A bathroom renovation isn’t too hard to tackle for the home renovator, right? Well as we recently discovered at one of our projects, if you don’t know what you’re doing it can get messy! As we started demolition at the start of this bathroom renovation we exposed a whole raft of issues. As we lifted the tiles using little to no force, and certainly not requiring our heavy-duty tools, it was very obvious that this bathroom had not been done properly the last time it was renovated. There was no waterproofing membrane and lots of unsealed holes where water could seep through – it was concerning seeing what we were uncovering!
It’s tempting to watch some renovation shows, a few YouTube videos, do some reading on the internet and have a crack at your renovation yourself. We know it will look like a cost saver too.
But a bathroom renovation is really something that should be left to the experts, and needs to be done correctly from the start to avoid costly repairs down the track. There’s a lot that can go wrong, from preparation and waterproofing to tiling and plumbing. And don’t think this will just be an issue in the bathroom, it can impact your whole home.
Correctly waterproofing your bathroom is one of the most important aspects of a bathroom renovation. Water can do a lot of damage to your home, and you may not even know it’s happening. Its sits dormant, waiting until that fateful day! If a bathroom is not waterproofed, or not done correctly, water can seep into other areas of your home and cause rotting, rising damp, mould growth and more. Once you start seeing water damage coming through your plaster wall, the damage could already be done on the inside.
And it’s not just the hidden issues, you’re going to see all the issues of a poor DIY when your taps start leaking, your tiles are lifting and your shower is constantly dripping. It’s also going to cost you a lot more than what it would have if you got it all right in the beginning.
Put simply, we do not recommend attempting a bathroom renovation yourself. We know budgets are important though and there are definitely some ways you can save some money in other parts of the reno.
When it comes to fitting out your bathroom, you’d be surprised what you can find online. People often buy excess items such a tiles and tapware, and then sell them on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. So, before you hit the shops, check out what you can find online.
If you have planned your renovation and know when it will be undertaken, factor in clearance sales that are often held around the end of the financial year. Secondhand stores are also a great place to look for things like mirrors or shelving for the bathroom.
We hope this has helped convince you that your plans to DIY your bathroom renovation is NOT a good one, give us a call and leave it to the Hammertime experts!