Bathroom Redesign: Do-It-Yourself

Many homeowners choose to do their own bathroom redesign. A factor is the money they may save.

There are considerations to be made before you undertake such a project:

• The amount of work to be done
• Your experience
• Your time
• Risk of injury

When you decide on a bathroom redesign project, you have to determine if it is going to be a replacement of fixtures such as faucets, a bathtub, a sink, or a toilet. If you are familiar with plumbing and fix these things yourself, you may want to do the bathroom redesign yourself. You may also consider redecorating which may include adding wallpaper or painting and other accessories.

If you plan to add fixtures such as a separate shower stall or move fixtures to a different area, you may want to consider having a professional do the work.

Bathroom redesign is time consuming if you are planning a complete overhaul. Your bathroom will be unavailable for a period of time which may mean one, two, or three months. If you have more than one bathroom, this may not be a problem. If you have only one, you will need to think about how much time it will take for you to complete the job as opposed to what a professional contractor could do in the same amount of time.

Professional contractors are used to injuries on the job. They do not set out to injure themselves but accidents do happen. If you are not experienced with plumbing or electricity or handling heavy objects or sharp instruments, you may injure yourself. An injury would take time away from the work that needs to be done. It also may cause you to lose time on your regular job.

You should consider these factors before embarking on a bathroom redesign project. Discuss the pros and cons with your family. If you feel you are capable of completing this project properly, by all means do-it-yourself.