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is this a reasonable cost to tile some things?
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Date: September 2nd, 2025 11:02 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) 3 bathrooms: one large master, one small 5x8 with a shower, and one medium sized bathroom with a tub; and one laundry room
Flooring and shower walls, mostly. Niches. Master has tile wainscotting that wraps around the room. A few small spaces for a backsplash.
$25,700. This is just for labor, no materials except rough materials and grout.
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Date: September 2nd, 2025 11:03 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) I've used these guys before and they are 1800000, we get compliments on their work all the time. They aren't just slapping shit on the wall.
I'm thinking of countering at 24k.
Only other quote was 23,800 but that included demolition (~3k value) and hotmop. So more like 20k. |
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Date: September 2nd, 2025 11:10 PM Author: Bob Rooney tell your wife to stfu and ignore it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232420) |
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Date: September 2nd, 2025 11:15 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) CR. in her defense these are original 50 yo bathrooms, could really use a refresh. she is fine to do only the small 5x8 and laundry which are downstairs, but considering that all of the legwork for these falls 100% on me (she is not design inclined at all) i'd rather get it over with, and of course there are some savings with consolidation. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232433) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:49 AM Author: Drunkard Vintage bathrooms are all the rage. There is a place out there that specializes in restoring them. Pasadena Architectural Salvage I think should be able to connect you to a tile restoration guy. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232618) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 11:47 AM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) 70s house, it's not vintage in a good way, believe me. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233453) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:08 AM Author: No pants Mance Sounds high but tile sucks balls. Especially in old restorations. I'd get 3 quotes minimum. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232643) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 11:50 AM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) yeah, i'll get one more quote. i just really like these guys. they are solid. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233476) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:31 AM Author: Josh_Allen We’re in CA, too, and just redid our master bath. That sounds a little high tbh but I’m not shocked by it. Where you and we live, you’re lucky to get someone to even do such a “small” job when 10% of the houses in our neighborhoods are having major work done at any point in time.
Think about whether you want to do anything else as long as you’ll have strangers in your house for a month. Get a fancy new toilet from Costco, etc.
If you or your wife speak a non-English language and you’re comfortable having those people do your work, you can probably pay like half of this estimate.
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 11:51 AM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) it's the whole nine yards brother. all this will run about 6 figures. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233480) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:49 PM Author: Josh_Allen 180. Having our master done was worth it, although annoying to have people in our house on and off for 2 months when we were told 8-10 days (and these fuckers surprised us at 8am on some Saturdays and Sundays and ljl at 90% of them speaking a word of English so we’d always have a game of telephone…but it was cheap). (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49234088) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:35 AM Author: lunch thoughts describe the new tiles (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232683) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 11:54 AM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) we have some exposed brickwork in our house so going with a terracotta feel for the downstairs flooring. light blue tile for the walls. custom vanities.
upstairs using the same tan tile but in a herringbone pattern for one of the bathrooms. the master will have mosaic beige travertine stone tile for the floor, and 2x10s in a vertical pattern on the walls. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 4:06 AM Author: Diamond Dallas Trump No, $100ish / square foot LABOR ONLY is not a reasonable cost to tile a bathroom lmao. And lmao that you're thinkinf of "countering" at $24k you dumb pajeet goy. This is one of those quotes where they overbid by 2-3x because they don't want the work or think you are an easy mark.
Around here that would be $5k-10k. Low end if you know what you are doing and hardball your labor and are comfortable being your own quality control. High end to just hire a GC and not worry about it.
If I were getting quotes in the mid 20's, I would probably do it all myself. And depending on a number of factors, I might even consider tiling over the existing tile. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 4:18 AM Author: Josh_Allen This is expensive coastal CA full of rich but helpless immigrants and we get jobbed for every single thing. It’s incredibly upsetting particularly for those of us who grew up elsewhere and know that it’s not right. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232763) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 4:24 AM Author: Terry Bollea Did Nothing Wrong (TDNW) sure but also lol @ OP degrading himself by “countering” to save $1k (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49232767) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 11:50 AM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) ddt tp as usual with his retarded takes. did you pull the $100/sq ft out of your ass along with TDNW's cum? try triple the square footage, it's in the neighborhood of 800 sq ft of tile. floor to ceiling tile in the showers, all the floors, the wainscotting, etc.
ljl @ doing it yourself. shitty tile work is an easy prole tell... also LMAO at tiling over existing tile, good lord you are retarded. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 12:59 PM Author: Diamond Dallas Trump ok, go pay the guy $25k because you can't figure out how to lay a few tiles lmao
what's even more hilarious is that you're in here raving about "prole tells" when the $25k represents a significant portion of your income/net worth. Overleveraging yourself to pay for some shitty tile that will just be dated in 10 years is the ultimate prole tell.
Also, tiling over tile is perfectly fine in showers if the new tile isn't thick/heavy and what's already there is in good structural condition. You just have to scuff sand and prime first. It saves a lot of work from demo and then redoing the waterproofing. Floors save less labor and may have issues with height transitions but if it's on the first floor and the height doesnt cause a problem there's no reason not to do it.
I have to ask man...do you own a good set of tools? Have you even HELD a tool in your lifetime? You seem like a huge pussy and the contractors are going to keep taking advantage of you until you sort that out. What's your next thread? "Electrician wants $750 to rewire burnt outlet. Is this normal?" |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:07 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) Lol. I own a table saw, miter saw, circular saw, jigsaw, router, pretty much every tool you stupid retard. I've built furniture. I can do almost everything, I just don't have the time to do all of it.
