Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

[hostage]

I am looking at remodeling my bathroom. I heard of plumbing DIY can go wrong very easily. If I wanted to remodel my bathroom, where should I start? Should I just get a plumber to do most of the work? The bath places and big stores seem to want to charge a lot of money to redo a bathroom. I am wanting to not spend as much and don't mind doing some of the stuff myself. I know this is a boating forum, but there are a lot of smart people here. I am thinking of moving some non-load bearing walls to make the bathroom bigger, putting in tile in a stall shower, and new vanity.

-Hostage

 

[oops!]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

make a plan ! usually this means ....
gut
frame...
drywall
floor
install
paint
install trimmings.
first thing to do is make sure the other bathroom works......the boss wont like it if its not.

the second thing is the gut.......to start ripping......turn the water off and cap the lines.....pull the toilet.....and stick a rag in the pipe and plastic over the hole.
then you can turn the water back on....

then.....start your re model....
any work you do as far as a tear down will save you dollars......if you are not that afraid of hooking up plumbing.....you wont need a plumber....if you are all thumbs.....get one.
the same for the electrician.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I would think the first place to start is to make up some sort of drawing to figure out what exactly you want to do. If you are not sure if the wall is load bearing then you will need to get someone in to look. Just get an idea of what you will need to buy. The work itself isn't hard but you need to have some basic plumbing skills. The tile is pretty easy to install, but you will need a tile saw. Most hardware stores sell or rent the saw. The DIY will help you a lot. Just what you said it doesn't sound like there is much "plumbing" involved. If you are moving the shower or putting in a new shower or moving the toilet there is quite a bit involved. Once you have pretty much planned out what you are doing most of the hardware places like Home Depot or Menards have people that can help lead you in the right direction. Good luck with your project.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I like to start with a clean slate so demo comes first,take everything down to the studs. If you are going to put the the fixtures back into their original locations half the battle is over.....if not measure your floor and draw a layout on graph paper. Buy your new fixtures and read the installation sheets carefully to determine your rough-in specs. Do all the rough-ins,insulate outside wall,and then hang drywall. Hire an electrician...you can to the plumbing with some online help....USE PEX for supply lines it is 100% DIY and foolproof.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I just finished a bath remodel and I would have to say is order/plan everything early!.

It me took three weeks to get the tub and four weeks to get the vanity. The frame less shower surround took another three weeks, and it needed to be totally complete before they would come measure for it. The hot mop guy needed 10 days before he could show up. I did all the demo,drywall,plumbing and electrical and framing of the shower surround. It saved me about 5k and hired a very good tile guy with the money.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Here is the thing on plumbing, I have done my own since I was a kid. About 10 dad taught me. I like copper because I like copper but use plastic, and galvanized at times. Never had any real problems, Drain lines need 1/4 inch fall per foot. When sodering copper put heat to center of joint not where you want to have soder, soder will draw to heat. Plastic after cleaner, glue 1/4 turn after sliped together. Galvinized not above ground.

 

[12vMan]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

there are a lot of smart people here.

Hey there Hostage,

You've got to figure out your floor plan first because that dictates the complete parameters of the project. from placement or tub and/or shower, cabinets, toilet, lighting and amount of flooring, etc. etc. The plan is the most important part of the project. It's the foundation you need to build from, so don't go in blindly and start knocking down walls until you're ready!

If you haven't already started, just get some graph paper and draw the bathroom to scale. There are certain size requirements for the cabinetry, sinks, toilet space, shower configuration to name a few.

There's a wealth of informational forums on the subject to research like doityourself.com and gardenweb.com

As stated be prepared to have all of your fixtures and cabinetry ordered ahead of time so you won't be waiting idle for them to show up, and make sure your other bathroom(s) are up and running and won't be affected. Some tiles and stones are special order as well, so the more planning you do up front, the smoother the project will go.

Please post pics so we can see your progress, and don't hesitate to ask questions as they come up.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Another thing to remember is being in compliance with local building codes. If you are going to do you own electrical work you need to make sure you work is done according to code. I believe some areas have codes reguarding plumbing also. You should be able to do an internet search and become familiar with any requirements. I have done several remodeling projects to our home and love doing it. Like the other guys on here said, planning is key. Good luck.

