Remodelling a Bathroom in 7 Simple Steps

Is your old bathroom an eyesore, something that’s always embarrassing when you invite guests over? It’s time to turn that bathroom into a modern, practical room.

Renovating a bathroom can be a very expensive investment, but by DIYing it, you will be able to save up to a few thousand dollars.

Here are the seven easy steps for a bathroom renovation from start to finish.

Editor’s Note: Before getting into the renovation steps, let’s consider some of the major considerations before starting the project.

Design elements

You’ll have to decide on a design for your bathroom remodelling project before you start working on it. Choose a design that matches your DIY skills and meets your bathroom needs.

There are different directions from which one could approach this kind of project: repainting, replacing fixtures, and complete demolition and starting over.

There you have to consider the following factors:

New fixtures: Renovation of a bathroom may require replacing a shower or bathtub or installation of a new sink. These replacements will be added to your budgeted project. 

Color scheme: Consider your favourite ambiance, light colours provide space and give a larger look, and the dark colours would feel cozier. Do go for paints that prevent moisture.

Storage spaces: If you intend to get rid of a closet to make the room bigger, make sure that you have cabinets that may substitute the lost storage space in the bathroom.

Location of utilities: Take note where all plumbing pipes and electrical wiring are placed and mark it so that you do not cut or drill into one of them and make expensive repairs.

RELATED: 7 Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas for Your Home

Now, let us consider the seven steps to renovating a bathroom.

1. Remove bathroom fixtures

If you are partially renovating your bathroom, begin by removing the drywall and the fixtures that will be replaced.

Even in gutting a bathroom, there needs to be some order to the process to avoid a costly mistake in the demolition phase of your bathroom renovation.

First, turn off the water and remove the toilet to avoid spills. If you’re replacing the bathtub, strip the bath tile to the studs for plumbing adjustments.

Use a reciprocating saw to remove insulation safely. Wear your protective gear.

Now, remove the vanity, cabinets, mirror, flooring, and other surfaces or fixtures that are going to be replaced later. Remove the baseboards before installing the new tile floor, and then put them back on for a perfect finish.

2. Install a new shower or bathtub

After gutting your bathroom, set up the new fixtures. Replace wood that is rotten or subfloors that have been damaged before the new shower installation.

Choose a pan or basin that will suit the decor and fit the space.

Consider the bathroom configuration when you decide upon the shape of the base. If space allows, consider a combo shower/ bathtub for resale purposes.

3. Lay the new flooring

Now that your subfloor is prepared, you can install your new flooring.

Although tile is still a great option for bathrooms, you may want to consider cheaper and more DIY-friendly options, such as laminate or vinyl.

If you’re using tile, snap Mason’s chalk lines perpendicular (at right angles) to the longest continuous wall. This way, as you lay tiles across the room, they will be in a straight line.

4. Hang new drywall

Now it’s time to hang new drywall.

Drywall can be labour-intensive, especially when you have to cut out big sections to accommodate the shower walls, vanities, and other features.

Once you start hammering the boards, everything else is going to fall into place.

Here are some of the critical tips for this stage of the work:

• Apply drywall mud over the joints and tape over the seams.
• Use cement board on the shower/tub wall.
• Seal the cement board to protect it from water penetration.

Now that you have rebuilt your walls, add a splash of color to your bathroom.

Painting is a simple and inexpensive way to refresh the space, giving it a new updated look.

Choose paint with a semi-gloss finish for you to be assured of an easy clean-up since it keeps mold and mildew away easily.

RELATED: A 10-Point Bathroom Renovations Checklist

5. Install cabinets and vanity

After fixing the walls, proceed to install the rest of the big stuff or, better still, items on your bathroom renovation checklist, such as the vanity and cabinets.

First, install the vanity with its built-in sink and faucet. After coupling the drain to the faucet, progress to the more cosmetic requirements, such as the mirror, cabinets, and trim work around the shower or tub.

If you can’t afford a new vanity at this time, plan for a budget-friendly renovation. Sand and paint your existing bathroom cabinets and change out the look of your hardware for a much-needed refresh at a lower price tag.

6. Install new lighting

Plan out electrical fixtures and then install new lighting.

Adjust the wiring and patch any existing holes in the wall if the new wiring is a different size than the current one. This may involve moving outlets, especially if the new vanity increases the space.

This step is highly recommended to be done by a certified electrician, especially if you have never worked on home wiring, to avoid creating a fire hazard with improper wiring.

7. Install the toilet

At this point, your bathroom remodelling venture is taking shape, resembling a complete space—except for one crucial element: the toilet.

One may install or reinstall the toilet earlier, but doing so as the final step might spare you some grief in case it gets damaged during work on other areas of the room.

Finally, complete the renovation by putting in trim around the room. It’s what provides that important finishing detail to your space.

Further personalize your room with window treatments, decorative storage containers, and wall pictures.

Afterward, take a nice soak in the bath or have a refreshing shower and enjoy the fruits of your labour in your new space.

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