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Undergoing a DIY (Do it Yourself) bathroom renovation is a tried and tested way to save money and achieve the home of your dreams, particularly if you have a tight budget. However, it is not as simple as picking up some tools and attempting to do everything on your own.
There are many laws and regulations that are put in place to protect you and ensure the quality of the renovation or any work done to the home. These rules are set to protect you while you live in the home, and for the next family that moves in when you move out. While there are many tasks you can DIY, legally there are restrictions on electrical, plumbing, installing shower screens, structural building, gas and digging work. For this type of work, you will need to hire a licensed professional where required by law.
However, there are still plenty of tasks you can DIY in your bathroom renovation. Here is a list of reovation tasks you can DIY.
However, there are still plenty of tasks you can DIY in your bathroom renovation. Here is a list of reovation tasks you can DIY:
Maybe you have some skills and experience in project management? Or you are very organised and are an excellent manager of people or events? You might be better equipped than you realise. Stringent management of your renovation project will ensure you are keeping to the timeframe and budget allocated for the project. Now is not the time to ‘wing it’. If you are not skilled and experienced to drive the renovation project, manage trades, budgets, problem solving, negotiating - you will be better off hiring a company to oversee and complete the project. If you are ready to take on this challenge, then lets rollup those sleeves and get your laptop out.
When it comes to hiring trades to compete work on your renovation, its imperative to be clear about who will be supplying materials. Sometime the tradesperson will only use product they supply as it helps them ensure the quality of the work if they are familiar with those materials. Some other fixtures can be a little more flexible. For example, an electrician will want to supply the cable and downlights, however is comfortable to install your pendant, heated towel ladder or oven. Always discuss the expectations, some trades may recommend suppliers or prefer to order the goods themselves to ensure the supply is available when they need it, or may be benefiting from a supplier kickback. You might find you can save some money if your source some fixtures yourself, always double check the cost and offer to supply if you can do it cheaper.
Removing walls requires some know-how, and in some cases - permits, so this job is best left to a professional. Instead, we recommend attempting general demolition of old fixtures such as removing old fittings, cabinetry, carpets, floating floors and tiles.
If you plan on DIY demolition, ensure that you have the appropriate tools to make the job efficient and more importantly you have appropriate safety equipment especially if you are new to this type of work. For any DIYer doing extensive demolition work on an older home (pre 1990), we caution damaging or removing any materials that could be asbestos. Do you research on Asbestos, common uses and types so that you can actively look out for this dangerous material. If in doubt call a professional.
Picking up a paint roller and some paint is a very affordable and achievable task for your DIY bathroom renovation. Make sure you ask for advice if you are a first time DIY painter, there are plenty of mistakes to be made when it comes to paint.
You may be tempted to paint immediately before all other jobs are started but remember that most big renovation jobs involve heavy foot traffic by tradies and your walls can potentially be exposed to wear and tear. It is best to let all other jobs besides flooring be completed before you start to paint.
If you have outdated wallpaper you wish to remove, this task is an easy DIY job that will require about a days work, depending on the size and the type. First step is to work out what type of paper you are dealing with to formulate your method of removal and arrange the tools and materials required.
Adding new wallpaper can transform the look of a room, more impressive than the impact it creates is that it can be successfully achieved by an astute DIYer. There are a few different types of paper and application methods, so be sure to research which option is the best for your installation and ability.
You can purchase and assemble all your flatpack kitchen, bathroom and other cabinetries, there are various suppliers that can provide a product that may be suitable to standard type installations. When it comes to installation, take the time to follow the installation instructions, as incorrect installation may void your warranty.
Sanding and polishing the floorboards can make a huge impact to your renovation, luckily sanding and polishing supplies and machines are readily available for the confident DIYer. Be sure to do your research and allow for an extended timeline to complete the job so that it is not rushed and prone to mishaps.
You can most definitely DIY bathroom tiling - however we strongly recommend you tread with caution.
Tiling can be better completed by a professional tiler. They are experienced in tiling and best practice around windows, doors, niches, and showers, all which present their unique challenges. Also worth considering is that cutting tiles is a skill mastered, if you attempt to cut your tiles, you may waste a lot of tiles with mistakes or edges you are not happy with.
When contemplating whether you wish to attempt DIY tiling, you will need to consider the cost of hiring equipment such as tile cutters, increasing tile wastage allocation and purchasing tools such as grout floats, and raw materials such as grout.
Caulking is one of the last steps required in a bathroom renovation, done by a professional, caulking can cost around $75+ for labour, materials and gst.
Or you can save yourself some coin and do it yourself, you will just have to pay for the materials such as the Soudal Dripless Heavy Duty Cartridge Gun and Bathroom & Kitchen Silicone.
For the best results we recommend using a dripless caulking gun such as the Soudal Dripless Heavy Duty Cartridge Gun, which releases pressure on the cartridge when you stop squeezing the trigger, giving you more control of the flow.
If you have any questions in regards to installing our products and appliances, feel free to contact the Fontaine Customer Support Team on: 1300 884 081 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) or email support@fontaineind.com.au and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Here are some other resources to ensure you know which jobs needs professionals:
VBA Victorian Building Authority Home Renovation Essential Information
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