Any pro plumbers in the house??? Or people that have done work on pipes in cement??? Now with more PICS !

[Vette73]

I do all my plumbing but am now having to look for a plumber as the work I am doing is a FULL bathroom remodel. The reason I can;t do it is 1 time and 2 the pipes are in the cement.

What kind of prices are in the ball park for cutting the cement and running new pipes/drains/vents. I have everything ripped down to studs.

I am in No. Va close to DC (Springfield VA 22150). I have been using craigslist to try and find a local small shop to do the work. Trying to cut out as many middle men. 1 person wrote back it be about $1900 plus parts to help with the remodel. I am e-mailing more at craigslist and have 1 person coming out to see.

The remodel will have a walk in tile shower (kerdi system), whirlpool bathtub, move the toliet a couple feet, and install a L shape dual sink counter top.


PICS

Here are some pics...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/Before.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/After.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/Wide.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/vent_pipe.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/tub_pipe.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/toliet_sink.JPG



UPDATE

Had another no show, 3 total. Finaly had 1 show up and he would not give a estimate as the cement is really thick. I told him all I need is pipes run and a rough in.

But at least he showed up and said he get back.

 

[manowar821]

Sorry, Marlin, but our princess is in another castle!

 

[amdskip]

To me $1900 seems pricey. It sounds like you are handy enough that I would almost say to check into renting a concrete cutting saw/jackhammer and doing it yourself. How far away is everything that you need to tap into? I would also be concerned about at what level the sewer exit is at because I know some people have to install pumps because it is too high.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: amdskip
To me $1900 seems pricey. It sounds like you are handy enough that I would almost say to check into renting a concrete cutting saw/jackhammer and doing it yourself. How far away is everything that you need to tap into? I would also be concerned about at what level the sewer exit is at because I know some people have to install pumps because it is too high.

Well the pipes feed into he basement so the angle should not be to bad a problem. My biggest problem is time and also if the drain for the shower is off by to much then the tile shower will not work. Also the pipes are running from one side to the other. Going from 1 small sink to 2. 1 fiberglass tub to a sep. tub shower setup, etc... A lot of place to mess up and cement is not as forgiving or easy to "adjust" as a wood subfloor.


Also I think the $1900 was them doing about 90% of the work, like pipes, wall, shower, etc... To be honest if I could get at leat what I need $1900 sounds good, that is how much other work I have to do. I have to install 2 windows, 1 french door, reframe soem areas for new doors, overhaul a closet, re-wire most of the house, install lights, fix some wood rot after removing the siding, etc...
Trust me I hate having others work on ANYTHING of mine and I am cheap. So I rather do the work, but also want it done and still be married after.

 

[GMI]

Can you take some pictures for us? It's hard to judge with just your description. Although from what you said so far, it seems 1900 is a fair deal, but I'm from northen California, so our labor cost is a bit more. Just make sure you don't pay it all up front, especially with plumbing jobs.

 

[amdskip]

lol, gotcha. I am in the process of remodeling my 2 full bathrooms right now. New tile floor going down and new sinks/vanities along with paint, etc. It takes tons of time and I have a patio door to replace at my place too sometime. Feel free to come help me with mine once you have done yours. I'm a little intimidated by the whole thing.

 

[vailr]

Re: "2 the pipes are in the cement." Slab construction is usually only a 3 or 4 inch thick layer of cement over gravel.
To save money, it may be possible to use a cement chisel and sledge hammer (wear safety goggles), instead of going to the expense of renting a jack hammer.
If there's a 2nd bathroom in the dwelling, see about installing water shutoff valves, just for the area under renovation.
That way, you're not under as much of a time constraint in getting the renovation done in a short time period.
Try and re-use existing pipe work, as much as possible.
The less time the plumber is actually on location, the less his final tab will be.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: GMI
Can you take some pictures for us? It's hard to judge with just your description. Although from what you said so far, it seems 1900 is a fair deal, but I'm from northen California, so our labor cost is a bit more. Just make sure you don't pay it all up front, especially with plumbing jobs.

Here are some pics...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/Before.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/After.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/Wide.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/vent_pipe.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/tub_pipe.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Marlin1975/toliet_sink.JPG

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: vailr
Re: "2 the pipes are in the cement." Slab construction is usually only a 3 or 4 inch thick layer of cement over gravel.
To save money, it may be possible to use a cement chisel and sledge hammer (wear safety goggles), instead of going to the expense of renting a jack hammer.
If there's a 2nd bathroom in the dwelling, see about installing water shutoff valves, just for the area under renovation.
That way, you're not under as much of a time constraint in getting the renovation done in a short time period.
Try and re-use existing pipe work, as much as possible.
The less time the plumber is actually on location, the less his final tab will be.

