Making progress...

So he selected contractor #2 who seems like a nice guy and has done work with a colleague. The photos looked good and a contract (work order) has been drafted up and awaits signatures. He plans to start between Dec 1 and 15th.

There have been issues with the tub removal. Currently, for condos there is a 3/8 drain requirement, and if a slab were to go in that would not allow for the 2" space needed for draining. As a result, he's decided not to order the slab and go with custom 4x4" or 2x2" tiles in the shower base. The small size will allow for sloping. We went to CIOT again and they have a nice variety of small porcelain tiles. We liked the 2x2 Golden Nugget at $4.95/sq ft.

We also went to Lowe's and picked up accessories like a toilet paper holder, towel ring and hooks. They were chrome, looked similar to the high end ones but were a fraction of the cost.

Contractor Estimate #1

How do you find a good contractor that's willing to renovate a condo bathroom? We went to RenoMark (see bathroom links area on this blog). They have a standard that they require all their renovators to follow.

You can also visit some web-sites (see links) for contractor ratings. Although, a colleague of mine had a mishap with a contractor that received a 9.0 (out of 10) rating so you never know...

We contacted Contractor #1 to give both of us an estimate on our respective bathrooms. We learned the following from him:

1. Tiles

• Labour for marble costs more (adhesive is extra)
• Consider mosaic tiles for a modern look
• Don't go with marble dust products as they scratch
• Tile size doesn't effect cost
• You have to remove the tub anyways and may get damaged in the process, consider replacing

2. Faucets

• If replacing tiles, should replace tub and sink faucets for an updated look
• Rain head - height of ceiling should be considered - may not allow for it
• For re-sale value, adjustable heights will sell better (moveable shower head)
• Consider a brand like Aquabrass, similar value to more expensive brands

3. Tub

• Consider half glass panel for shower instead of sliding doors?
• Consider concrete sheet/slab behind tile

4. Countertops

• Consider quartz (ceasarstone) - it's more expensive but won't scratch, and it's not porous
• Don't extend countertop behind toilet (dated look)
• Granite is good but may be porous - it's necessary to "seal" it so that it's water-proof (not sure how often sealing is required?)

5. Vanity

• Custom made versus pre-made: a few colleagues mentioned that they picked up their vanity at Home Sense and also Rona (for between $700-$1100). This is less expensive (and faster!) than custom made but you may not get exactly what you want.
• Wall mounted is more of a design trend, less storage for a condo - may require more support for backing to hold in place (concrete walls need to handle load)

6. Plumbing

• Ensure building shuts off water to entire condo unit prior to work done

7. Other issues

• Garbage disposal
• Booking elevators (in advance)
• Letter to Management board 10 days prior & approval required

We received quotes that higher than anticipated! We're going to get a second and third opinion (to see if everything matches up) and continue to check more showrooms. Any ideas? Let us know!