northsider

Foaming At The Mouth
Home Improvement

So I finally met with the contractor who's redoing my bathroom. Here's a list of the materials I'll need to buy:

Double lightswitch with outlet -- $2.50
Switchplate -- $0.50
Door -- $28
Doorknob -- Cost unknown; guessing about $17
Two towel bars (possibly one single bar and one double bar) -- $78 at the high end
30 sq. ft. of slate floor tile -- $65 Actual cost $104.62, including $35 of slate sealant, plus tax
80-90 sq. ft. of tile for the shower walls and ceiling -- $220
Toilet -- Appx. $80
Toilet paper holder -- Cost unknown; guessing less than $20
Vanity -- $180 Actual cost $180, $196.20 after tax. But I got a sweet deal on a floor sample
Granite "banjo" vanity top -- Appx. $450; but I have a guy getting me a deal on this Actual cost $450
GFI (ground fault interruptor) electrical outlet -- Cost unknown; guessing about $7
Sink faucet -- $118 Actual cost $39
Tub faucet/showerhead -- $120 Actual cost $76
Bathtub -- $89
Bathtub door -- $307 with frame
Eight bulb bath bar light -- $53
Ceiling light fixture -- $58 for something nice, but I could go cheaper if I wanted

That's almost $1900 for all the items I want to have put in. Assuming my guesses about the prices I don't know are accurate. Or that I don't get really attached to expensive options for stuff like the electrical fixtures or faucets. And this doesn't include primer, paint, drywall, waterproof wallboard, grout and other incidentals that will go along with the installation process. To say nothing of the insurance policy rider I have to pay for to indemnify the building and the Home Owner's Association. All of which is chicken feed compared to what the labor end of this deal will cost.

EDIT: The labor is going to come in at a shade over six thousand, so the whole thing tallies up at a little more than US$8000.

I figure if I get out of this for less than five grand (including labor) and less than three weeks from start to finish, it will be adjudged a success. After that, everyone will be welcome to come over and admire my showplace of a bathroom. As long as you don't look at the rest of my condo. I don't even want to think about the time, money, and effort that's gonna take.