How to Fix a Bathroom in Three Steps

One of the things that says you like to take care of guests in your home is the quality of your bathrooms. Not only do people want privacy and cleanliness, but they appreciate an ambiance and at atmosphere that suggests you've thought of everything around your home. For the do-it-yourselfer, the bathroom also presents some interesting challenges in and of itself.

For one, you have to work with plumbing when you're updating a bathroom. This is in addition to the rest of the work, including cabinets, floors, and walls. But if you follow a detailed plan, follow through with it, and are willing to adapt to obstacles, you might just be able to update your bathroom efficiently. Here are some steps for doing just that.

1. If you don't have experience, don't start with the bathroom. The bathroom is not exactly do-it-yourselfer rookie territory. As has been mentioned, issues like plumbing are combined with electricity and upholstery in order to make a perfect storm of difficulty for the first-time homeowner. If you want a new bathroom, you simply might think about hiring a contractor. At the very least, don't make updating your bathroom your first project. Start with your basement - where you can at least start from scratch - and build up your experience. You'll be glad you did.

2. Seek out some professional advice. One of the most important things you can do when updating a bathroom is not to treat it like it's your own personal pet project. Make it a community effort - listen to your spouse's take on the look of the bathroom and be willing to get some consultation from a contractor, or even outsource some of the work that you can't handle, like the plumbing. Remember that there's no shame in not doing it all yourself - if someone asks how you did it, you can be perfectly honest. Don't get caught up in your own ideas so much that you forget why you're doing this in the first place.

3. Measure twice, cut once. The old adage "measure twice, cut once" also applies to bathrooms: make sure that your preparations are clear and definitive. You'll want to be as thorough as possible. But don't let exhaustive preparations become a reason for you to forget actually following through on your blueprints. Get to work after you've "measured twice," and set a schedule for yourself. If you get behind, at least be willing to work on it a little bit every day so that you can keep your momentum going.

Photo Credits: brooklyn

This post involves:

bathrooms, cabinets, fix your bathroom, hiring a contractor, plumbing

... and focuses on:

Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix

Posted by Fix Handyman on July 28, 2009 in Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.