We are just getting prices from contractors in NYC for our 35 sq ft (actually a little less since it's not quite 7 x 5) and prices are $7,500 - $20,000 from 4 different places. The bathroom is over 50 years old and we have just been living with it for a while. It's all contractor work, no DIY. We cannot move plumbing so the layout won't change. I'm not really sure what the $7,500 price includes since the contractor would really not elaborate beyond "a basic bathroom" that includes wall to wall new tile (what we have now). One vendor who did not do a site visit (only looked at photos) came in around $15K. I am waiting on formal proposals from 2 contractors that visited this week and I gave them the wish list below that does not include any fixtures choices or finish choices but they are steering us toward custom and semi custom. One vendor said not to spend too much since we could price out the market for resale (we are not selling anytime soon, if at all) so he came down to $20K from $25K. There is one more contractor on the list that we plan to call for an estimate. A neighbor spent $40K on her bathroom. I have not seen it but just heard the price this week so I will make it a point to visit to have a look. replace bathtub/drain & replace fixtures, adjustable rain shower with separate handheld replace medicine cabinet make laundry hamper area into storage (framed with shelving) demo wall to wall tile, replace tile add recessed storage on rear shower wall install new lighting paint entire room (replace bathroom and bedroom doors - only two doors in the apartment so they should match) replace metal towel bar in shower replace storage cabinets (towels & other products) install vessel sink and fixtures add handheld sprayer for toilet (may get washlet seat if elongated toilet will fit) cover and tile over pipes; add mesh venting remove shower door (install curved shower rod) replace ceramic towel bar (8 hooks?) & switch plate add vertical toilet paper holder upgrade & add electric outlets (2 x 2); not on same circuit as lights Labor only estimates so far: $12,650 $13,200 Materials $3,355 (low) - $7,355 (high) One GC sources and stores the materials which seem to be at least 25% -50% higher for some items than I've seen locally. This post was edited by kdnyc on Tue, Jun 3, 14 at 15:24

We recently finished our salt pool with flagstone coping and both the stone mason and the PB recommended we seal the stone. We didn't want to change the appearance so I'm using Natural Stone Treatment manufactored by Prosoco. I got it from a local stone supply company. I've tested it on a spare piece of stone and, once dry, it didn't change the look.

I've tried for the past few weeks to get used to the awful brown mortar on my flagstone, but I just can't live with the mortar......I've had multiple contractors come out for various things unrelated to the pool and 3 have commented on the "odd", "strange" mortar color without me even mentioning my opinion of it. Very shocking but really why was I surprised. It's kinda nice to finally realize I'm NOT crazy for hating it. It toned down slightly as it cured, but it's still hideous. :( I'm going to start working on a resolution, going to be a pain but I just can't live with this color......infurates me that my PB picked this color for me without asking me what I'd like. I'm sharing all of this in hopes that it will save at least someone from getting slapped with a bad mortar color----I've never seen a pool as far as I can tell that didn't have buff or just regular light gray mortar----so I had no clue to specify especially when all my my PB's pools looked to be to be a buff shade of mortar. All of their gallery pics and the 4 pools of theirs I visited.

Flagstone can be installed in a number of many ways - But, you should really ask to see an edge detail before it's installed. Most pool designers and salesguys just ASSUME that you know. A good swimming pool company will make you happy. Flagstone edges can be chiseled, polished, cut square, bullnosed, really whatever.... It's a natural stone and can be finished as you like - but... you mentioned "upgrade" and you are correct. My Arizona Swimming pool company in Phoenix specializes in flagstone work & flagstone coping. Our STANDARD edge is a chiseled edge - as you may see from many of our photos. We have had clients that don't like this, and if the sales guy has not set expectations, we can POLISH the edge. This is a relatively simple fix for Arizona sandstone, but more difficult for the upgrade flagstone (which is much harder & more difficult to work with!). The "piecing" together effect is common for the HARD flagstone products, since they are difficult to cut, but smaller, cheaper companies also use this as a TIME-SAVING technique to cut costs (and ultimately the finished look) It's much better to diamond cut the stone, and piece it together better. Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape & Pool Company