I called Mr. Handyman of North Edmond on a recommendation from a friend for a tub-to-shower…read moreconversion and to add hot/cold shut-off valves. They were quick to send Tim Chapin out to provide an estimate. Tim was professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. He asked me to select the shower doors and shower head I wanted installed and send him photos so he could complete the estimate. I already had the tile, grout, thinset, and tile spacers on hand.
Tim provided an estimate of $10,432.38 for labor to: remove the tub and wall; replace with water board; install a shower pan; install tile in the shower and frame in two shower niches; raise the shower outlet; convert the three-handle diverter to a one-handle diverter; cap off the tub spout; move the drain from the front to the middle and jackhammer/move the drain as needed; install a light in the built-in shower ceiling and run wiring for the fixture; apply thinset, grout the tile, cut openings for the shower fixtures and diverter, sand the floor pan as needed, and caulk and seal all areas as necessary. I felt this estimate was fair and hired Mr. Handyman of North Edmond.
After I agreed to the project, Mike from the office called to arrange payment. I offered to pay the project in full upfront, but later received a call advising that Tim would collect a deposit so materials could be purchased. That was fine with me, even though I preferred to pay in full.
Tim started the project on September 14. He advised it would take at least eight days to complete, which I was comfortable with. To remove the tub, he had to cut into the bathroom walls on both sides. The project ended up being more challenging than expected. It took approximately two and a half days to get the drain set correctly, although thankfully the drain did not need to be relocated as originally noted in the estimate. I also chose to add insulation to the bathroom walls during the project.
The finished shower looks great, and I am happy with the quality of Tim's workmanship. My issue is not with the craftsmanship but with the final cost and billing process.
What customers need to understand is that, even after receiving an estimate, you are ultimately paying for labor by the hour. The estimate may not be close to what you actually end up paying. I fully understand that an estimate is not a guarantee and that costs can be somewhat higher or lower than projected. In my case, I expected the final bill might come in 20-30% above the estimate. Instead, it ended up approximately 70% higher, which I found completely unreasonable.
Another concern was that Tim came to me daily for additional payments. Initially, I assumed this was simply a way of collecting progress payments until the estimated amount was reached. However, it quickly became apparent that the total was exceeding the estimate and continued climbing significantly.
When I expressed my concern about how much the cost was increasing, Tim's response was that the original number was "just an estimate." I advised him that I fully understand what an estimate is and that costs can fluctuate during a remodeling project. However, there is a huge difference between a reasonable overage and what occurred on this project. A final cost that comes in approximately 70% higher than the estimate is far beyond what most customers would expect from an estimate and, in my opinion, is simply unacceptable.
The project was estimated at eight days, which would have put completion around September 23. Even allowing for the two-and-a-half-day drain delay, I expected completion by approximately September 29. Instead, the project was not finished until October 6.
While I am pleased with the appearance and quality of the completed shower, the significant difference between the estimate and final cost left me very disappointed. I had originally planned to use Mr. Handyman of North Edmond for a complete remodel of a second bathroom and a future kitchen renovation. After this experience, however, I will not be using this company again, nor will I be recommending them to others.
