Table Of Contents
Complete Bathroom Renovation
Bathrooms are among the most often used rooms in any given house, making them among the most popular home renovation projects. Bathroom renovations are a great way to give your bathroom and house a new appearance.
If you want to undertake a bathroom makeover, you need a lot of time, patience, and money to buy the equipment and supplies needed to realise the perfect DIY bathroom renovation of your dreams. The steps in the following tutorial will provide you with a step-by-step guide to follow while renovating your bathroom.
Bathroom Renovation Costs
First and foremost, think about how much a bathroom remodelling would cost you in the long run. If you choose to employ professional renovation services, the typical cost of a complete bathroom makeover is around $15,000 to $18,000. On the other hand, if you opt to renovate the bathroom yourself, you might save thousands of dollars but also have to take on the worry and responsibility if things go wrong.
When you perform a bathroom makeover on your own, the cost will be determined by the equipment and supplies you need to acquire. Because of this, you will not be paying for labour; the price of your DIY renovation will be restricted to the supplies and tools you purchase. Luckily, you may save money by opting for less expensive materials and more budget-friendly solutions. For example, instead of purchasing high-end bathroom tiles, you may select less expensive ones.
Tools And Supplies For DIY Bathroom Renovation
A DIY bathroom renovation may be both inexpensive and satisfying, but you must ensure that you have most of the required supplies and tools to renovate your bathroom correctly and adequately. The following are the most essential tools and materials that you will need for the project:
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Safety Mask
• Spackle and spackle knife
• Flathead screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Stud finder
• Chalk line
• Extension cord
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• Silicone sealant
• Caulking gun
• Chisel
• Bucket
• Pry bar
• Power drill
• Hacksaw
• Utility knife
Depending on the sort of renovations that you will be carrying out, you may require extra equipment in addition to the above essentials. When removing any type of plumbing equipment, such as a toilet, you should have a wet-dry shop-vac available to vacuum up any water spillage. You may also wish to use a cordless drill instead of a standard drill so that you can utilise your extension cable for other items. If you do not have any of the tools or do not want to purchase them all together, you may rent them for a reasonable fee from a home improvement store.
Planning A Bathroom Remodel
You have to plan out your DIY bathroom makeover as carefully as possible before you can start. The more preparation you do before moving on to the next phase, the easier it will be to follow out your goals. Planning a bathroom remodel includes the following:
Selecting a Design
One of the most significant aspects of any bathroom makeover project is the bathroom design. Your restoration design will be based on your taste, aesthetic, and any design components that you believe would look best in the area and depending on your budget.
Consider the Utilities
What are the locations of the present utilities in the bathroom? Where are the electrical lines and plumbing lines in your bathroom placed? Once you have answered those questions, ensure that you also plan out what kind of remodelling you want to accomplish. This includes tasks such as updating the toilet or putting in new tiles.
Decide on a Colour Scheme
What colours are you going to utilise in your bathroom remodelling? Are you going to paint the walls? In terms of colour scheme, ensure that all of the aspects of your design complement each other; for instance, if you intend on painting the walls a light blue colour, avoid using colours that conflict with blue in all other sections of the bathroom.
Plan for Storage
Will you be creating more storage space as part of your renovation? If so, where are you going to put it? You will also have to replace any portions of the bathroom that you have altered by eliminating storage sections, such as bathroom closets.
Replacing the Fixtures
Will you need to replace all of your fixtures, such as basins, showers, and bathtubs? If so, exactly how many fixtures are you planning to replace? Knowing this will play a significant role in building your budget as well as assist you in making other budget decisions.
Step By Step Guide To Renovate Your Bathroom
Step One: Make a Plan
Before starting your bathroom renovation, consider what you love about your present bathroom and what you would like to alter. Many bathrooms may not require a total renovation; simply changing the tiles and, otherwise, fixtures can give the area a much-needed refresh.
If your renovation is more of a layout problem, you will need to consider whatever you want to relocate and where you would like to move it while keeping the plumbing for the toilet, sinks, shower, and bath in mind. Hire a draftsperson or designer to create your blueprints, which you must have before speaking with a builder, tiler, or plumber.
You should also be aware of your state's construction standards and ordinances, which may have an impact on your plan, including minimum distances from sinks and electrical outlets. In addition, you must prepare your budget in advance to avoid any surprises where the cost is concerned. As a preliminary step, your budget could comprise the following items:
• Plumbing
• Fixtures including tapware, sinks, shower, mirrors, and vanities
• Tiling, plastering, and painting
• Electrical
• Lighting
• Waste Disposal
You will also need a permit and compliance certificate depending on your local council's requirements. Bathroom renovations may cost somewhere between $10,000 and $30,000, based on whether you are changing fixtures, the wall, and floor tiles, or completely redoing the space. You must also have a backup plan (typically around 15% of your budget) in place for any unexpected costs that may arise along the road.
Step Two: Assemble the Team
While plumbers are typically the first professionals who come to mind when it comes to bathrooms, some individuals prefer to hire a builder first. While plumbers handle the plumbing, the builder may supervise the project from start to finish and integrate other trades.
Some project managers might find it frustrating, especially if they make a blunder that a seasoned tradesperson would know how to avoid. However, with careful preparation and a trustworthy team, remodelling your bathroom can be an enjoyable and satisfying experience.
You may require the following tradespeople for your bathroom renovation project:
• Waterproofer
• Painter
• Plumber
• Tiler
• Builder
• Electrician
Before getting estimates from tradespeople, ensure you already know what fittings you want and that you have comprehensive documentation of your ideas. A plumber does not need to tell what brand your components are. However, they may price appropriately if they know the type – such as a shower rail and perhaps shower head, a wall or freestanding bath, and the top and undermount sink.
