2015 Basement Project

[Peasie]

The finished basement has served us well in this old house in which I live. I hope to remodel the basement creating open spaces for:

• a guest suite with kitchenette
• bathroom re-do
• laundry area re-do

On my wish list is a pet-wash sink. While I don't plan to have dogs all my life, I think this is a good idea to also store buckets and mops. Here is the concept for an inexpensive pet-wash:



If I had a larger house, I would so have a mud room in which I would put in a dog-wash as well as washer/dryer. Pickney can wash dem muddy shoes, etc. in there too.

[Peasie]

I can also put dogs' water and food bowls in here

I like how this one look

[Emperah]

just tink seh if yuh did get rid a de fufool dawg yuh wouldn't haffi tink pan dem tings here

[kia027]

pet washes look good until the pet shakes the water all over the place.

They have some places u can carry your pet for a wash (pet wash like a car wash) with dryers and everything.

It will however make your home have a very unique feature. As you have smallish dogs will the sink be enough?

[kia027]

just tink seh if yuh did get rid a de fufool dawg yuh wouldn't haffi tink pan dem tings here

Dog is mommy best friend because he alerts her to all visitors whe a pass by

[Peasie]

just tink seh if yuh did get rid a de fufool dawg yuh wouldn't haffi tink pan dem tings here

ah gwine sic Monty pan yuh baxide. yuh watch.

[Peasie]

pet washes look good until the pet shakes the water all over the place.

They have some places u can carry your pet for a wash (pet wash like a car wash) with dryers and everything.

It will however make your home have a very unique feature. As you have smallish dogs will the sink be enough?

One dog is small. One dog is big. Big dog goes to groomer regularly during cold months (in warm weather is garden hose and shampoo and air dry outside).

The "pet wash" is like a utility sink thing but tiled. I can wash mops and cleaning stuff in there. If I had a garage, i would put one in there

[Pepper]

If I had a larger house, I would so have a mud room .

[Peasie]

This is what I am leaning towards. It is really a mop sink that can serve as an area to drip dry clothes and wash dogs

[kia027]

what do the dogs want?

[Peasie]

what do the dogs want?

Dogs? Want? I don't understand that concept.

[Peasie]

So now I have four contractor bids. Let's say, my budget is $20k.

Contractor A = 15,000
Contractor B = 18,999
Contractor C = 12,000
Contractor D = 17,000

All are licensed, bonded, and insured. Contractor B and D are large companies but Contractor D is family-owned. Contractor A is just starting out and I suspect I may have problems with him completing work on time.

While Contractor C is least costly, I actually liked his work before he submitted his bid. He has great references and he works with only one partner. He is a master carpenter and his partner is a master electrician. He is methodical and the work will take about 10 weeks.

How to choose?

[twiney]

Based on the info u provide I would narrow it down to C & D.

Big companies often sub-contract and that can be the root of frustration so I eliminating B. A you are already concerned about starting out and being unable to finish on time. From a recent experience I say don't do it or you might have to cuss pure badwerds.

Is there guarantee on the work of C? Will his lower cost allow you to upgrade some of your choices? What is the completion time for D and what do the references C?

[Yuriatin]

Peasie - are any of the contractors in the middle of any jobs right now?

If so, ask them if the owner wld mind you can stop by and take a look @ the work while it's in progress.

On 2 diff occasions, we've had jobs to do and had it narrowed down to a couple contractors.

The way we decided was that the guy offered to have us come by a job site for a project he had in the works. WE did go by and that's what made the decision for us.

So now I have four contractor bids. Let's say, my budget is $20k.

Contractor A = 15,000
Contractor B = 18,999
Contractor C = 12,000
Contractor D = 17,000

All are licensed, bonded, and insured. Contractor B and D are large companies but Contractor D is family-owned. Contractor A is just starting out and I suspect I may have problems with him completing work on time.

While Contractor C is least costly, I actually liked his work before he submitted his bid. He has great references and he works with only one partner. He is a master carpenter and his partner is a master electrician. He is methodical and the work will take about 10 weeks.

How to choose?

[Peasie]

Thank you Twiney and Yuri. Taken under careful consideration.

One other her thing is this. In the area I live it is common to hire day workers (mostly Salvadoreans) who hang out at Home Depot and some 7-11s. I don't want strangers in my house. Contractor C is a two-man shop very similar to who did work on my upstairs remodeling nearly 4 years ago. When necessary, they subcontracted with a plumbing company and I was given heads up on this.