 

[rbh]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Watch about 10 episodes of holmes on holmes and holmes inspection to see all the problems other people are going through and how they fixed their issues.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I'll add a few things: Use only water resistant sheetrock. Use cement board around the tub and/or shower. If you're removing or installing a cast iron tub, get help; it's heavy. Pick up a book on bathroom remodeling, either from the local library or from a Home Depot or Lowes. Expect to find some rotted beams which need to be repaired or replaced. Check your floor for level even before you do any demolition. If it's not level, figure you'll have to level it. It your home is more than 60 years old, the walls may be built with lathe and plaster, not sheetrock. Expect a more difficult demolition and some problems with fitting new equipment. Plan ahead, but expect the unexpected. All electrical must have GFCI protection. Never use electrical straps to secure copper or Plex pipe; use the correct mounting hardware. Demolition is dirty, heavy, and sometimes dangerous work. Don't overdo it; hurting your back in the middle of a job is not good. If you have specific questions, you can PM me. I've been doing all the crafts since I was a kid and have done three bathrooms in our home, as well as have helped others do their kitchens and baths. Hy

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Getting the plan of attack is crucial. I spent about 3 months with tape measure in hand and a tablet of paper. I too wanted to make the bath bigger to put in a laundry. I even had a few friends come over and give me thoughts. This seem to be the biggest help as one of them came up with an idea that I didn't think about. There was a hall closet and a small closet in the bath. I bumped the door out 3 feet past the hall closet and knocked down the wall between the two closets. This in turn gave me the extra room needed for the washer and dryer. Wife is so much happier that she doesn't have to drag laundry up and down the basement stairs.

Take your time and ask friends what they think about your plans. Then see if they have any ideas.

BTW, it took longer for my plan to come together than the actual work.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Support your local economy and get a referred remodeling contractor.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

You can get all of you dimensions, which include exact dimensions locating, windows, outlets, sewer, etc., and take them to say Home Depot, and have them do a 3-D drawing for you to look at. When we did our kitchen, we even got a detailed list of the pantry, dishwasher, stove, refrig., etc., complete with dimensions of each. (That way the "boss", can see what is happening !!!!!

REMEMBER, if mama ain't happy, NOBODY's happy!!!

 

[marauder11]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I am a plumber and sometimes you can do it all most of the time.Just remember the home center guys are not plumbers and can lead you the wrong direction. With the new pex piping systems it is easy. Do not use those push on connectors. You can find a good book to help you out. Good luck and message me if you need some help. Remember a little water in your boat or leaking from some plumbing is still not a good thing.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Most of the work isn't rocket science but be assured it is a learned skill and in some cases an art form. For plumbing and electrical, see if you can find licensed craftsmen to help you layout the work and then have them inspect when you're done. Even then, you may have problems with resale if anyone finds out you performed work that wasn't up to code or wasn't inspected.

I know it can get political real quick when it comes to building codes and permits but I'd be really ticked off if my neighbor caused his house to burn down and took mine with it because he didn't do proper work.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Youtube has a lot of really good videos on plumbing and electrical that will help. I got quotes of about 4K for plumbing when I added an upstairs bathroom, not including parts. I learned the art of soldering copper and got a little carried away, re-plumbed most of my house as well and it all came to about $1K. I had a couple weekends into it but $3K savings was worth it. I read a lot about code and talked with the city inspectors a lot, they can be really helpful if you find a good one. I'm sure a plumber would have done a much prettier job in a fraction of the time but to date I've had no problems.

A couple things I learned that may help:

As for code, one thing required in many areas is a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the bathroom, that's something to look into. There's also a minimum distance an outlet can be from the sink.

There's usually a minimum clearance on each side for a toilet.

I thought I was being smart by running 3/4 copper up until I T'd off to for the shower and sink. In hindsight all that resulted in is having to run the hot water longer before it actually gets hot.

Don't forget to vent drains, my neighbor overlooked this in a shower and had to rip it apart to start over.

Home Depot has a decent series of remodeling books, they're pretty good for basic plumbing and electrical.

Don't let your grout dry to much before removing the excess, it really sucks if you do.

Most importantly, be nice to your inspector and they may be nice to you.

Good luck and take your time.

