Cost estimate for basement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone else mentioned, if you buy new carpet, they will tear out and haul your old carpet. So don't waste time with that. You won't get a discount (or if you do, it's like a $50 fee or something nominal).

You do need some kind of contractor/handyman (but not a "general contractor") for the ceiling drywall and moving a wall. I'd be inclined to just let them deal with the ceiling. If it's such an easy job for you to do on a Saturday, it's an even easier job for them to do -- in which case, the demo shouldn't add much to the cost. If you didn't otherwise have to bring in a contractor, I'd say just tear out the ceiling yourself. But not worth it since he'll already be coming.

Then plumber (2 hours of work?) and a painter.

Do it in this order:
- contractor to do ceiling and move wall. He can tear up the carpet around the existing wall while he's there.
- then tile (assuming they will remove existing tile - do this before carpet to avoid dust)
- then sink
- then carpet
- then paint (or do paint before carpet - depends on if existing carpet will get in the way of the paint).

Also - if you're moving a bathroom wall, do you need to retile the bathroom?

This is VERY helpful. So currently the entryway into the basement (from the outside) and the bathroom are both cheap linoleum. I assume they have to pull that up and then put down tile or whatever material we plan on using (bamboo?). Once you pass the entryway into the "Rec room" the linoleum turns into carpet.

Shouldn't we do the ceiling after moving the existing wall? Because the entire basement, including over the current bathroom, has this gross drop ceiling tile.

I guess we do need a permit b/c of the plumbing work or no?

If the wall is affected by the ceiling tile issue, then yes do the wall first. But I think the same contractor can do both at the same time - so I included those as the same first bullet. So those are an "in tandem" item.

You shouldn't need a permit if you're just swapping out one sink for a new one without moving plumbing. But each city is different. At most you'd just need a same day postcard permit kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

moving a wall is a big deal, and dry walling your ceiling is a big deal. I would not trust a handyman with these tasks. With the ceiling, you don't know what is under the tiles. You may have pipes/wires/ducts that hang under the floor joists. If you have to move these or frame around them this a pretty big costs. I would suggest replacing the ceiling tiles, if you are on a budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:moving a wall is a big deal, and dry walling your ceiling is a big deal. I would not trust a handyman with these tasks. With the ceiling, you don't know what is under the tiles. You may have pipes/wires/ducts that hang under the floor joists. If you have to move these or frame around them this a pretty big costs. I would suggest replacing the ceiling tiles, if you are on a budget.

It is a tiny wall and isn't load bearing.

Dry walling a ceiling is really a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone else mentioned, if you buy new carpet, they will tear out and haul your old carpet. So don't waste time with that. You won't get a discount (or if you do, it's like a $50 fee or something nominal).

You do need some kind of contractor/handyman (but not a "general contractor") for the ceiling drywall and moving a wall. I'd be inclined to just let them deal with the ceiling. If it's such an easy job for you to do on a Saturday, it's an even easier job for them to do -- in which case, the demo shouldn't add much to the cost. If you didn't otherwise have to bring in a contractor, I'd say just tear out the ceiling yourself. But not worth it since he'll already be coming.

Then plumber (2 hours of work?) and a painter.

Do it in this order:
- contractor to do ceiling and move wall. He can tear up the carpet around the existing wall while he's there.
- then tile (assuming they will remove existing tile - do this before carpet to avoid dust)
- then sink
- then carpet
- then paint (or do paint before carpet - depends on if existing carpet will get in the way of the paint).

Also - if you're moving a bathroom wall, do you need to retile the bathroom?

We were just quoted 45-50k for this work. I'm not kidding

[Anonymous]

Hold up.
When was your house built?
Ceiling tiles may contain asbestos, which can be pricey to remove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hold up.
When was your house built?
Ceiling tiles may contain asbestos, which can be pricey to remove.

The tiles are from the 80s. Maybe 300 sq feet of tile. I could remove myself if I really had to.

[Anonymous]

Just did something very similar. 15k - 18k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just did something very similar. 15k - 18k.

Anyone you can recommend? There is no way in h*ll this should cost 50k. For example, we would be charged 5k for the guy to remove drywall on one wall to show exposed brick and paint the brick. How on earth is that 5k?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just did something very similar. 15k - 18k.

Anyone you can recommend? There is no way in h*ll this should cost 50k. For example, we would be charged 5k for the guy to remove drywall on one wall to show exposed brick and paint the brick. How on earth is that 5k?

PP. This is what we had done for ~15k in a 500sqft basement

1. Removed wood paneling and ceiling, replace with new drywall
2. Ripped out old carpet and replace with new carpet in 400 sq ft of it
3. Remove and replace stair landing with tile
4. Ripped out incredibly heavy and large laundry sink, install new one
5. Move dryer to other side of basement and install duct
6. New recessed lights, outlets, switches
7. Paint

Went with DMV Kitchen + Bath. Certain things we had to ask them to redo, but they were SO easy to work with and we could not be happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just did something very similar. 15k - 18k.

Anyone you can recommend? There is no way in h*ll this should cost 50k. For example, we would be charged 5k for the guy to remove drywall on one wall to show exposed brick and paint the brick. How on earth is that 5k?

PP. This is what we had done for ~15k in a 500sqft basement

1. Removed wood paneling and ceiling, replace with new drywall
2. Ripped out old carpet and replace with new carpet in 400 sq ft of it
3. Remove and replace stair landing with tile
4. Ripped out incredibly heavy and large laundry sink, install new one
5. Move dryer to other side of basement and install duct
6. New recessed lights, outlets, switches
7. Paint

Went with DMV Kitchen + Bath. Certain things we had to ask them to redo, but they were SO easy to work with and we could not be happier.

Thank you sooooo much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thank you sooooo much.

No problem! That price doesn't include permits, which could be a couple thousand depending on where you live.

[Anonymous]

10k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold up.
When was your house built?
Ceiling tiles may contain asbestos, which can be pricey to remove.

The tiles are from the 80s. Maybe 300 sq feet of tile. I could remove myself if I really had to.

But when was the house built?