Bathroom Reno..Have you had any work done by this firm?

[petal]

Hi,

I contacted four firms to provide quotes for renovating our small bathroom (1.8x1.7 - 2.7m walls) and received quotes from two. One firm verbally told me it would cost $20,000 to renovate a bathroom this size.

We are keeping the shower/bath and basin all roughly where they are (the vanity basin will be moving a few cm - so too with the taps).

The two quotes I got was for $10,500 and a smidge under $6,000 - although we will be supplying all of the tiles, taps, vanity etc. The company will be stripping the old walls (asbestos), rewalling it and tiling it.

I rang the consumer people in Canberra to see if there had been any complaints about the company with the cheaper quote, but they were not able to give me any information.

Wondering if anyone has had any work done by JustFixIt or if you had any comments on the difference in quotes.

[Dirty Doogie]

I can't comment on the company you mentioned.

As for the quotes though - I tend to think the 6k quote may be a tad low and the 10k quote maybe a bit high if you are supplying all the prime cost items. You will need a plumber ( $500 - $ 800), a tiler, labor and scree ( guestimate about $1k), a waterproofer (about $400 - $600 depending on membrane used). So already there is about 2.5K in trades before the carpentry stuff starts.

If you go with the 6k quote try and get them to fix the price. Remember bathrooms are fiddly places to reno and initial quotes can blow out once work starts. I would have thought about 7.5 k would be what I'd pay to get the work done.

[barney118]

Hi Petal,

Cant comment on the company, but it sounds like you are actually busting at the seams to do the job yourself since you are most of the way there arleady and maybe not even realise it. :D

I tackled my first barthroom reno myself about 5 yrs ago and I am much wiser now and I am pretty happy with the job. The only thing left in my bathroom original is the ceiling plaster. All I can say is you will pay for what you get. Materials alone are a bit pricey but shopping round does cut a few corners.
I used one contractor to cut 100mm holes in the cocncrete slab $100 (the floor was a 9 hole golf course!) and I had a firm build a showerscreen to fit on the spa the rest I did myself. Waterproofing, tiling its a matter of reading especially A/S and asking questions to forums like this one, at least you know that the job was done with a bit of care. Heres a few pics of mine. apologies for a couple of crappy scans as you can see the colour in the last pic better, I have also a showerscreen on etc. I still have to replace the window, I am not happy with it its a temporary 5yrs on :D

[tryitonce!]

Personally, I wouldn't use them again, EVER!!!!! EVER!!!! I CANNOT recommend them. :(( .
Overpriced. (Did they really give you the lowest quote:o ?
Do what Dirty Doogie says and tie them down to it quick!!!!) My main concern was really shoddy electrical work that I had to have redone by someone else.
If the company Project Manage the job (sounds like they are) they might whip him into shape if he is still there.
As I understand it the guy who owns the company has the tradies subcontract to him and they pay a huge fee to him for the work referrals so they tend to mark up their work a LOT. Hence the insanely high carpentry quote I got. If the owner gave you the quote for all the work he may not mark it up so much as the individual tradies would and you may be okay - just make sure there is no room for those little extras they forgot to include.

Note re asbestos removal, I read that ACT recently made legislative changes regarding the removal of asbestos so that may push prices up. The cheaper quote may try to push up the price if that aspect hasn't been included.