Planning Your DIY Bathroom Remodel

Building a bathroom from scratch doesn’t sound easy, but with the right planning and a clear idea of how you want your bathroom to look and feel when it’s done, you’re already halfway to completing a DIY bathroom remodel.

So, first things first, what is your new DIY bathroom design? Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration, as well as home design magazines, both online and in shops. Deciding how you want your bathroom to look and feel is a lot of fun and can take you in all sorts of directions, if you give yourself the time to explore.

If you’re building your house from scratch, you’ll have fewer restraints than if you were carrying out a DIY bathroom remodel, but you’ll have to factor in technical details such as where your water will enter your house and where and how pipework will connect to the rest of the water system. If you’re simply remodelling an existing bathroom, you’ll need to do less structural planning.

Two of the most important decisions you need to make when planning a DIY bathroom remodel are deciding what your budget is, and where exactly work should start. This means deciding on and costing up the necessary materials and labour.

New bathroom costs to consider

Labour

Even those taking on a DIY bathroom remodel will likely need some help from a professional at some point during the process. Unless you do all the building yourself, this is likely to be your largest expense. Some tasks are easier to learn than others. But know your DIY limits and save yourself time and frustration by hiring experienced builders who have perfected their craft to take on the trickier parts of your DIY bathroom remodel.

Be sure to put a lot of research into finding the right builder, as it’s one of the most critical things to get right. Ask any shortlisted builders for clients who you can contact for testimonials to be sure that you’re making the right choice.

We love sseing people have the confidence to take on a DIY bathroom remodel, but there are some things that should be left to the professionals. Make sure you only hire qualified and registered plumbers and electricians.

Installing drains

This is a job that will require heavy-duty drilling and cutting tools for cutting holes in the foundation. This will always be a task to factor into your costs if you are building a new DIY bathroom from scratch, and, even with a DIY bathroom remodel, you might still need to do some heavy cutting and drilling to allow any new plumbing to reach the existing pipework.

Pipes, pipe connectors, and electrical wiring

How will your water get from the water mains to the bathtub, shower, sink and toilet? Pipes and pipe connectors should be water safe and we’d advise finding parts that have been approved by a water standards regulatory body.

Insulation

Insulate your bathroom to stop heat from escaping. There’s nothing worse than moving from a warm bed to an ice-cold bathroom. Underfloor heating makes perfect sense in a modern bathroom, as this is the room that you’re most likely to be barefoot in.

Walling/waterproofing

A waterproof bathroom is now very much a possibility in every home, as waterproof bathroom panels and wall cladding is readily available at affordable prices. Not only are they 100% waterproof, but they’re also easy to fit and are available in a range of styles so you can create the look you’re dreaming of. You can also install a lot of these walling and waterproofing solutions for yourself, making this a very rewarding part of completing your DIY bathroom remodel.

Ventilation

Does your bathroom have an exterior wall with an opening window? If not, you’re legally required to build an extractor fan into the bathroom to lead moisture out of the room and avoid serious issues with mould or damp.

Bathroom suite

This is a bit more obvious but be sure to find the exact suite you want to use in your bathroom before starting any DIY bathroom building work, so you can measure and plan everything to the last millimetre.

Towel racks and toilet paper holders

Decide whether you’ve got room to store towels, extra toilet paper or toiletries in your bathroom and, if you don’t, consider building recessed shelving into your bathroom wall. You can also install a wall mounted sink to free up space underneath for storage, or to create a more spacious look.

It’s important to make these choices before you start your DIY bathroom remodel, as they will all have an effect on the process and some will need to be carried out by builders and contractors. If you’re looking for more information on how to incorporate waterproof bathroom panels into your DIY bathroom remodel, contact us today.