Where is a good place to add a bathroom? How much money?

Question

I just purchased a 4 bedroom 1 bathroom house that I want to rehab. I want to add a 2nd bathroom either upstairs or the basement. The problem with the upstairs is that the roof is slanted so there may not be much room for a bathroom addition without punching out the ceiling.

Would it be better to just add the 2nd bathroom upstairs or in the basement.

Does anyone know what a good price should be for the addition?  What is the best way to find a good cotractor?  Home depot?[/img]

Frank Adams · Answer

I've found the "best" place to add is either behind or (in a multi-story) directly under, the original bathroom. Sometimes adding a 1/2 bath (toilet and sink) is way cheaper than adding the whole bath.

I've done them by "shrinking" a bedroom and adding a separate door, adding it into a pre-existing a laundry room, and making a small room between an attached garage and a house.

The cheapest one I ever did was the one in the laundry room. Toilet was $5, towel bars and toilet paper holder $1.50 for all three, 8 light light fixture $2, discontinued pedastal sink at HD $10, faucet free and mirror free from a friend. I spent more on PVC and PVC cement than the rest of it combined. May be a record for cheap baths.

Good luck

all cash

John Wolff · Answer

A good rule of thumb for adding a bathroom is to figure betweeen $500 and $900 per fixture.  If you add it in the basement it may cost more due to needing to include a pump to your system.

The best thing to do is get 3 or 4 bids from local contractors ask around find out who is reputable.

Are you planning to purchase more homes or refinance this one after remodeling?

Hope this helps,

[edited by Webmaster]