Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - bathroom needs alot of work

I guess on this subject I would like some suggestions.I moved into a old home that needs alot of work done to it.I guess I am asking if anyone might maybe have price range and how time consuming things are with the bathroom or anyhting else you might want to add to help me out.See with the remodling needed done to the home I am limited on cash and time.I know about a price range for things like the tub and toilet ect..See what I need to do is remove the walls the walls are made of old plaster and this is just falling apart.I don't know where to begin.Do I just tear the walls down and how do I know where the wiring is behind these walls?The ceiling needs torn down to.Then we need to add everything new.Any suggestions is a great big help.
Thanks

Remodeling an old home is a lot of work, but can be very rewarding when you finally finish.
The trick is to just break it down into manageable projects and tasks, and take it a step at a time as you can afford it.
If it were me, unless something inside was just not functioning or in extremely poor shape, I would start on the structural and mechanical systems first, beginning with the exterior (roofing, eaves, windows, doors, and paint or vinyl siding), if it needed it.
The structure, of course, includes the roof, floors and walls. Once those are o.k., then the mechanical systems (electrical (safety issues), plumbing, and heating/air) would be next.
Only you can judge what you need to do first.
As far as a bathroom with old falling-dwon plaster ceiling and walls, you will have to tear that out completely to the bear studs, re-wire to code and re-plumb to code, before putting up new drywall ceiling and walls, and installing new flooring cover (vinyl? tile?).
There are too many variables to guesstimate what it will cost or how much time that it will take.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BUILDING INSPECTOR FIRST to see about local codes and permits.
Good Luck!

Have you ever done any home projects before this? Do you watch Home Improvement type shows on TV (not Tim Allen)? How much do you like to watch those type of TV shows?, because that is what you will be doing if you do home improvements yourself. Personally, I love to watch those type of shows. You will have to move all of the insulation in the attic if you want to tear down the ceiling. What is on the other side of the bath walls? Bedrooms? Closet? etc. By looking at the opposite walls, you might be able to determine some of the electrical work in the walls. When was the house built? If the wiring is knob and tube type, and you don't have electrical experience, you are in for a handful just with the wiring. Currently, a full bath of mine is removed down to the studs. I am not removing the ceiling because it is in decent shape. The bare studs leave access to most of the plumbing and electrical work (not including the crawlspace and the attic). That is the only way I can see doing this type of project. My tile had 1" of mortar behind it which required a concrete saw blade to remove. I needed a sweatshirt, long pants, old shoes, leather gloves, goggles, earmuffs, and a respirator. Other tools were: a slate roofing type prybar (slim design), a hammer, masons chisel (or two), a fan in the window to vent the dust. A 5 yard dumpster was $200. It was parked in the driveway for a week. The sink, counter, and toilet were removed, and the water lines were temporarily capped. I put a rag in the toilet flange. I left the bathtub in place for use. If you don't have another bathroom, you can't remove the toilet until the day you do the floor and plumbing. My water resistant drywall was $7 a sheet, plywood for the floor is about $20 (4x8). I won't add plumbing fixtures and lights because yours might be different. If you have the will to get it all done, and the time, you can do it.

[Edited by Curtshaus on 02-09-01 at 09:32]