SoapZone Community Message Board

Now that I've fired my previous contractor (two years, $20K and ZERO done - last on the list of jobs and plans not approved yet) and am working with a new contractor, it's looking like I'll still have to act like the general contractor for most of the work!

The new guy didn't understand the concept at first and did an initial draft that was about 95% wrong. He redid them so it met our requirements, had us look at options for cabinet types, countertop materials, flooring, faucets, etc., had the cement guy come out twice to look at the requirements for the floor, had an electrician and plumber look at the place, drafted an estimate with the bottom line cost of $116,880. I told him that I'd have to talk with my finance guy to see what we can do, but I'm certain that we're not going to pay that much for the job. It's the removal of a screen room, leveling the cement in the screen room (which already has rebar and footers), extending the sides about ten feet on the side where the laundry room will be added going all the way down to ten feet past the end of the current screen room and to the end of the house to have an uncovered patio (a cement pad), with plumbing for the new kitchen (we already bought the dishwasher, refrigerator, gas range, and microwave oven with vent. He'd told us that anything we buy on our own and install or have it installed will reduce the price significantly because they charge a 32% mark up on anything they buy from someone else and install.

My daughter and I spent yesterday afternoon and this afternoon looking at items that we could "subcontract" and have installed. We have a pile of tile that I'm fairly sure someone could install for less than their labor costs. We found the countertop (3cm granite that's gray with purple splotches) at the store where he was going to place the order and got a quote (one slab for almost $2500, so their mark up would be about $900 more...and the store does the template, cuts, finishes and installation) that my daughter liked, then we looked at cabinets, we need to find sinks for the kitchen, and pick out doors. We may end up using him for plans, permitting and serving as general contractor while we supply most items. The plumbing for the kitchen area should be relatively easy. I had the last guy leave lines that connect it through the plumbing under the new bathtub he'd just installed. The plumbing for the laundry room should be a simple matter of cutting a hole in the wall between the new space and the pantry to hook the water lines to the plumbing for the water softener in the pantry. I think the final cost will be way less than about twice as much as I paid for my house initially.

We'll see what my finance guy says and what the guy is going to suggest to lower the cost. My daughter has advertisements from the cabinet folks at Lowe's and may be picking some options this week.

I'd like this to be done before Christmas. Hoping that's not too ambitious.