A 15K-20K project is not too small for most contractors to tackle. Look under Find A Pro above. Doing the floor tile won't add that much more $ to the project as you are already gutting everything else.

This is going to be $7-10K max. Even a contractor who brags no job to small and sets a $2K minimum has declined to bid.

And that's why you can't get anyone to do the work. Your expectations don't match your budget. Don't make the mistake of going with an unlicensed handyman type that tells you lies about it either. Keep saving to do the job that you want. Or reduce the scope to fit the budget.

Texas does not license general contractors. This does not mean that I am recommending a handyman type. In Texas, however, the lack of licensure sometimes makes it hard to tell the good contractors from the handyman type.

Theresa Red Guard is water proofing. It goes on with a roller.

There is no new tub, no new toilet, I need 75 square feet of wall tile, $1500 for a real wood vanity with top and sink, $500-600 for new faucet and shower fixtures. Wallpaper removal, wall prep and painting for a 10 by 10 room. Where does this get over $10K? It doesn't and that's why its too small for the very busy Austin contractors. The wood floors in the family room, re-lacquered kitchen cabinets, new mantle, quartz tops including an 8 foot long desk and a 5 by 7 island, tiled back splash, tiling the Jack and Jill bath and painting all three rooms were only $38K. I get that this was less than five years ago when no one was renovating or buying because of the recession. The kitchen also had wallpaper removed, walls repaired and textured.

smit2380 I've been contacting contractors that our neighbors in the surrounding eleven developments have raved about. I am four for four. I have great plumbers, expensive electricians, several tile contractors recommended by the to the trade tile dealer and no problem with painters. I just am willing to pay the 30% up fee for someone else to have the overall headache.

One of the two contractors who came here questioned why I would not replace the oiled bronze sconces since they would not be centered on the new vanity! I explained the new freestanding unit would be using the existing plumbing for the pedestal sink and thus the current light fixtures were perfect! He has been in business for a couple of decades.

Sophie, this is not a gut job. No walls will move. It is basically redecorating. The cement board will be needed because the 4 by 4 Daltile removal will ruin the blue board. The contractor did not prime before wallpapering so we know the plasterboard will need floated. We have done that in the master and kitchen.

Floor tile will require removal of existing tile. This will be a real challenge since it was a mud job. It took half a day and an electric hammer to get up the hearth. That is why I am not sure if its worth the effort. The existing tile covers this bath, the foyer, the kitchen and what the architect termed a gallery area that runs behind the living room and down a hall to the master suite. Its a few hundred square feet. I think that could run as much as the entire redecorating job.

Its not a question of saving up for what I want. I have everything picked I just need the labor. Its probably less than a two week job.