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I'm thinking about buying a house, but it's going to be a fixer-upper. The home has 1 bathroom and I'm considering adding a bath now instead of later on after I settled in.
Question is...how simple a project like adding a new bathroom? How much will it cost? I know the question, like any other, can depend on so many factors, but I just wanted to hear some initial thoughts.
Really not hard depending on where you want to add it. Basement is the easiest but has the lowest return on investment. Anywhere else you just need space and a place to conceal pipes(if you are going to a 2nd floor). Closets are great for this if you want to avoid opening up walls. Cost will probably be in the $5k-$12k range for an average 3 piece bathroom. depending on location and other factors(to unique to each house to speculate). I added a full bath in my last house in the converted attic of a cape.
Really not hard depending on where you want to add it. Basement is the easiest but has the lowest return on investment. Anywhere else you just need space and a place to conceal pipes(if you are going to a 2nd floor). Closets are great for this if you want to avoid opening up walls. Cost will probably be in the $5k-$12k range for an average 3 piece bathroom. depending on location and other factors(to unique to each house to speculate). I added a full bath in my last house in the converted attic of a cape.
Thanks. And of course, I will most likely need a permit from the town if I were to undertake this project, yes?
Thanks. And of course, I will most likely need a permit from the town if I were to undertake this project, yes?
Yes. You need a permit for everything. You can go without it and save a few bucks (and more importantly time) but when it comes time to sell you will be sweating it out. Tax records will expose the unpermitted work and sometimes even the co inspection. Don't get me wrong it is certainly possible, common even, to sell a house and never be found out, especially if the work was done to code. If you get it permitted your taxes will go up. If you are a gambling man, know construction inside and out, trust your contractor then you could give it a shot. If you get caught during construction you will face a stop work order, possible large fine, and have a pissed off building inspector that will nit pick every detail both for completed work and going forward. So you have to ask yourself... Is the juice worth the squeeze?
Thanks. And of course, I will most likely need a permit from the town if I were to undertake this project, yes?
Definitely stop into the department of buildings in your town, they will totally walk you through the process of what you'll need.
Not getting one means possibly ripping out all the work when it comes time to sell. And you want to be worried about a million other things at the time instead.
No way. I think I will definitely get a permit. The headache is not worth it. Makes me wonder why people would take such a risk, but I guess I'm just a pretty conservative fellow.
Oh just one more thing. You (tdstyles) said "you need a permit for everything". I don't know if you meant that literally. I thought that permits were only required if you are making structural changes to a home like adding a new room, expanding a cape cod, or altering the plumbing for a new bathroom.
You don't need it for things like updating a kitchen if the updated is basic remodeling like new floors, cabinets, installing an island, and new appliances, right? At least that's how I understand it.
Oh just one more thing. You (tdstyles) said "you need a permit for everything". I don't know if you meant that literally. I thought that permits were only required if you are making structural changes to a home like adding a new room, expanding a cape cod, or altering the plumbing for a new bathroom.
You don't need it for things like updating a kitchen if the updated is basic remodeling like new floors, cabinets, installing an island, and new appliances, right? At least that's how I understand it.
(Can you tell I'm a noob with all this?)
That really varies by building department. You have to check if you want to really play by the rules. Are you changing an electric range to gas or vice versa? Are our going to have a sink or electrical outlet on that island? Are you moving the location appliances? Adding radiant floor heat? Adding GFCI outlets with home run to board? All those things will most likely require a permit in most towns if you look at the letter of the law. Most of the time for the basic remodels it's a straight money grab for the building department/town. Moving/adding an outlet, no problem, $25 permit fee, changing out a toilet in the bathroom, sure $30. So how do they catch you? Easy they drive around all day in between inspections looking for contractor vans at houses. Knock on the door and if there is work going on with no permit boom, stop work order and the pain and suffering begins. Not all towns are like that but some/many(especially if you are up here in northern nj)are.
Best advice I can give, if you are not getting permits, even for a remodel is have your contractor park his truck around the corner or down the street. Never in your driveway or directly in front of your house.
Oh just one more thing. You (tdstyles) said "you need a permit for everything". I don't know if you meant that literally. I thought that permits were only required if you are making structural changes to a home like adding a new room, expanding a cape cod, or altering the plumbing for a new bathroom.
You don't need it for things like updating a kitchen if the updated is basic remodeling like new floors, cabinets, installing an island, and new appliances, right? At least that's how I understand it.
(Can you tell I'm a noob with all this?)
tdstyles is right, once you start getting into electrical work like an island you should be talking to the building department, as they'll probably want to inspect to see if the new wink the island has a GF receptacle within 6' and the like. When you go in you can be paranoid and give them a fake address or whatever, but you should at least talk about what they require a permit for.
Everyone was a noob at this once, don't be intimidated by that. They'd prefer to answer your questions now than call out the fire department later.
Oh just one more thing. You (tdstyles) said "you need a permit for everything". I don't know if you meant that literally. I thought that permits were only required if you are making structural changes to a home like adding a new room, expanding a cape cod, or altering the plumbing for a new bathroom.
You don't need it for things like updating a kitchen if the updated is basic remodeling like new floors, cabinets, installing an island, and new appliances, right? At least that's how I understand it.
The specifics vary town by town, but putting in a bathroom is going to require plumbing, electrical, and structural permits most likely. In my town new floors don't require a permit but replacing the subfloor does, new cabinets and appliances are fine without a permit but if you have to move an electric, gas, or water line to install them you'll need a permit for that.
As I recall (and I may be recalling wrong), a kitchen island is kind of funny; it requires electric according to code. But if you put in something not attached to the floor it's furniture and doesn't need it. I could be remembering that wrong though.
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