okay, so you have to use metal framing. With my total lack of knowledge as to what's involved, I don't see why they can't square off a room using this material.

You'll be glad when this is just a distant memory of one of the 'glitches' that had to be dealt with.

I have no concept of what issues might come into play that would prohibit him from using metal studs.

I've re-framed several rooms with metal studs that were way out of whack. Metal studs are quite common in commercial, a little less common in residential.

Mongo

If he can't handle it, maybe the managing agent will have names of some contractors who can. I imagine you'll not have to live without a bathroom for very long...(is this your only bathroom? Are you using the gym for showers?)

Yes, it's my only bathroom! I'm in a sublet right now, which I have till the end of the month - no chance of extending it since the lease will be up.

They framed my kitchen with heavy-duty metal studs yesterday - looks good. Not sure what the issue is with the bathroom, but I guess the contractor will explain it to me later this morning. This contractor has a very good reputation, so it's hard for me to believe he can't do something that someone else *would* be able to do, but maybe I just have too much faith in him...

It's hard for me to believe that he and my managing agent won't be able to come up with some sort of acceptable strategy to put my bathroom back together. So I'm just keeping my fingers crossed (and taking a lot of deep breaths).

Will report back later...

Hmmm, odd...if he has already used metal in the kitchen...

I'll be interested to hear what happens, charlikin...good luck.

Okay, we had the big summit at my apt this morning with the contractor, the tile guy, my managing agent, my super, and me. The issue wasn't so much putting the wood studs *in* the "open" walls, as putting them *on* the walls that can't be opened up so that they can still attach the cement board (I guess) and tile on top of that. (I think they also need a little bit of wood inside the open walls...)

Here's a photo showing the two types of walls:

{{gwi:1489674}}

There's the sink wall on the right which is wire lathe & concrete with all the pipes in front of it - that can be framed with metal studs. On the left is the tub back wall (the brown part is where the tile used to be) - that's straight plaster over concrete (I guess) - doesn't open up the way the others do. They want to put wood on that to hold the drywall...

It's a 1948 building and constructed very differently from modern buildings, especially since it's a fireproof 1948 building. My contractor had told me he had experience with these types of buildings, but now I'm not so sure - this is definitely a challenge for them. (And will be *very* expensive for me, I suspect...)

Anyway, the upshot is that *somehow* they will be able to reconstruct my bathroom. :-)

Oh man!!! That is quite the unexpected turn of events and I am so sorry to hear that. I grew up in a similar building ( I think it was built in 49 or 30 by the way)... and I do know that people really did not re-do much at the time. However I would imagine that in 60 years, surely you cannot be the first person to renovate? I am surprised with your contractor and I am hopeful that it is kind of miscommunication--- and I am certain it will all work out just fine- and probably not much longer OR costly--- just different from what was originally planned by the contractor. I am confident that to us laypeople it will look exactly as originally planned.
Keep us posted --- I am sure it will all work out for you and you will love the outcome!
Sheila

Not redoing much sounds like it would have been the way to go. This is not going well at all.

I stopped at the apartment last night to check up on the work that was done and was horrified to find that they'd framed out the bathroom (using a combination of metal beams and wood) in such a way that it's going to be about 5-6" narrower in one direction, 3" in the other, and the ceiling would be 4" lower than before (it had already been dropped before - I don't know why they have to drop it any lower).

I totally freaked and left an angry message on the contractor's voicemail. I know it's difficult construction, but what they've done is unacceptable to me. I want them to rip it out and redo it in such a way that I don't lose so many inches from what is already a tiny bathroom.

I'm not an assertive person. This is all very difficult for me.

I think you need to find a real plasterer who can attach new metal lath as the old and go from there. That will add no thickness to the walls beyond what was there originally. If the right plaster is used it will be a bulletproof foundation for tile or what have you.
It seems as if your contractor is applying familiar solutions to a unique set of problems, much to your detriment. If I am not mistaken you really cannot spare that many inches lost to his inexperienced or unwilling attitude.
Casey

Have you asked your managing agent to connect you with folks who have redone their bathrooms? They might have names/leads...Or is there a building e-mail list or something like that where you could ask directly?

Don't use contractors recommended by your managing agent or board.
You are in New York not Kansas.

Reality of New York Is kickbacks from contractor referals to board or managing agent.
One big reason contractors in New York are way overpriced.

There was a biggie of a scandal years ago that the district attorney uncovered.

Find an owner in the building who hired someone independently.

Ah, gitananoel, good point I guess...of course there would be something like that with money to be made...so asking owners directly would be best.

Charlikin, I just wrote back to you on the kitchen board, as I went through an almost identical experience recently. I can recommend my contractor to you if you'd like, but honestly after doing my bathroom last month I don't know if they'll want to take on a similar project. It was not fun! It did work out in the end though and they were very gracious and accomodating throughout the entire process. stephemt at hotmail dot com if you'd like to contact me.

Good luck!

You know, it's funny. When I first started looking for contractors, I actually asked my managing agent for a recommendation (which I was going to take with a grain of salt) - he didn't have one for me!

I think I may be the only kitchen & bathroom renovation in the building where they've actually taken down the walls. I think other people have done more "surface"-type work.

Anyway, as I wrote on the kitchen forum, I think things are going to be okay with my bathroom. The loss in size isn't as bad as I thought, and they had good reasons for doing it the way they did. It does sound like they know what they're doing and that they're not taking shortcuts.

I'm going to take ten deep breaths now. (It was hard to do that in the apartment - too much plaster dust!)