Costs? Bay window and double sink conversion.

[kaylie]

I know there's no way to tell for sure, but just trying to see what ball park we'll be in.

We have a wood bay window, original to the house (1986) that is going to need replacing. It's about 3-4 feet tall and 5-6 feet across. We're in a M-H COL area. Can anyone tell me what they paid and for what level of quality?

Also, our 2nd floor hall bath has a single sink and there's tons of room to make it a double. I'd buy a new double vanity to replace the single. How complicated/costly would it be for a plumber to convert the one into two?

[auntie]

The window will be pricey. We did one about that size and paid about $1600 almost 15 years ago for the window alone and that was with an employee discount.

The window was an "Anderson". I used quotes because it was shop made from Anderson components rather than an Anderson Bay which is part of why it was so cheap. It was a troublesome PITA. Here's a link to the Anderson Catalog; Home Depot's prices will be somehwat cheaper-

www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/bay-windows-for-your-home.htm

The sink redo will require plumbing to be moved; plumbing prices can be all over the place.

[vanillahip]

I have no clue on the window, the sink depends on a lot of things. Is the drainage from the single sink large enough (enough capacity) for a second sink? What kind of materials are we talking here? (PVC drainage? Copper plumbing? Any galvanized?) You really need to have a plumber come take a look for you. (but if it's copper plumbing and pvc drainage and you just break into the existing lines for the 2nd sink, you could DIY it for probably under $100. Except sweating copper is not exactly idiot-proof, I'm not allowed to do it or I'll burn our house down)

[kaylie]

Thanks ladies!!!

I had a feeling the bay window was going to be pricey, but that's not as bad as I was expecting, especially for an Anderson.

As far as the sink - geez, I don't know any of that! I'll have to ask a plumber. H actually took "plumbing for the homeowner" at the community college and learned to sweat copper pipes. Not sure I'm prepared to let him DIY though. There's just too much that can go wrong.

[FoxInFiji]

I would be far more comfortable doing DIY copper pipes + compression fitted flexible stainless hoses for the sinks than redoing the entire main electrical panel! DIY plumbing is much easier than DIY electrical. If the lines leak they are still fixable with more solder and will be easy to see. My suggestion is to dry fit everything first, then solder all the piece together away from the current piping so it's one piece, and then solder onto the current stems. Let cool and attach stainless hoses with compression fittings. But the nicer versions of those they only cost a few bucks more and are less likely to leak. Also make sure to drain the lines from a low faucet in the system after turning the water off to the house. Water in the lines will keep the pipes from reaching the needed temperatures for a good solder joint.

[kaylie]

I'm mostly concerned with him wielding open flame in the house =) I did tell him you said no to the electric panel though, and it's off the table as an option.

Maybe we can consider DIY for the plumbing. I'm assuming we'd have to open up the wall, but we could repair that ourselves.

This is the offending sink and the space to the left of it is where I want to add the additional plumbing.


Here is the plumbing as it is now. It doesn't look like copper:




Would the DIY be harder if the pipes weren't copper?

[thatgirl2478]

As for the window - we got quotes around $3,000 - $4,000 just to replace our bay window. That's how much we're spending to replace 7 other windows in the house! We decided we'll live with the old one for a while...

Your pipes are copper. Your drain line is PVC and your supply likes are woven stainless, but your actual pipes are copper. That's better left to a pro unless you have done it before. You may not need to go in the the walls - call a plumber for a consult/estimate. You might be surprised by the price.

[kaylie]

My original guess on the bay window was going to be $5,000. In those mailers they send out that have ads for local home improvement businesses I've see coupons for $500 off a bay or bow window which made me realize it was going to be extreme. I'm hoping we can hold off on it for five years, but the one we currently have is definitely going to need replacing because of the condition of the wood so I want to have a number in mind to factor into our savings plan. Along with the eight million other things this house needs. =)