or the coop will make you file with the Department of Buildings. Bathrooms can range anywhere between $3000 - $10,000 and up depending on the amount of work and what happens once the walls are opened up. Plumbers are expensive especially when dealing with toilets and tubs. You can also opt to re-glaze the tub which is a much cheaper solution (and one I would recommend).

Good luck!!

My sympathies on the delay and incorrect tile order (could happen to anyone), but I just can't believe you are spending this much money

on a rental

right before you have a baby.

Hope you've got a large bank balance...you have no idea how much you will need all this money you've spent on the renovation over the next couple of years.

this may not be the most stylish tub solution, but a couple of weeks ago i had a Bathfitter liner put over my tub and it looks great. my original 1940 yellow tile bath was covered with drywall (not hardibacker) and cheap white tile and fixtures back in the 80s or so. A poor quality liner was installed, leaked for 20 years, rusted out my shapely deco tub so badly that it could not be resurfaced. The bathfitter cost about 1700 here in the DC suburbs, so i think the cost may be more or less depending on your area. it's just kind of cream colored with a shaped skirt, but it saved me with having to get the old one removed, busting up the floors. And i've chipped off the white mosaic down to the original black and white tile, which i love (a lot of work though.)
You can also purchase TSP substitute made by KLeen Strip. i'm home from work early today and using it to clean off the adhesive from the tile floor. no smell.

Fiona, CM, and carolynapplebee,

Thank you for your kind help. I'm such a newbie, I don't even know where to begin. I should've known that AT could provide some help.

I'm freaking on a daily basis about stuff I have no experience with and have no control over, like bath renovations in apartments that I would like to make an offer on. Kitchen, I can get my head around after visiting the Henrybuilt site and then a couple of trips to Ikea and Lowes.

But the bathroom? Man, that's a whole nother ball of wax.

Thanks again. Dan

Oh, and Fiona, if your husband has any information handy at all, by all means, send it along to virtualdrr at yahoo dot com. Thanks again and see you in JH!

Dan, We did a google search for our area, we entered ceramic tile contractors. We came up with a few But we were able to get an extremely honest contractor who did not mind if we supplied the material. This guy tavel's based in New Jersey {Hoboken} but travels to New York as well. He helped us a whole lot. This guy Steve has high write ups in yahoo, I am very satisfied and saved money and my sanity.

I really like the look of the white subway tile. My sister recently renovated her bathroom and found a white subway tile that is beveled, which adds a nice touch. It looks identical to one carried by Waterworks, but was much less expensive. I'm not sure of the source, but it's worth investigating if you are planning to purchase subway tile.

I'm renovating a bathroom in Brooklyn. My neighborhood contractor has been as good as his word. I saw his flier, checked his local references, and visited two of his other job sites before hiring him.

He's charging $7k, including basic building supplies. Job entailed ripping two of the walls back to the studs to make the jacuzzi fit. Rebuilding the walls. Moving plumbing from the floor to the walls (and removing and carting away old clawfoot tub). Installing shower body and tub, fixtures. Tiling shower surround and halfway up remaining walls, topping with stone chair rail. Grouting, painting, and installing light fixtures and bathroom fixtures.

Job was estimated to take two weeks, and even with the Kohler and Home Depot delays, it's coming in just one day late.

His crew are neat, neat, neat. At the end of every day they shop vac and remove all debris, putting it out at the curb in contractor bags.

I HAVE THE SAME BLACK AND WHITE BATHROOM TILES THAT ARE SHOWN ABOVE IN ONE OF THE PICTURES THAT I AM LOOKING FOR. MY OLD TILES ARE BLACK AND WHITE BUT WHAT I NOTICED AT ONE TILE SHOP, THEY HAVE BLACK AND BEIGE. IF I DON'T GET THE ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE, I SHALL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE BATHROOM FLOOR WITH NEW TILES. I ONLY NEED 6 PIECES OF 1FT BY 1FT BLACK AND WHITE TILES. CAN SOMEONE SUGGEST WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? I ONLY KNOW NEMO TILES IN JAMAICA. I LIVE IN QUEENS, NEW YORK. A SPEEDY ANSWER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS I AM IN THE MIDDLE THIS MESS AT THIS VERY MOMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NANCY

My husband makes beautiful, handcrafted medicine cabinets. There are two standard sizes, but he'll do custom sizes if he thinks the proportions will look okay. He can also do custom depths. Check out his website, www.woodessentials.com.

The cabinets aren't cheap, but they are furniture quality.

As regards Monika's posting on 8/15/2006, this is to announce that our mosaic tile manufacturing company -- Vidrotil, of Sao Paulo, Brazil -- is in perfect health, very much alive and kicking.

In fact, we will celebrate 60 years of operations in 2007 with the increase of our distribution network in the U.S.

Currently, Vidrotil tiles are distributed by California Art Tile, of West Hollywood, and Hastings Tile & Il Bagno, of New York, and their respective retailer networks.

http://www.vidrotil.com.br