I was slow this week and replaced tub base and wall surround for my wife's uncle. He had materials on site. I only charged him $25 an hour, which is a great deal for him.

6.5 hours Monday, the old tub was removed, new plumbing done, new tub and surround installed, new drywall where needed and taped.

Tuesday 1/2hr to coat tape joints

Wednesday 1/2hr to coat tape joints.

Today 2 hours to sand and finish up odds and ends

Cost to him: $237.50 to half way remodel his bathroom.

Quiet thread. Perhaps All the Non - DIY'ers are

I've never done well with the Take your tools out of the red Porsche. I do believe it works. For me it only works on paper.

I am the problem. Whether it is that I want my shacks to maintain a higher quality, or I'm not a good judge of who to hire, or as Michigan points out...perhaps I don't pay enough.

I worked with another crew about a year plus ago. It was a barn raising house. There were 30 plus people there. I had the opportunity to see how others worked. After a bit I realized that few of them knew the trades, however all of them seemed like very good people.

I suppose, if you find a good nice person, and you pay them what they dream, and your rental pays the bill...that it is a working system.

My shacks, be they large or small ...all my teni are on tight budgets and can't afford much. I in turn can't overspend on weak labor.

Very tough, however I'll continue to try and leave my tools at home.

You did a great job. I hope your uncle appreciates you! Since I own units in the "bread-and-butter" area of Los Angeles, "C" type buildings with immigrant families that reproduce non-stop, there is too much wear and tear on my single bathroom units Tub-Showers.

I have to schedule a replacement within one day. Seven to Nine occupants can't be without a working tub/shower for more than a day.

7 AM, the old tub and tiled walls get broken out. 8:00 AM the plumbing drains and water fixtures get replaced. 9:00 AM the new tub get's installed. We are now talking about a two piece Tub with matching walls. After the tub is fixed into place and tested to hold a full tub of water with the weight of two or three people standing inside, then the walls go up.

So now it's around 11:00 AM. The unfinished walls around the tub and wall enclosure the wire mesh added and plastered in with quick setting compounds. Several coats, then sanded smooth. Then heat is applied to dry the surface of the plaster. It's primed with Oil-Based quick drying primer then painted with special paint. Then the entire bathroom is painted.

Now it's around 3 PM and the "gremlins" come home from school ready to mess up their new bathroom digs......