Is It A Good Idea To Renovate A Bathroom Yourself?
Social media makes us think that everyone should be able to do DIY, but there are plenty of times or projects where do-it-yourself might not be a good idea.
01/06/20223
Over the past 10 years, do-it-yourself has gone from being just an idea to a fully-fledged phenomenon that has people doing things that they never thought possible. Granted, the cordless tool revolution has brought with it an easy way for people to do DIY in their homes and even do DIY as a way to establish a business or just bring in extra cash. The problem with everyone thinking they can DIY First & Main Property Management warns is that they do and often end up with results that were not what they expected. So, when should you do-it-yourself and when should you rather let the experts do it for you?
With all the information freely available on social media, there are more than a few so-called DIY 'experts' out there who claim success with all types of projects, which is all fine and well as they obviously have the skills to do the projects themselves. And that is the important difference between watching DIY on videos or social media and doing it yourself without the skills but having the confidence to want to do it. But before you do, take note of the following from DIY experts.
Should you DIY a Bathroom Renovation?
A bathroom renovation is one that many homeowners envisions when their bathroom has seen better days and requires more than a coat or two of paint and some new light fittings. A full-on bathroom renovation may include ripping out and replacing dated sanitary ware and the relevant plumbing to go with it, or it can be removing and replacing tiles on walls and floor. A bathroom renovation doesn't come cheap and who wouldn't want to save money by doing it themselves? But the real question here is should you do-it-yourself and save money or hire a contractor to do the work professionally?
Decide on what needs to be done
Before you can make an informed decision on what a bathroom renovation involves, you need to sit down and decide on what needs to be done for a successful project. This is where you decide on what you can and cannot do. You might be able to remove and replace tiles yourself or even replace dated light fittings if they are not being moved, but consider that some projects require certification in order to be considered legal by our local planning authorities and that includes any plumbing or electrical work and even gas installation if this is included in the scope for the bathroom renovation. So, from that point of view, you already need three professionals with the knowledge and expertise to do certain tasks for the renovation.
With most of the information on social media being from other countries, keep in mind that they have very different building codes, use different methods and have access to materials and supplies that we do not.
You can still save a lot of money on a bathroom renovation by doing certain jobs yourself, jobs for which you have the know-how to complete such as painting, tiling, and so on, attending to all the cosmetic changes needed as part of the renovation.
Set a flexible budget
Setting a flexible budget might seem like an oxymoron but there is a reason why a budget needs to be flexible. No matter how hard you or your contractor try to prevent it, there will always be unexpected costs that can pop up and it helps to have a bit of money in reserve for this.
Find a reputable contractor
Having decided to leave certain jobs in the hands of a professional contractor, you also need to ensure that you hire a reputable one that can provide you with contactable references and a sound business ethic. Working with a contractor will also allow you to work within a budget for what you can and cannot afford before starting on the project. Again, this ties in with having a flexible budget that offers a contingency for unexpected costs.
Do your research
For whatever jobs you decide to DIY, do your research beforehand on where to buy materials and supplies for the job and where you will find the best price. Online shopping is a great way to source and find what you need and compare pricing so that you know you are getting the best value for your money.