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Posted by D J on January 10, 2007, 12:33 pm
Folks,
Just bought a house recently and now am planning to do some
modifications. Can't afford to hire a contractor although am willing to
spend week end times or more myself.
Two jobs are there which I am considering:
(1) Create a new bath room. - I know this could be difficult and not
wise to do everything by myself, without plumber help. I just want to
minimize the plumber help and of course the money. May be I can install
the walls myself, may be floors too? may be paint it? install counter
tops, sinks etc?
Anyone did it by yourself? Any tips, helpful web sites? What r the
things I can do alone? and what I need help of plumber?
(2) Repositioning a door in an outer wall from kitchen to utilize the
space better. I just want to remove the door from current position and
install in a newer location so that the traffic flow does not obstruct
kitchen activities.
Please help if some one passed through similar experience... will
really appreciate it.
I am not that good at wood working but know the basics.
Thanks and regards,
D J
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Posted by Speedy Jim on January 10, 2007, 12:48 pm
D J wrote:
> Folks,
>
> Just bought a house recently and now am planning to do some
> modifications. Can't afford to hire a contractor although am willing to
> spend week end times or more myself.
>
> Two jobs are there which I am considering:
>
> (1) Create a new bath room. - I know this could be difficult and not
> wise to do everything by myself, without plumber help. I just want to
> minimize the plumber help and of course the money. May be I can install
> the walls myself, may be floors too? may be paint it? install counter
> tops, sinks etc?
>
> Anyone did it by yourself? Any tips, helpful web sites? What r the
> things I can do alone? and what I need help of plumber?
>
> (2) Repositioning a door in an outer wall from kitchen to utilize the
> space better. I just want to remove the door from current position and
> install in a newer location so that the traffic flow does not obstruct
> kitchen activities.
>
> Please help if some one passed through similar experience... will
> really appreciate it.
>
> I am not that good at wood working but know the basics.
>
> Thanks and regards,
> D J
>
Hop down to the local library and check out a number
of DIY books. There are some excellent ones on
remodelling and plumbing additions.
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Posted by on January 10, 2007, 3:40 pm
D J wrote:
>
> (1) Create a new bath room. - I know this could be difficult and not
> wise to do everything by myself, without plumber help. I just want to
> minimize the plumber help and of course the money. May be I can install
> the walls myself, may be floors too? may be paint it? install counter
> tops, sinks etc?
>
We're looking into a bathroom remodel right now, adding a shower to a
half-bath. Difficulty level is going to depend a lot on your home
construction. We're on a slab, so connecting the shower drain will
involve some concrete work - cutting the slab, finding the drain line,
tying in the shower drain, etc. Complicated by the fact that we're in
an expansive soil area, so the slab is a post-tension slab, with steel
cables running through it. If your house has a basement or a crawl
space, obviously the under-the-floor plumbing work is a lot easier.
I would leave the serious plumbing to a pro - just my 2 cents worth.
Jerry
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Posted by Oren on January 11, 2007, 9:02 pm
On 10 Jan 2007 12:40:52 -0800, jerry_maple@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>D J wrote:
>
>>
>> (1) Create a new bath room. - I know this could be difficult and not
>> wise to do everything by myself, without plumber help. I just want to
>> minimize the plumber help and of course the money. May be I can install
>> the walls myself, may be floors too? may be paint it? install counter
>> tops, sinks etc?
>>
>
>We're looking into a bathroom remodel right now, adding a shower to a
>half-bath. Difficulty level is going to depend a lot on your home
>construction. We're on a slab, so connecting the shower drain will
>involve some concrete work - cutting the slab, finding the drain line,
>tying in the shower drain, etc. Complicated by the fact that we're in
>an expansive soil area, so the slab is a post-tension slab, with steel
>cables running through it. If your house has a basement or a crawl
>space, obviously the under-the-floor plumbing work is a lot easier.
>
>I would leave the serious plumbing to a pro - just my 2 cents worth.
>
>Jerry
Some homes in my area have a marker embedded in the garage foundation
to indicate the presence of a tension cable. My house did not have
this marker when I gutted the master bath, I was glad to have a
plumber, and it was not cut.
--
Oren
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison
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Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on January 10, 2007, 10:03 pm
> (1) Create a new bath room. - I know this could be difficult and not
> wise to do everything by myself, without plumber help. I just want to
> minimize the plumber help and of course the money. May be I can install
> the walls myself, may be floors too? may be paint it? install counter
> tops, sinks etc?
The most difficult part here is the drain pipe. Before you get started,
call a plumber and find out what he needs for space and location. The rest
is common framing and finishing. That portion is easy to handle if you are
handy. Oh, some electrical too. Unless you are knowledagable of it,
contract that out also. YOu'll fame the room, then have it wored and
plumbed, then finisht he wall, then the final plubing and fixture
installation.
There are may books available that explain the steps for what you have to
do.
>
> (2) Repositioning a door in an outer wall from kitchen to utilize the
> space better. I just want to remove the door from current position and
> install in a newer location so that the traffic flow does not obstruct
> kitchen activities.
Now we are getting into some serious construction here. Opening up exterior
bearing walls is more involved that what you are doing to partition a
bathroom. The wall must be opened, headers must be installed and the
opening framed according to building codes. Yes, this is done every day but
you need a little more knowledge of construction. You also have to match up
the outside siding, or brick, or whatever.
Keep in mind, it is never a simple job to just move a door. Trust me, it
opens up the possibility of changing the entire kitchen around and spending
thousands of dollars. I've seen simple things like painting a wall turn into
major projects just so everything else looks good and matches. Make a
plan, get some help on that one, and read a few books.
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