Yeah let me stick some shit on and have 2 inch deep shower walls. Shows what a prole moron you are LOL
In any case, considering that another tiler was also at 20k the quote isn't absurd like you claim. Sorry you can't afford to live here, but this is not a 5k job. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:11 PM Author: Diamond Dallas Trump SHOW US THE FURNITURE YOU BUILT FAGGOT (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233979) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:16 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) No way, fuck u (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233999) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:08 PM Author: gin and eschatonic devastating for libs (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233799) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:41 PM Author: ....:::..:....:::..:...;;;..;...:.:: In southern california this is pretty typical for quality work. We just finished bldg a house including tiling out 3 bathrooms and it was probably close to the same, but our guy was meticulous and everything was flawless. Honestly looked like it costed significantly more when he was done it was done so well. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233911) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:58 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) thanks (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233950) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:51 PM Author: woah (hitler did nothing wrong) Grill them on the waterproofing they're going to use in the showers. Many (most?) contractors do NOT do it correctly and it can result in 6 figure damage to your house when you include remediating black mold or structural damage from rot to floor joists. $25k labor only is high but if they're doing a labor intensive system like redguard over cement board and you have niches in each shower/tub it does take a couple days per shower to get done. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233929) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:00 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) FOR ALL BATHROOMS: Prep Work Includes Double 60 Minute Black Paper and Bituthene Prep Work Includes 2.5 Diamond Lath w/Cement Float (Scratch and Brown) Prep and Level Floor With Minimum Cement Float As Needed Install Tiles Specified Per Area Install Schluter Edge Termination or Tile Trim Pieces (Provided by Owner) Grout With Prism Ultimate Performance Grout
I asked about RedGard but he said they do the above which is even better. ChatGPT seems to agree.
That’s actually a very solid prep spec 👍 — it’s old-school craftsmanship (mud float) blended with modern materials. Let me break down each line so you know what you’re getting:
🔨 Line-by-Line
1. Double 60-Minute Black Paper + Bituthene
“Double 60-minute paper” = two layers of asphalt-saturated felt — classic moisture barrier behind walls.
Bituthene = a peel-and-stick rubberized membrane, excellent waterproofing.
✔️ Together = very belt-and-suspenders moisture protection.
⚠️ Note: confirm they aren’t double-stacking systems in a way that creates a “moisture sandwich.” Ideally it’s either behind-the-mud waterproofing (paper/Bituthene) or surface-applied waterproofing (RedGard, Hydroban, Kerdi). Using both behind and on top can trap moisture.
2. 2.5 Diamond Lath with Cement Float (Scratch and Brown)
This is the gold standard for shower walls in SoCal.
Metal lath + two-coat cement float = strong, plumb, long-lasting substrate.
Much better than cement board or “greenboard.”
3. Prep and Level Floor With Cement Float
Ensures flatness before tile — avoids lippage.
✔️ Good practice, especially for large-format tiles.
4. Install Tiles Specified Per Area
Straightforward — but make sure they confirm tile layout plan (center lines, niche treatment, pony wall tops) with you before they start setting.
5. Install Schluter Edge Termination / Trim (Owner Provided)
✔️ Clean look instead of bullnose.
⚠️ Just make sure you order the right depth (matches tile thickness + thinset).
6. Grout With Prism Ultimate Performance Grout
Excellent choice. Prism = lightweight, color-consistent, low efflorescence, and doesn’t require sealing.
Better than basic sanded/unsanded grout.
✅ My Opinion
This is high-quality prep — very typical of good mud-set tile contractors.
✔️ Cement float walls = flat, square, strong.
✔️ Bituthene + paper = robust waterproofing.
✔️ Prism grout = premium.
Going with these guys I'd have zero concern about anything. They are rock solid. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:18 PM Author: ....:::..:....:::..:...;;;..;...:.:: I posted above re: socal rates.
This is exactly how ours was done. We had a very good GC who used generally very good subs. In particular the tile guy and this is almost word for word how he did it including using the same products. |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 2:23 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) 180. Would be funny if it's the same tiler (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49234023) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 5:42 PM Author: woah (hitler did nothing wrong) Cali faggots have to do everything the hard way. Hot Mop is 18th century technology and very failure prone if installed incorrectly, they should be using a foam pan with a foam backer system like schluter, goboard, wedi, etc. and some kind of elastic sealer. Floating out walls is labor intensive and imo doesn't add much to the end product compared to a properly plummed wall using either scabbed on 2x lumber or a wet shim with thinset. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49234629) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 6:28 PM Author: Paralegal Mohammad (Death, death to the IDF!) IDK brother. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49234724) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 1:54 PM Author: cock of michael obama remodeling/construction costs right now are in a really weird place, with a huge amount of variety -- some contractors are being ultra aggressive in raising rates between inflation, tariffs, and very high demand for remodeling work now. get a couple bids unless you trust and really like these guys (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49233935) |
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Date: September 3rd, 2025 5:44 PM Author: Refunkulus (I Always Post Always TP) If it’s quality work then it’s fair…upgrade to epoxy grout as well especially if you are going to live there for a long time or rent it out (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5769197&forum_id=2Reputation#49234631) |