OT: Home Repair/Remodeling price estimates?

[MarisaSF]

How do you find an estimate for, eg, how much new flooring would cost besides asking a bunch of professionals? I'd love to find a website or some sort of list.

We are contemplating several long- and short-term renovation projects. Are there resources that give approximate costs of various projects? I'm not far enough along to get professional estimates or shop for new flooring, for example. I just want to budget for how much new flooring would cost so I can decide whether to tackle new flooring or new fixtures, kwim? I don't know enough neighbors to feel comfortable asking for prices of this or that.

TIA!

[kristenk]

I think it depends on several things. How much flooring are you having done? What's currently on that floor right now? What would you like to replace it with?

If you measure your square footage, you can get a pretty decent estimate w/o having people come into your house. Go to Lowe's or HD and look at flooring samples. I think most flooring samples end up giving you a price/sq. foot. Ask the person in the flooring dept. how much installation costs. There will be one cost to remove the existing flooring, if necessary, and that will depend on what's currently on your floor. There will be another cost for actually installing the new flooring. The installation cost will be different for different types of flooring (carpet vs. tile vs. wood). Add up all of the costs and there's your estimate.

You could probably do most of it via phone, too. Call to find out about installation costs, but look around on-line to find an idea of how much the new flooring material itself would cost.

HTH a little!

[MarisaSF]

Thank you!
Maybe my original question was dumb. I now see that there are so many things to consider as there are so many "grades" of quality in materials, etc.

My main hold-up now is that I don't know which project I want to tackle first because I don't have an idea of how much each might cost, iykwim. I don't *know* if I want to do floors first, or maybe I want to change our bathroom fixtures, or maybe the pantry shelves.

I was hoping for some type of list that gives maybe a range of prices for new countertop installation, new flooring (not sure which type as it might depend on price), new closet shelves, and several other home projects. Oh well. Thanks for the guidance. You made it look easy! :) I think you've inspired me to tackle flooring first. :)

[Jo..]

There are several *rough* on-line cost estimators (ymmv). HTH!


http://www.contractors.com/h/info/resources.html
http://www.homeinspectorlocator.com/resources/Costtorepair.htm
http://www.building-cost.net/

[MarisaSF]

awesome! thanks, Jo!

[kristenk]

There's really nothing to get a flooring estimate w/o all of the hassle you run into with everything else! I promise!

The hardest part is measuring your floor and that's not exactly rocket science! :P

Just remember that the design people at HD/Lowe's are your friends. Sketch out (with measurements) your countertop and get pricing on that while you're getting your flooring estimates! It'll give you a rough estimate that's appropriate for your exact situation.

Good luck! (And I'm going to have to check out those calculators that got posted, too!)

[galvjen]

Of your list we've done flooring, countertops/backsplash, & bathroom fixtures (plus some other upgrades) over the past 2 years. Flooring was definitely the easiest in terms of selecting the new materials, understanding all the costs before we got going, and dealing with the mess during the removal/installation. All aspects of upgrades to the kitchen were a headache from day 1 of planning through the end of the project. Bang for the buck, flooring and painting are a much bigger impact than a kitchen facelift.

Flooring estimates are pretty simple: measure how much space you have adding 10% for waste, remove existing, prep floors for new material, and install new flooring with necessary mouldings or whatever.

For your advance planning, things to consider when you do your countertops: a new countertop assures you'll also upgrade the backsplash, sink (~$400 or more), faucet ($100 or more), & garbage disposal ($75 or more). When you see the cost of a countertop it usually does not include removal of your existing, decking for the new countertop, finishing the edge for an undermount sink, or any of the fancier edge finishes. All costs associated with the backsplash demolition & installation are also additional costs. The half dozen countertop conractors we talked with did not do electrical work (if needed because you desire new outlights/lighting, etc...), carpentry (if needed to support heavy material like granite or an undermount sink) or plumbing (to connect your new sink/faucet/disposer). If you can't sync up the various contractors, it can add hours/days to the project during which you may not having running water in your kitchen (or a working dishwasher since that may be associated with your sink's plumbing which is disconnected).

A lot more info than I intended - hope at least some is helpful.
Jen

[Wife_and_mommy]

Thanks for sharing this info. We're prepping to do a kitchen reno so your advice is helpful. :)



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