 

[destroyer_85_golf]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I am a plumber
Hey me too! if you need any help just post your questions on here although i dont know your local codes i have heard it said that illinois has some of the strictist codes in the us. There is only two things you need to know about plumbing 1. Stink goes up 2. Poo goes down. BAM your halfway to being a plmber!!! but seriously if you have any questions just post ill try to help.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

I've never met a guy who didn't like a renovation thread!!!
I'm doing a bathroom renovation in the basement myself at the moment. The basic wiring and plumbing is all in and next on the list will be getting my plumber buddy to make sure it looks good before 'glueing' the fittings on the pipes etc.
One thing you want to consider is where to spend your money. The more you do yourself, the more you might have to get the nicer fittings in there....or maybe a heated floor!!...which I understand is a great plus.
There is a lot of great advice so far in this thread....definitely pick up a book on how to renovate bathrooms (Home depot has 'em as mentioned). DON'T buy a book on decorating/designer bathrooms tho' which is a decorative picture book full of completed bathrooms (popular with the wives)...make sure you get the one showing how to get there.
I agree about the code comment with respect to any electrical receptacles (36" from the sink or shower) and ONLY go with a GFI style receptacle.
There are lots of great upgrades...like multiple flush/pot lights instead of a single overhead fixture. I'd avoid fluorescent lights unless you like the 'clinical' look. Get nice tile in place of lino if you can afford it. Try to do as much of the plumbing as you can and then get (hire?) a guy to come and look it over...and maybe get you over the finish line on it.
Make sure you plan for a fan if you don't already have one....maybe a new window if you don't have a tight thermopane. If you move the toilet make sure you leave enough room around to sit.....yes, I said sit.
Do you want a bathtub/shower combo? What about a big super size shower with a seat in it?...they are pretty cool and modern.
Again, as the guys have said do some investigation, get a plan, and read up before you start. THEN.....take it down to the studs so you can easily see what you are dealing with. Drywalling is a piece of cake...so don't worry about that 'reboarding' the room....and when you do it, use the moisture proof/resistant drywall....just a few more bucks per sheet but you can avoid the mold thing.
Good Luck
BP

 

[hostage]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

Wow...Thanks for all the great advise and by all means keep it coming. Was surprised to login today and find all this wealth of information. Currently it is one of the smallest bathrooms I have ever seen. I did measure out the floor plan, I think it was about ~34ft square. On the other side of the bathroom is a closet which is about the same size and mirrored to it. The bathroom and closet are like two "L's" locking into each other. It has a smaller stall shower and we want to enlarge the shower using some of the closet space. We also want to make the closet a little larger. We do have room to spare in our master bedroom, so we don't mind using some square footage for expanding the closet.

I have been watching a lot of DIY shows and I want to fabricate a drain pan for the stall shower and tile it. I will keep the toilet where it is and I will replace the vanity with a different style. I am thinking of getting the shower drain where it is and moving the water lines for the shower and maybe adding another shower head.

When we went to Home Depot and Lowes, we got a lot of caution saying that water is something not to play with, etc. I have installed fans in all the rooms, including mounting and wiring, though don't have much experience with water.

I did see a video on youtube from the TileShop that has some drain pain grade kit and it looks easy when you brake it down.

The main reason why I am redoing the bath is that water from the shower got inbetween grout joints where water from the shower steam hits the wall. I know got into the backer board, I just hope there is no mold. We do have a spare bathroom that we are using after I noticed the issue.

So I guess what I am looking at doing:
1) Expanding shower into closet area
2) Expand Closet into Master Bedroom
3) Do plumbing, replace greenboard and cement board.

I guess I do have one question. When replacing the wall for the shower do I put green board then cement board over that or do I just use cement board?

Thanks again,

I will post some photos

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Remodeling Bathroom, where should I start?

All good advise so far - I gutted mine to the studs & re-designed (moved tub & toilet) - All new flooring, electrical (with GFCI) drywall and fixtures including the tub, Sink & vanity.

Keep in mind - This is very important - If you do your own work any design, plumbing, storage problem including a stopped up toilet or fogged up mirror will be YOUR fault - Been there, Done that. I have basically re-modeled my whole house and hear in on a weekly basis - Seems like a certain time of the month is worse than others.

LK