Are you planning on doing some remodeling work in your home? Perhaps you feel like your bathroom is outdated and needs a new sink, or maybe you’d just like a different layout. Whatever the case is, learning how to remodel a bathroom properly is the first step to this DIY process.
To help you do so, we’ve put together this quick guide. However, if it all looks a little too complicated, don’t worry. Remember that you can always turn to professionals to do the job for you, and rest assured that your home is in good hands.
Before you start doing any actual DIY work, it is vital to make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials for the job. Without them, the whole thing simply won’t be possible. In general, we can divide all the things you’ll need into two categories – safety and work.
Staying safe while working and avoiding injuries is just as crucial as getting the job done. This is especially true when it comes to construction works. You will be surrounded by broken pieces of tiles, possibly glass, and maybe even open electrical installations and water. To avoid any accidents, it is essential to use protective equipment. This includes:
Now that you have everything necessary to stay safe, it’s time to gather all the tools. You’ll need everything that a typical toolbox that everyone has at home contains:
Aside from these, you should also go hunting for spackling paste, silicone sealant, adhesive and grout for tiles, and anything else you might need.
Now that you’ve gathered all the necessities, it is time to come up with a design. We strongly advise you to do this on a piece of paper or on your computer. Only having an idea of what the final outcome should look like in your head, without any actual measures and drawings, could end up wasting a lot of your time and not looking nearly as good as you would’ve liked it.
Are you only updating the fixtures and furniture in your bathroom, or are you remodeling it completely? Changing the layout of any room comes with a lot of additional work. For example, if you would like your shower to be in another corner, you will need to do some extra DIY plumbing to make that happen. Situations like this make it clear why having a design drawn is important.
Tub, shower, and sink are three fixtures that are usually the main reasons why people decide to remodel their bathrooms. If you’re planning to update any one of these three, be prepared to do at least some light plumbing. Of course, the more changes you introduce, the bigger the workload will be. Completely moving a tub to another part of the room means redoing the pipes, as well as the floor and wall tiles.
Would you like to free up some extra space by installing a shower instead of a tub? Or perhaps you’d like to be able to enjoy a nice bubble bath after work, even at the expense of a small room? Whatever the case is, you should know that switching these two isn’t as difficult of a job as it might seem – that is, if you’re planning on keeping it in the same place.
Replacing, removing, fixing, and fitting the pipes is easily the most challenging DIY task when remodeling a bathroom or any other room in a house that uses water. It is not only physically demanding, but it also takes high precision, a steady hand, and a lot of planning. Even if you want to make this a DIY project, it is best that you leave the plumbing to professionals.
Now that the essential elements have been set up, it is time to put new wall and floor tiles. This is the process that takes the most precision, time, and nerves, so be ready to get down to work. Even a small mistake could set you back significantly.
Firstly, make sure the floor and wall surfaces are completely even. Then, lay the tiles without any adhesive to make sure everything fits. Mark the central tile with a chalk line. If necessary, cut corner tiles to fit the dimensions of the floor. Use the adhesive recommended by the store where you bought the tiles. Spread it evenly and place the tile. You will install each tile by placing tile spacers between them. After the adhesive has dried out, it is time to mix the grout and spread it between the tiles. Once everything has dried and settled in, clean the floor and walls from any residue.
Installing a ventilation system if your house doesn’t already have one is pretty much equal to full-service home remodeling. Updating an existing one, however, is a much more straightforward job. All you will need to do is clean the filter and ducts and replace any outdated parts.
Some bathrooms have ventilation systems, some have windows. Both options have their pros and cons:
The last step in your bathroom remodeling process is installing cabinets, shelves, and other storage space. Depending on your needs and demands, this could range from simply placing a piece of furniture to doing some serious carpentry work.
If all this sounds a little too complicated, don’t worry. Hiring professionals doesn’t have to come at a high price. In fact, when you sum up all the expenses you’ll have and the time you’ll spend doing things on your own, it just might turn out to be cheaper to leave it to experts. Whatever you decide to do, we hope you manage to create the bathroom of your dreams.
