You’ll need to closely inspect your plumbing or rely on a licensed plumber to advise you whether it’s time for replacing plumbing. Replacing plumbing in a 1,500 sq. ft. home is an expensive proposition that can cost $2,000 to $15,000, depending on the complexity.However, you can mitigate the cost and hassle of totally replacing plumbing with these strategies:For a home with plaster walls, wood paneling, or other features that make it difficult to gain access to in-wall pipes, consider at least replacing plumbing pipes that aren’t buried in the walls.Although it’s a big job, replacing plumbing pipes that are exposed in a basement, crawlspace, or utility room is fairly straightforward because your plumber can easily get at the pipes. Depending on the configuration of your house, your plumber may be able to access the vast majority of your system this way.For a 1,500 sq. ft., two-bathroom home, you’ll pay between $1,000 and $6,000 to replace just the exposed plumbing.When you remodel a portion of your house, take the opportunity to inspect—and if need be, replace—plumbing lines that you expose when you open up the walls and floors.

This includes replacing plumbing in the kitchen or bathroom that you’re remaking, and any pipes passing through the walls to feed upstairs bathrooms.Because the pipes are exposed during the project and because your plumber is coming on site anyway, the added cost of replacing plumbing may be only $250 to $1,000—a bargain, considering you’ve eliminated a hard-to-get-at problem area when you have the chance.If you’re thinking of replacing plumbing that’s inside your walls, your plumber may be able to limit wall demolition by using cross-linked polyethylene tubing, also known as PEX—a flexible plastic hose.PEX can be snaked into walls in much the way electricians feed wires behind the wallboard or plaster with relatively minimal surgery—not an option with rigid copper pipe. PEX meets building code nearly everywhere, comes with a 25-year warranty, and puts a smaller hit on your budget than copper. For comparison, 100 feet of PEX costs less than $30. 100 feet of straight copper pipe costs about $285.PEX also may offer lower costs in terms of labor.

For example, a home that requires two days of labor to re-plumb will only require a day with PEX. Still, some environmental groups worry about as-yet-unknown health risks of plastic water supply lines.Mobile Home Bathtub PaintAnd since PEX has only been widely used in the U.S. for about a decade, it doesn’t have enough of a track record to indicate how long it will last—in other words, how long it’ll be before replacing plumbing in your home is an issue again.Seat Covers For Dance CompetitionSaniFlo System: How It WorksGet Free Laptop No Participation Required With the amazing SaniFlo systems, you can install a bathroom, kitchen or laundry room almost anywhere with minimal construction! Here is a quick video of how it all works:

can put in a new toilet or full bathroom anywhere from attic to basement with theAnd unlike other systems which need a minimum of 30" clearance and accessibility at all times for servicing, with SaniFlo you only need the space of a regular toilet and no servicing! labor costs are a fraction of traditional sewage tank/lift pump installations. No plumbers coming in for weeks with the house ripped apart. SaniFlo, you can have a whole new bathroom in less than one day!  you only need a small diameter pipe, which can be run virtually anywhere, in 6-8 hours you're all set. units can also be moved at a later time. Have a temporary need and yourMoving it to another location is no problem since its 'footprint' is rather small. You can easily take it out and move it leaving only 4 tiny holes.Q. I’m renovating my bathroom, and I don't want to spend more than I have to. How do I know whether I have to file permits with the Department of Buildings--and what to file? 

I've heard this can add thousands of dollars in extra costs, slow a renovation down, and require an expediter.A. First, the good news: If you’re just looking to change out the aesthetic features of the bathroom and keep everything in the same location (including the sink, toilet, and shower/tub), then generally you won’t need a permit or an expediter. That goes for installing new tiles, plumbing fixtures (toilet, vanity, sink, faucet, shower body/controls), and lighting.But if you plan to change the layout of the bathroom by moving the toilet or sink to a new location, then a permit is a must.And some condo and co-op boards require that you get permits, even if they wouldn’t ordinarily be required by the city (what can we say, buildings can be a pain sometimes).Your building will also require you to sign an alteration agreement, which states the normal rules, requirements, and limitations to what can be done on your space. Sometimes the building will require that you put down a security payment that’s held in escrow and returned once the job is completed -- though if the workmen cause any damage to the hallways etc., the building will take it out of your deposit.

Now back to permits. First, find out if you have to have to apply for the permit. Start by calling the DOB or visit them in person to get information on what you need --getting a permit varies on a case-by-case basis. If you wind up having to apply, the DOB can request architectural blueprints for things like plumbing changes, meaning there would be an added cost. How much that cost is will depend on the specifics of your property and the scope of your project. Most people hire an expediter to navigate the DOB approvals process. Expediters act as liaisons between you and the DOB and can help figure out which permits you need, as well as facilitate the paperwork. Their fees can range up to $1,500 - $2,000. Some charge per trip, others charge/bill through an architect or contractor they work with, says Michael Daryani, a project manager at SMZako.“The DOB can be a frustrating place, where you can have an official tell you one day that you need a certain type of permit, then the next time you go, they tell you it’s an entirely new type of permit or filing because of some new circumstance they’ve just noticed--such as a landmark building, etc.,” Daryani says. 

“Sometimes you may be required to hire an architect to get the permits sorted, and their fees range from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the architect you choose, and the scope of work of your project."What's important to know is that getting permits may take time, and you have to have the permit in order before you start construction.Related posts:NYC Renovation Qs: Wha'ts best for kitchen countertops?NYC Renovation Qs: What should I ask when checking my contractor's references?10 first-time renovation mistakes even New Yorkers makeHere's why you may be overpaying for your NYC renovationNYC Renovation Chronicles: A pre-renovation checklist for your contractorNYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 contractors to avoidNYC Renovation Chronicles: 7 tips for finding a great contractorFraser Patterson is a former general contractor and the founder of Bolster, a NYC-based company that guarantees the price and outcome of home improvement projects with a first-of-its-kind Home Improvement Project Bond.