STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

adding a bathroom

Elle · Hermes

Depends on the specific layout of the house, but yes ridiculous amount of work. You're probably looking at at least $2,500 just for a plumber, and that is probably a low estimate. If you'd be putting the bathroom in downstairs and you have a navigable crawl space under the house, it's easier because they can go into the crawl space and tap into the plumbing that's already there, and bring it up where you need it. But they'd also have to tap into either the existing waste line (from the current bathroom) or create new one, which can be expensive.

If the bathroom buts up to a laundry room wall or the kitchen wall and therefore there is plumbing nearby, that might be a possibility too.

You'd also have to install a vent system and exhaust it outside, which means cutting a hole in the side of the house. Unless that's the thing you guys think you could DIY, you're looking at hiring an HVAC person too. And an electrician.

I'd ask your realtor to recommend a plumbing contractor for you, and then schedule a time for them to come out (when you're there for the inspection works well) and give you a bid and/or point out things that would make the job easier or more difficult.

-- Edited by Elle at 13:35, 2007-01-09

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I probably should have added that it has a full basement and that my dad can do plumbing and electric and my uncle does HVAC so labor cost isn't a concern... more just that I wouldn't want to ask them to do something really difficult. That might change things...

maybe I'll have Dad come look at it and see what he thinks.

-- Edited by ILoveChoo at 14:32, 2007-01-09

Elle · Hermes

Well, IMO adding a bathroom from scratch almost always really difficult no matter how you slice it. Remodel plumbing is not as straight forward as it should be, so I'd ask your dad to come look at it if he can and he can let you know if it looks like something he's up to tackling.

So the house is 3 floors? Basement, main floor, upstairs? And the bathroom would be going on the main floor? I'd have your dad come look at it then and see if you guys can determine where the nearest plumbing is - you could still potentially have to rip through several walls and the ceiling of the basement. Are the walls lath and plaster?

We're up to about $4,000 in materials only (Mr.Elle and his dad are doing all the labor), for doing a total gut and rebuild on an existing bathroom. There's lots of little things we didn't account for material-wise, like a buttload of nails and screws, new underlayment for the floor, lots of studs to rebuild walls, insulation, drywall mud for the walls, texture for the walls, glue for the floor, caulk, blahblahblah.

Even so, if the house currently has a working bathroom and you plan on being in the house for a longer while, it would still probably be worth it to buy the house, fix the cosmetic things, and sloooowly go to work on adding the bathroom. You'd still have a working bathroom to use, so even if things did end up costing more you'd be able to spread the cost out by pacing the job.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

yeah, its basement, main floor, and upstairs. We'd add it to the main floor- there's an extra tiny bedroom there that would be a perfect location floorplan-wise.

laundry is in the basement so there is plumbing there.

The house is a really good deal and everything else we love, so it might be worth it to do it slowly. We'd live there for at least 5 years.

I think I'll have Dad look at it and give me an estimate. He can get materials discounted too, so it migth be worth it. the only houses aroudn that we love with more than one bathroom are at least 50k more so it might be worth it if we can add one for like 10k.

Suasoria · Chanel

Don't forget to factor in the cost of building permits. Unless you live in the boonies, you will almost certainly need them, especially if you plan on selling the house eventually. You might see a slight increase in your property taxes too, not that either of these two considerations outweigh a second bathroom. And I agree with you - you'll make the money back when you sell.