Step Three: Disconnection and Demolition
After both the plans and contracts have been signed, the construction can now start! Disconnection is the initial stage in the labour process. For plumbers, this entails removing tapware, the valves, the toilet, and, if necessary, capping services. Electricians need to disconnect the power points and remove the cables. Once the disconnections have thoroughly been done, the demolition process can begin.
Based on the extent of your remodelling, demolition may entail removing the bathtub, shower screens, or plaster and tiles from the walls and floor in areas where piping has to be adjusted. You may choose to strip the plaster and flooring yourself, but be sure to check for asbestos and observe all OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) regulations. Then, grab a pair of safety goggles and get to work!
To minimise any unpleasant spills, begin by turning off the water then emptying and disconnecting the toilet. Cover the tub and begin stripping the bath tiles down to the walls if you are removing them. This step is necessary in order to modify the plumbing to accommodate the new shower or bathtub design.
Where required, eliminate the insulation from the walls. When working with insulation, avoid using a hammer. Rather, cut the panels using a reciprocating saw. To avoid injury, put on a safety mask, a pair of protective gloves, and goggles.
Lastly, take out the vanities, cabinets, mirrors, flooring, and every other item you intend to replace. When getting rid of tile flooring, it is a great idea to remove the baseboards and replace them once you have installed your new floor.
Step Four: Rough-In
To rough-in a place entails bringing in various utilities such as plumbing, electricity, and so on, but without completing the permanent connections. If any pipes need to be relocated, this is the stage in the renovation process where it happens. The plumber usually does the rough-in before, then the electricians.
During the rough-in, it is critical to double-check all dimensions because even a few centimetres off might ruin your tiling, which can be a costly problem to remedy. You may begin installing the new fixtures once you have gutted your bathroom. To avoid additional damage, you should repair your subfloor if it shows signs of decaying wood or moisture-related damages before fitting your new shower.
When replacing a shower or bathtub, choose a pan or sink that complements your new design as well as the area where your present tub sits. Basins are often rectangular, or square, and pentangle in geometry (one corner chopped off). When deciding on a base form, keep in mind the other characteristics of your bathroom. This can include things such as the position of the door. You might even add a combined shower and tub if you have the space.
Step Five: Put the Finishing Touches
The installation of the floor and wall finishes is the next phase in a typical remodel. The following is the basic order – plasterboard or cement sheet installation, waterproofing, tiling, grouting, and finally painting.
Ensure you understand what any of your professionals can and cannot handle. Not many waterproofers are tilers, just like not all tilers are waterproofers. A good professional can spot any leaks in your ceiling and wall cavities as a result of improper waterproofing, so ensure your trades are certified to execute the job correctly the first time.
Some wall and floor materials to consider for your bathroom include:
• Natural Stone: Natural stone is a bathroom surface preference because it is both the most elegant and formal flooring material. Any natural stone can survive well in a damp climate with the correct sealer, so it will primarily come down to pricing and aesthetics.
• Wallpaper: Yes, wallpaper could be used in a bathroom! The trick is to keep it out of the way of splashes and to provide adequate airflow to avoid moisture build-up. Putting wallpaper in your bathroom is a terrific way to obtain a lot of style without having to commit to a pattern for the entire space.
• Tiles: Subway tiles are a traditional choice, but zellige, a more personalised and handcrafted option, is also a good option. Also, do not overlook tiny tiles such as penny or hex: These little circles are still recognised for their prices more than a century following their invention. You can easily acquire them for as cheap as around $5 per square foot and then use them all around your bathroom. They may be an awesome alternative to more expensive bathroom materials like genuine stone (and they are just as attractive) because of their low pricing and endurance in damp settings.
Step Six: Organise and Decorate Your Bathroom
Fitting off is the last stage of the renovation procedure (from the standpoint of the trades). This is the stage at which the plumbing and electrical fixtures are linked to the rough-in utilities. The toilet, shower screen, taps or mixers, mirrors, towel rail, and other fixtures are all installed during the fit-out process.
Connect your new lighting after configuring the electrical fittings. You might need to alter the wiring and maybe spackle over existing holes in the wall if their measurements are larger or smaller than your present ones.
If your new vanity occupies the area differently from your previous one, this step may require repositioning your power outlets. You wouldn't want to be stooping down too close to the toilet each day to plug in your blow dryer. You should hire an electrician for this phase, particularly if you have no prior experience in electrical wiring to avoid errors.
Nearly all of your craftsmen have finished their parts of the job after fit off, so now is an excellent opportunity to schedule a deep clean. This will get rid of any dust or filth from the rough-in, tiling, and grouting stages of the project. Caulking/silicone is commonly used between the plaster and tiles, or even between tiling and the fittings, to make the gap clean and practically seamless.
Once everything is all set, you can focus on decorating your bathroom. These could include adding trim all around mirrors or even the rest of the room, updating your decorative touches like hanging photos and plants, and installing window drapes if your washroom has a window.
In addition to making your freshly remodelled bathroom look its best, these are all examples of finishing touches that you can apply. Finishing touches bring all aspects of your bathroom space together.
Bathroom Renovations May Require Expert Help
Hopefully, this article provides you with the necessary information needed in enabling you to give your bathroom a new lease of life. If you are contemplating a DIY bathroom remodel, you can follow the above steps to realise your goals much more easily.
However, if you doubt your DIY skills, delegating the task to a professional can save you time and avoid many of the mistakes that a novice makes while undertaking such a task. Reach out to a reliable bathroom renovation company and let them help you out.
Gregory Built
