...I am thinking about doing a remodel of my upstairs bedroom, including replacing the existing window, replacing the drywall (or whatever it is on the existing walls!) and adding a closet (replacing the two inadequate ones) and a bathroom (there isn't one there now). The new bath won't be over the existing bathroom but that's not a problem because the pipes can be boxed and hidden in a future closet on the first floor. OTOH, my plan is to run the pipes down one side of the main load-bearing wall, so I want to make sure that the house structure is in no way compromised.
I'm not going to do this work myself, but hire it out. Should I hire a general contractor or should I hire the carpenter/plumber/electrician/tile guy separately? I should say that I have friends/acquaintances who are professionals who can do all this -- and I know that they do good work. On the other hand, a general contractor can probably get it all done sooner.
Any tips on hiring a general contractor? What about specifying that he use my craftspeople or is that a no-no?
Get a GC to create the plans and manage the project, and give him (assumption) your preferred subs' names.
In my upstairs, I removed a badly designed closet, and had the space turned into a half bath. Used the existing exhaust pipe from the full bath as a conduit for the new plumbing. Added a badly-needed window in that exterior wall (now I can see when/who is on my driveway), not to mention light and ventilation.
Because I hired one carpenter for rough framing, a plumber for the pipes, another carpenter for more framing and the window (he vanished), and another pair for finish, it looks like it was designed by a committee.
Plumber centered his work on the two respective walls, so when the window was added, the stack is off-center from it.
The small stylish vanity I picked out would have worked if the toilet had been positioned closer to the opposite wall...I ended up unloading it on Craigslist for the purchase price, and going with a small wall-mount sink.
Pair of guys framed in the stack pipe with excessive material, and when they installed the toilet, they left it at an angle because they didn't leave enough room for the tank. And they kept disappearing, leaving my garage full of their tools and equipment.
The above sounds very Suessian, but it's actually okay. I did the finish work, adding some visual tricks that make the spaces look balanced.
If I ever do this again, I would go with one competent project manager who can keep things moving.
Oh, and I learned how to finish drywall taping, and lay 1" glass tile. Happy with the final results, more so than I would have been if some contractor had gotten to have that fun.
