I'm so sorry. But you'll be happy again, and with your project too. As you probably already know, contractors and craftsmen hate to go backwards, but that's their problem.

I feek for you.

Why are they using greenboard? You can't use greenboard anymore.
They are supposed to use wonderboard or duroc with waterproof screws. It is cement board.
If greenboard gets wet it has the consistancy of cardboard

Who's idea was to frame the bathroom, Are you relocating your plumbing pipes to another location?

Why did they lower the ceiling?

Are you keeping the tub or are you removing it for a new one?

I have so many questions about this job.

Keep all your papers and all copies of checks, credit card payments, etc of this job.

Don't forget to keep progress photos of this job in a safe place.
Did you photograph the bathroom before you started?

I am getting agita reading your post.

Susan, they're putting cement board in the bathtub/shower area and greenboard in the rest of the bathroom. I'm not relocating any plumbing except to move the sink pipe over a couple of inches because my new wall-mount sink is wider than my old one - but they are replacing a lot of the old lead pipes with copper. I am replacing the tub, old cast iron with a new cast iron - the new one is already sitting in place. Also removed the old wall hamper which was partially recessed into the wall. The old ceiling was very damaged from various leaks in the apartment above me, so it makes sense that it had to be replaced - it was also a drop ceiling, and I don't know why they made the old one lower.

I am taking photos of every detail. I think they're just doing things the way they know how - they do have an old-school plasterer who could reconstruct the bathroom as just plaster without all of this framing - but I think it will be very expensive to do that. I need to get the price and then decide - the job is already getting crazy.

I'm meeting the contractor's salesman who prices the jobs at my apt tomorrow morning to discuss all this.

Charlikin,

I think everyone who undergoes a major project feels, at some point, that maybe they shouldn't have even started it. It's natural. It's just that right now with all the problems you can't envision it all coming together. But it will. It always does.

In preparation for your meeting tomorrow, I'd come up with a list of 3 things that are most important to you (i.e. preserving as much space as you can, etc) and then prioritize them. That way you can clearly communicate with the contractors what's most important to you. As you go through the meeting, do what you've been doing which is when something doesn't appeal to you, ask for options and the cost of those options. If a solution directly conflicts with one of the three priorities you've laid out, then put it aside (i.e. dropping the ceiling any further is not an option because the ceiling is fairly low already...).

I know this entire process is an emotional journey. In the meeting, try to remain calm and businesslike, ask for options and evaluate the pros/cons of those options. If you can't come up with a solution you can live with, I think someone on the bath forum suggested you interview other contractors. I know that would delay your project, but as another forum member has so wisely suggested, when you're ready to settle on something you're not happy with it's time to take a step back and regroup. Of course they said it more eloquently than that.

Just this week I was presented with a huge plumbing estimate to do some work outside the scope of my remodel. We called the contractor and explained that there was no way, no how we could afford that solution. After looking at the plumbing again (about 4 of us for quite some time), they were able to develop a solution I could live with that didn't carry any additional cost above my contract. Sometimes you do have to be a little assertive in asking for more options. You'd be surprised how creative people can be when you get a group together to solve a problem.

Just try to relax, have a cup of tea (if that's your thing) and know that it will all work out. It always does. Let us know how you make out tomorrow.

Charlikin, I don't write often on gardenweb, but we just went through the EXACT same experience in my 1920s 4' x 8' Brooklyn co-op bathroom and believe me I didn't sleep for about a month. Everything from the framing to fitting the new tub and toilet in was incredibly stressful. They just don't make fixtures in these tiny sizes anymore and as work commenced I was afraid you wouldn't be able to take more than 1-step into my shoebox bathroom. Similar to you my original walls were plaster and lathe and also one side was concrete and brick. Well whomever had last renovated the bathroom just tacked up 1/2 inch thin strip of wood right up against the brick and attached the walls to that. So when my contractor started framing out the new walls the correct way so that they were plumb I lost space from all sides. Honestly I got to the point where I really didn't care if the walls and ceiling were perfectly square I just wanted those few spare inches back!

Long story short, everything worked out, and I am very happy with my new bathroom but some weird accomodations had to be made (like we had to notch out the steel framing against the tub walls to recess the tub more so that the toilet would fit). Also really just had to stay on top of everyone to make sure that we weren't losing inches that could be avoided. Again, I didn't want perfect and less space, would rather slightly imperfect and save inches. This involved many many calls to the head of the company, the workers, the estimater, a few do-overs, etc. I am so glad it is over, but also happy that we did it!

Put on a brave face and just work through it, it'll work out in the end!

Thank you to everyone for supporting me through this miserable weekend! I'm feeling much better this evening.

My contractor's salesman met me at the apartment yesterday morning to look at the work and make suggestions on how they might improve things. That calmed me down a little (even after it turned out none of his suggestions were doable - I guess it's his job to manage client nerves).

This morning I met with the foreman and the tile guy (who's handling the framing). They talked to me for a long time. They explained exactly why they did each of the things they did, and showed exactly how much space I would be losing. They had good technical explanations for everything, and the dimensions are not as bad as I thought - I'm only losing about 1-1/2" in height, so my medicine chest and light fixture will fit. (It looked like more because I thought the mud floor would be higher.) I'm losing 2" in width (looks more like 3" to me), not 5-6", because I'm only losing it on one wall, not the opposite wall. The options to back out the work and do a pure plaster job were very expensive, and I decided to let them go forward.

I stopped by tonight to see the day's work and it looks okay. It's actually starting to look like a bathroom. Most of the sheetrock is up, there's a ceiling and a mud floor, the plumbing and electric were finished, it's framed for the medicine cabinet. It doesn't really look like a shoebox. I know I'm losing 3" in width, and I hate that, but I think I'll get used to it.

I panicked (blush!), but I think it's going to be okay.

(Does this get easier as it goes along???)

Yeah tracey ! I am so glad that it was doable and that you have people working for you that were so willing to take the time to explain . That is so important. As to the last question...I am takin' the 5th !!LOL. c

What Trailrunner(hi!) said... glad to hear things are working out. :)

Great progress! Glad they explained it all to you and you feel comfortable with it. There will be bumps along the road, but just remember the important thing is---you're on the road! It'll be beautiful when it's done.

Well, the bathroom has walls and a floor and a ceiling and lots of tile. Got to do some measurements last night - pretty much what I was afraid of. I lost 5" in width and 2-1/2" in ceiling height. Probably lost about 2" in length - haven't been able to do that measurement yet.

It's a very tiny room. But my medicine cabinet and light fixture will fit (though not as much room above the light as I would have liked). I think my sink will still be okay - glad I did a wall-mount instead of a vanity. *I'm* quite a bit thinner than I was last year, so maybe it's all a wash...

It's kind of astonishing how emotionally wrenching this whole experience is.