Think twice about do it yourself bathroom remodeling
It’s probably true to say that most people reading this, including you, are capable of remodeling their bathrooms themselves given enough time and patience but would you want to? Do you really want to be the DIY bathroom man with the specter of do-it-yourself bathroom remodeling hanging over you for weeks if not months?
How ambitious is your DIY bathroom?
The decision regarding how much of the work you do yourself will depend to an extent on how much remodeling you are going to do. Is your bathroom design small enough to need just a simple paint job? It can work wonders and it can be considered a remodeling project. Giving your bathroom a new coat of paint is within the capabilities of most of us, it’s quick and your bathroom will not be out of use for any length of time. Go for it.
Is cost a consideration?
Many people make the rash decision to do all the work on their bathroom themselves because it promises to make the whole job cheaper than it would if they hired people to do it for them. If this is the only reason why you are choosing to do it yourself then please consider it very carefully because you might be biting off more than you can chew and it might even cost you more in the long run.
If you are able to earn money by doing something that you enjoy then I suggest that you go and do as much of that work as you can to earn enough to pay the labor costs of the redesign. This is far easier than remodeling the bathroom all by yourself.
Do it yourself bathroom remodeling projects get complicated very quickly
But what if your plans are a little bit more ambitious than a simple coat of paint? What if you have to do some do-it-yourself bathroom plumbing or electrical work? It will most likely require some heavy labor too. When I remodeled my own bathroom I wanted to fit in a shower cubicle where there was no space for one so it meant rearranging all the fixed units as well as ripping out the old and installing new everything. There was plumbing, electrics, tiling, flooring, and fitting to be done. Thankfully there were no walls or windows to move as this would have meant even more work and more skills required.
How to decide whether you should remodel your bathroom yourself?
Before attempting to a do it yourself remodeling project yourself you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have the necessary time to complete the project?
- Do you have or are you prepared to learn the skills that you will need?
- Are you enthusiastic about the project?
If you can’t answer yes to all of the above questions then you should take a careful look at your plans for your bathroom-remodeling project.
Preparation For a Bathroom Remodeling Project
Before you start on your bathroom remodeling project
There are some important things that you should do as early as possible and absolutely before the work on your modern bathroom remodeling idea begins. These are all things that you should do first even if you are planning to use the do-it-yourself remodeling method.
When you have a good idea of what it is you want to do you should approach the planning and building authorities in your area as soon as possible. If you find out that you need to obtain any consent before you start the work you will want to apply for them as soon as possible because it can take many weeks to get a reply.
Don’t be tempted to start work if you know that you need permission and you haven’t obtained it yet. If you do then you could be left with a very large expense when the permission is denied and you have to pull down what you’ve just built. Don’t assume that you will get permission until you have it in writing from the authorities. I hear stories like this all the time and I wonder why people go ahead with the work knowing that they might not get permission to do what they are doing.
Things that you should do as early as you can
There are things that are less important than obtaining the right permissions but should also be done as early as possible to help things go smoothly.
- Review the regulations
- Accessibility
- Usability
- Storage
- Temporary bathroom facilities
Review the regulations
As you collect all the necessary documentation you should review any regulations that might apply and ensure that your plans conform to them. If you are unsure which documents are relevant then ask the issuing office. Make a note of anything that you don’t understand and make sure that you discuss the points with your contractors before work starts.
Accessibility
Even if you are active and able now doesn’t mean that you will always be so. When you come to sell your property you might be selling to someone who has special needs when using the bathroom. A little thought at this point about installing simple things like grab rails might turn out to be a selling feature for you.
Storage
This is an area that I wish I had spent more thought on when I remodeled my bathroom. I have no storage space and it is very limiting. Make sure you don’t make this mistake and make provision for a few built-in storage containers. Storage made from quality wood always looks nice in a bathroom.
Open shower bathroom design
If you are planning an open shower design where the floor of the whole room is used for drainage then make sure that you have researched this thoroughly before you start. Many bathrooms are simply not designed to accommodate open showers and redesigning to accommodate one might prove very costly if not completely impractical. If this is the case I’m sure that you would rather find out about it before the project begins than later.
Temporary bathroom facilities
While you remodel your bathroom you will still need to wash and use the toilet. Depending on how the work progresses you could be in this position for a long time so you must give it careful thought, to begin with. This is very important and if you have children then being without a bathroom can turn into a nightmare.
If you have a second bathroom in the house then there is no problem. If you don’t then try to make arrangements with your neighbor or shower at the gym as we did. Whatever you decide, don’t leave yourself with nowhere to go.