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Do-It-Yourself Bathroom Renovation
The bathroom for many individuals is one of the essential rooms in a house. We use the bathroom in our daily lives, especially in the morning before work and in the evening after work. A good and clean bathroom is a good image and a sign of prestige, especially when you have visitors in your home. Therefore, it is recommended that you have a clean and up-to-date bathroom.
However, nothing stays in good condition forever. It may reach a point when your well-designed bathroom wears out and needs bathroom renovations or remodelling. There are primarily two ways to go about bathroom renovations. You can either do it yourself (DIY) or hire a professional to renovate your bathroom. The costs of the two approaches to bathroom renovations vary depending on various factors.
This article will provide you with guidelines on renovating your bathroom using the DIY approach. However, before we get into that, let us look at the approximate costs of renovating a bathroom.
Cost Of Bathroom Renovation
Suppose you decide to hire a professional to help renovate your bathroom; you can spend between $10,000 to $25,000. This value depends on the kind of remodelling that you desire. You are highly likely to spend more when you decide to change the design and layout of the bathroom.
However, with DIY bathroom renovations, you stand a chance to reduce renovation costs. Similarly, this approach could be more economical when you avoid purchasing new materials, refinishing fixtures, or using expensive materials.
Preparation For A DIY Bathroom Renovation
Step One: Decide on the Design
There is no standard procedure, knowledge, or skills for a DIY bathroom renovation. Therefore, before you set out to renovate your bathroom, it would help to decide on the design method that is consistent with your skills and the design elements that you need. Renovating could either be beginning from scratch, repainting, or simply replacing old items with new ones.
Therefore, you should decide on what way you want to go. When deciding on the design element, there are a few factors to consider. These include:
Fixtures
What kind of fixtures do you have? Are you planning to change your sink or replace your bathtub with a shower? Do you need a shower screen? These considerations are essential since such changes would determine the time taken for renovation and the total budget required.
Utilities
Before you begin renovating your bathroom, you must accustom yourself to the areas of the utilities, such as the plumbing pipes and the electrical wires. Once you know where these are located, you will be cautious enough not to damage them while you renovate your bathroom.
Theme
People have different tastes when it comes to bathroom themes. While some prefer a theme that matches the rest of the house, others prefer making the bathroom unique and different from the rest of the house. Depending on the design theme that you desire, it would help to find design pictures for inspiration prior to renovating your bathroom.
Step Two: Assemble the Necessary Tools
There are several easily available tools required for DIY Bathroom Renovation. Some of these tools may be available in your house, your friend’s home, or in a nearby hardware. Basically, you will require the following:
• Gloves
• Caulking gun
• Hammer
• Safety mask
• Spackle and spackle knife
• Bucket
• Pry bar
• Power drill
• Chisel
• Hacksaw
• Utility knife
• Extension cord
• Chalk line
• Silicone sealant
• Tape measure
• Screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Stud finder
Renovating A Bathroom Using The DIY Approach
Step One: Remove the Old Fixtures
Whether you want to begin from scratch or partially renovate your bathroom, you will need to remove some bathroom fixtures that require replacements. It would also be best to remove the drywall. This process is less complicated but could also cause damages if you are not keen. To successfully gutter your bathroom without damaging any plumbing and electrical parts, you will need to do the following:
• Turn off the water supply - After that, drain all the water in the toilet and remove the toilet to avoid damages caused by water spills.
• Remove the bathtub - If you plan to replace your bathtub, you will need to remove it as well. After covering the bathtub, work the tiles down to the studs for more accessible plumbing while installing a new bathtub or a shower.
• Remove the wall insulation - Using a reciprocating saw, gently remove the wall insulations where necessary. Avoid using a hammer since it could damage your bathroom walls. Further, it would help to put on a pair of gloves, goggles, and a face mask.
• Remove the tile flooring - While you do this, remove the baseboards and remember to replace them after renovating your bathroom. You can also remove the cabinets and any other materials at this point.
Step Two: Install the New Fixtures
After successfully gutting the bathroom, it is time to start installing the new fixtures. If you want to replace your shower with a bathtub or vice versa, this is the moment. Be sure to confirm that you do not have a damaged floor before reinstalling the new fixtures.
Similarly, it is vital to ensure that you have the right shape for the bathtub like the one you removed to account for the available space. Bathtubs could be either square or rectangular.
Step Three: Lay the Flooring
Consider vinyl or laminate flooring, which is cheaper. However, if you prefer tiles, you can install them using a chalk line to mark the reference lines perpendicularly to the wall with the longest continuous line.
Step Four: Hang the Drywall and Paint
Now is the time to hang your new drywall. It is recommended to use a cement board instead of the drywall for the bathtub. Use the drywall mud and tape to fill in the gaps and cover up the seams. Finally, remember to coat the cement board with a waterproof material.
After fixing your drywall, you can now paint the bathroom the colour you like. It is best to use quality bathroom paints with a semi-gloss finish since it is resistant to mildew and mould.
Step Five: Replace the Cabinets
Begin by installing the vanity before installing other items such as the cabinets, mirrors, and other items that you have in your bathroom. You can also update your bathroom lighting where necessary at this point.
Step Six: Reinstall the Toilet
The final step in DIY bathroom renovation is reinstalling the toilet. You can choose to replace the old toilet or have a new one installed.
Do You Need A Professional?
If you are well equipped with the DIY skillset to renovate a bathroom, you are good to go. However, if you are not confident enough, do not hesitate to contact a professional bathroom designer for help.
Gregory Built