Na much thicker then 3-4 inches. I already tried the sledge and that just tired me out and did not much.

We don't live there but time problem is my wife wants in and trying to get done beofre it start to cool down as I have a pile of other work to do as well.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

that would seem to be a pretty reasonable price for what you've described.

 

[DrPizza]

I've never had to do any work where I needed to remove concrete, and do all my plumbing myself. That said, I still think $1900 is pretty steep. Basically, you just want him to remove the concrete, rough in the new plumbing, or at least get it to the wall, and pour new concrete? If you're handy, and it sounds like you are, it seems that a bit of research might save you a significant hunk of that $1900.

 

[Colt45]

rent a jackhammer

 

[GMI]

From your pictures, $1900 + material cost is seems a bit high, but still reasonable. You can rent a jackhammer as others have suggested and it shouldn't take you more than 4 fulls days of work to finish. But if you're working with someone that gives a warrenty for their work, I would be more incline to have someone else do it

 

[bctbct]

IF you go DIY rent a gas powered quicky saw with a diamond blade. Cut the outline for trenches rather than removing all the concrete floor, this willcut down on how much you have to remove. Sledge hammer should be able to break out the 4" floor pretty easily.

The reinforcing wire is the worse part of the demo, unless you cut it loose from the edges you have to pulverize the concrete to get it out....that sucks.

Price seems ok if he is removing, replacing concrete and the rough in for plumbing.

 

[Rubycon]

Concrete scares me. :Q

 

[Vette73]

I got 2 more people coming out sometime this week. So see what they say. Also the guy said $1800, not 1900.


I need more prices on drywall as well. Drywall guy wants $1900. But that is what he told my wife.


\Also anybody use any of the off-brand faucets from eBay. Serch for waterfall and they show up.

 

[Dubb]

do you really need to cut out the encased stuff or could you get away with just drilling new holes? If you can run the pipes in the basement and just stub up where you need them, you can just rent a core drill and do it yourself (or save some money on the contactor's scope of work). cut back/patch/cap the existing stuff, and just leave it in there.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Dubb
do you really need to cut out the encased stuff or could you get away with just drilling new holes? If you can run the pipes in the basement and just stub up where you need them, you can just rent a core drill and do it yourself (or save some money on the contactor's scope of work). cut back/patch/cap the existing stuff, and just leave it in there.

The basement is to the side of the cement slab. The slab was added a LONG time after the house was built.
So no basement under the master room.

 

[Greenman]

$1900 sounds fair to me. In one of your pics it looks like the vent pipe from the bath fan is connected to a plumbing vent, is that really going on or am I not getting a good view?

 

[Squisher]

Yeah price seems fair.

If you do the demolition the price will come down.

Once you do the demolition the plumbing won't seem so hard.

I'd still find someone else to pour the new concrete and get it dead flat for your flooring.


But, you said time is against you. How much time can you devote to this and when does it have to be functional?

 

[skyking]

Around here, the concrete saw contractors charge $350 to show up and do 2 hours work.
He probably has $500 or more in there just to get at the work.

 

[bctbct]

Forgot to mention that if you use a quicky saw yourself, use a hudson spayer to reduce the dust.

 

[DrPizza]

Holy Cow! $1900 to drywall a room?! Yikes! I went into the wrong business. I *hate* drywalling, but I'd do it day after day if I was getting paid that much.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Holy Cow! $1900 to drywall a room?! Yikes! I went into the wrong business. I *hate* drywalling, but I'd do it day after day if I was getting paid that much.

That room drywalled should run no more than $800.-$900. to do the job. Material would run roughly 12-13 sheets and cost about $300.-$350. w/ $500. labor. 3 days to complete. 2 Days with multiple fans in the room for inbetween dry time for the mud.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Greenman
$1900 sounds fair to me. In one of your pics it looks like the vent pipe from the bath fan is connected to a plumbing vent, is that really going on or am I not getting a good view?

Yep the vent and bath fan ran on the same pipe.



Also the drywall was for doing that full room/bath and the ceiling in 2 other rooms with a couple small spots and a closet. I am also going ot get some more looks at that as my wife thinks the guy told her the $1900 did NOT include the drywall.



Time is just about 2 months. So not a major rush but I work a regular day job (Fed goverment). So I work about 2-3 hours everyday doing small things and then work all day on Sat. with my brother in-laws. So there is no way I can do it all myself that quick being there is a ton of small stuff and I need to still remove the siding to fix soem wood rot, patch a leak in the roof I just saw the other day, etc.... everyday seems to add another item.