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So we're kind of at a loss trying to find a contractor. We can't find any real recommendations.
The first one kept suggesting things we had NO interest in doing, repeatedly. I missed the appointment (thanks flat tire!) but he kept telling my husband that I would want this and that, none of which I actually want. He thinks he's going to get a garbage chute going out of our apartment window. Yeah, okay.
The second one we liked but his estimate is for somewhere between 17-18K. This is a small bathroom and we're not even removing the tub.
The third one was late. Didn't tell us he was going to be late until my husband messaged him. Then he said ten more minutes. Then twenty minutes later my husband and I gave up. My husband messaged him to tell him we were leaving the apartment and he said he was sorry he couldn't find the place. (Apparently, it's difficult to call and ask us where to go.) We saw his car drive by as we left forty minutes after he was supposed to come.
By the way, I think for this kind of thing it's allowable to post the company names here - and it certainly should be, because it would be one of the things to make the forums truly useful.
I don't have anyone to recommend, but I will tell you my method. I went to every good bathroom fixture place in town, browsed their showrooms, and then asked them for recommendations. I got a pretty good selections. Start with Smolka on East 33rd, which, by the way, I highly recommend for purchases.
I live on the UES and am just starting the process for my bathroom renovation. I found a great showroom on LI that I used for my Kitchen also, so I would recommend them for your vanity. It's called Gold Coast Cabinet in Massapequa, Home.
I'm purchasing my cabinetry through them, and while I already have someone in my family to do the work, I have a friend who used a contractor they recommended and she was very happy with the work. Good luck with your renovation!
I don't know anyone who actually uses it. Seems overpriced and I've read that people can pay to look better on there anyway, so then it is just as good as Yelp/Google/etc. (Except now you're paying.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hefe
I'm dreading my kitchen reno for this reason, so many flaky contractors out there.
My dad is very good at renovating (and he actually renovated his entire bathroom himself, which looks completely professional) but he is getting older now and he does not want to deal with the plumbing. (Especially because I'm in a coop.) The kitchen is next so I am already dreading it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cida
By the way, I think for this kind of thing it's allowable to post the company names here - and it certainly should be, because it would be one of the things to make the forums truly useful.
I don't have anyone to recommend, but I will tell you my method. I went to every good bathroom fixture place in town, browsed their showrooms, and then asked them for recommendations. I got a pretty good selections. Start with Smolka on East 33rd, which, by the way, I highly recommend for purchases.
That is a good idea. I agree---anyone can post on here if they wish, I just know some people don't like to. (But believe me---having a post with some actual recommendations would be nice.) I actually did try to search on here but no luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by snr002
I live on the UES and am just starting the process for my bathroom renovation. I found a great showroom on LI that I used for my Kitchen also, so I would recommend them for your vanity. It's called Gold Coast Cabinet in Massapequa, Home.
I'm purchasing my cabinetry through them, and while I already have someone in my family to do the work, I have a friend who used a contractor they recommended and she was very happy with the work. Good luck with your renovation!
The vanity is the one thing I bought already, because I needed something small but with storage. (And I found something in gray, no less, which I love.)
Thanks so far, guys. We have two more people coming to give us bids this week. The only guy who gave us an estimate so far would be much cheaper if I dropped the plumbing aspect, but not doing the plumbing (which already had a repair by the crappy previous owners) makes me nervous.
I'd have a chat with your super (or doorman) on who has done work in the building before. Also some co-ops are super picky and have rules when it comes to plumbing and permits, they can stop (or even worse ask you to remove) the renovation if the proper permits aren't in place.
The $17-$18 quote isn't super high depending on what you're asking them to do, especially if there is plumbing involved. I mean replacing a tub isn't that expensive in itself.
Join Angie's List. Lots of people use it - maybe not people you know, but many people do actually use it. membership was $7 a year when I joined.
$7/year? Not anymore.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nugget
I'd have a chat with your super (or doorman) on who has done work in the building before. Also some co-ops are super picky and have rules when it comes to plumbing and permits, they can stop (or even worse ask you to remove) the renovation if the proper permits aren't in place.
The $17-$18 quote isn't super high depending on what you're asking them to do, especially if there is plumbing involved. I mean replacing a tub isn't that expensive in itself.
We already talked to the board (looking for recommendations) and the super. They aren't really picky they just want to make sure the person is licensed/insured. What we are doing doesn't require permits.
The labor to replace the tub would have been a lot because of the work involved. The plumber does not have to change anything around---the layout is staying the same. I'll be buying everything. He is going to replace a few things and install a few fixtures. I think the plumbing aspect of the quote is a little expensive (around 7K) but I'm thinking about just seeing what another plumber says it would cost.
I need my kitchen done, I need my bathroom done.
The whole concept is making me nauseous.
Maybe I'll luck out and die first.
The alternative: "You are getting very sleepy: you LOVE your kitchen and bathroom. You NEVER want to change it."
So I did a new toilet and a fancy faucet for a couple hundred and I tell myself it look good. It DOES help a bit. I bought a new high kitchen faucet and I'm debating installing it myself, but my ugly cabinets need an AXE.
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