A Step-by-Step Guide to DIY Bathroom Remodels

Bathroom DIY: A Step-by-Step Guide

Most homeowners start and end their day in the bathroom, but this frequently used space is often overlooked when considering home improvements. Is your old bathroom embarrassing when guests arrive? We can help you renovate your bathroom while keeping costs low.

Going the DIY route, especially for bathrooms, can save you up to a few thousand dollars. Other cost-saving tips when renovating a bathroom include limiting the use of expensive materials such as tiles and refurbishing furniture instead of buying new.

Finish your bathroom from top to bottom by following these seven steps.

Planning a Bathroom Renovation

Decide on Design Elements

Before starting your bathroom renovation, choose a design that matches your vision and brick-and-mortar skills. There are many different ways to approach this project, from repainting and replacing the tub to redecorating the room and starting over.

Here are some details you should definitely figure out before starting your bathroom renovation:

• Color Scheme: Are you interested in a modern farmhouse? Or are you looking for a clean, modern design that matches the rest of your home decor? Look for inspiration photos beforehand for your vision so that your new bathroom tiles don't clash with the colors you've chosen.
• New furniture: are you changing the shower or bathtub? Installing a new sink? Replacing one or both devices will increase your project schedule and budget.
• Storage areas: Where will you store your towels and toiletries after the renovation? If you remove a cabinet to expand the space, make sure you have shelves or cabinets to compensate for the lost storage space in the bathroom. 
• Location of city networks: Do you know where the electricity and water lines are located? Keep these areas marked to avoid damage to these connections and costly repairs.

Gather Your Tools

In addition to what is included in your home improvement kit, you will have some useful tools for bathroom renovations.

Essential tools and accessories for a bathroom renovation:

• Protective mask
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Caulk gun
• Silicone sealant
• Hammer
• Gauge
• Fixing knife
• Glue
• Pin
• Drill
• Clamp cabinet
• Bucket
• Chisel
• Adjustable wrench
• Flat head screwdriver
• Hacksaw
• Utility knife
• Chalk wire
• Extension cord

Recommended additional tools:

• Wet dryer: very handy if water spills when removing the toilet or other furniture.
• Cordless Drill: Facilitates movement while working and frees up the extension cord for other power tools.

These tools can be rented inexpensively at most home improvement stores. You might even have a handy friend or family member who will let you borrow theirs.

Bathroom renovation in 7 steps

1. Bathroom Removal

Assuming you are renovating part or all of your bathroom, you will need to start by removing the drywall and any fixtures you will be replacing. Decorating your bathroom yourself isn't too difficult, but be sure to follow these guidelines to avoid costly mistakes during the teardown phase.

Tips for decorating your bathroom:

• Start by turning off the water, emptying and removing the toilet to avoid unpleasant splashes. 
• When you remove the tub, cover the tub and start removing the tub tile down to the studs. This is necessary so that the plumbing can be adjusted to match your new shower or tub design.
• If necessary, remove the insulation from the walls. Do not use a hammer for insulation. Instead, use a reciprocating saw to cut the panels. To avoid injury, wear a protective mask, gloves and goggles.
• Finally, remove the base, cabinets, mirror, floor and any other features you plan to replace. When removing a tile floor, it's worth removing the surfboards and re-installing them after installing the new floor.

2. Install a new shower or bathtub

Once you have cleaned the bathroom, you can start installing new fixtures. If your subfloor shows signs of rotting wood or water damage, replace it before installing a new shower to prevent further damage.

To replace a shower or bath, you should choose a boiler or sink that is suitable for the new interior and the room where the current bath is located. Pools are usually rectangular, square or pentagonal (one corner is cut off). When choosing the shape of the base, consider other features of your bathroom, including the location of the door.

If you have the space, you can also consider installing a shower and tub combination. While walk-in showers are more appealing to many homeowners, keeping at least one tub in the house is recommended for resale value.

3. Install the new floor

After preparing the subfloor, you can start installing the new floor. While tile is the most popular choice for bathrooms, you can consider other flooring materials, such as laminate or vinyl, which are more affordable and DIY-friendly.

When selecting tile, use mason's chalk to mark reference lines perpendicular (90 degrees) to the wall on the longest continuous line. This allows you to keep the tiles straight as you place them around the room.

4. Hang the drywall and start painting

The next step in the bathroom renovation is to hang the new drywall. This can be time-consuming because you have to cut the new drywall to fit around the shower walls, toilet, and other features. However, once you start nailing boards, you should go through the process quickly.

Here are some important bathroom renovation tips to keep in mind during this step:

• 1. Use drywall mud and tape to cover joints and fill holes.
• 2. Use cement board instead of drywall on the shower/tub wall.
• 3. Cover cement board with Redgard or other waterproof film to protect against water damage.

Once you've connected the walls, you can start adding color to your bathroom. Painting walls is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to freshen things up and give a room a whole new look. It is best to use a semi-gloss paint that is easy to wipe off and resistant to mold and mildew.

5. Install Cabinets and Vanities

Once you've finished the walls, you can take down the cabinets and other important items remaining on the bathroom renovation list.

First install the toilet, including the sink and faucet. Once the drain is connected to the faucet, you can move on to other important things like mirrors, cabinets and around the shower or tub.

6. Upgrade the lighting

Adjust the electrical equipment and install new lighting. If they are larger or smaller than the current dimensions, you will need to adjust the wiring and possibly putty around the holes in the wall.

This step may require moving sockets if the new sub fills the space differently than before. After all, you don't want to go by the toilet every day to plug in the hair dryer. You should call an electrician for this step, especially if you've never worked with home wiring before.

7. Connect the plumbing

At this point your bathroom is just like a bathroom, except for one thing: the toilet. You can reinstall the toilet or install a new one at the beginning of the process, but leaving it last will help prevent it from cracking while you work on other areas of the bathroom.

Finish your newly renovated bathroom

Finally, you can install upholstery around the room and start decorating. Upholstery is the highlight of any bathroom renovation, as it provides the finishing touches your space needs to feel complete. Add window coverings, decorative storage containers and pictures to the wall to personalize the room.