You’re hoping to give your bathroom a refreshing makeover. Your budget is tight, so you’re going to skip the contractor and try to do the entire project on your own. Turning to DIY can be a great way to stay within the limits of your budget, as long as you do it the right way. Before you grab your toolbelt or your paintbrush, you should read about the DIY mistakes that you should avoid when it comes to your bathroom.
Ignoring the Plumbing
Before you do anything, whether it’s moving a vanity or retiling the shower wall, you need to turn off your home’s water supply. Go to the basement and turn off the main water supply valve and then drain the pipes by opening up the sink taps. Bathroom fixtures like toilets and sinks will also have their own supply valves. Turn them off, just in case.
Be gentle when you’re working around your plumbing. Don’t hit or jostle anything. Aggressive handling leads to breaks and leaks.
Ignoring the plumbing while you’re doing any type of bathroom renovation can lead to a lot of expensive problems, like broken pipes, water damage and mold. A single mistake could decimate your renovation budget. If you don’t have enough to cover the unexpected emergency cost, you may consider applying for an installment loan online. You could have the funds to pay the plumber as soon as the next business day.
An installment loan is not meant for mistakes that ruin your décor plans. If you run out of paint or break a shelf, you should wait for your next paycheck to fix it. This specific solution is meant for situations where you need the problem dealt with right away. If you’re still not sure, click here to see other examples of when an online installment loan makes sense.
Forgetting about Humidity
The bathroom is going to get steamy. So, you have to be careful about what kind of wallpaper or paint you use for your makeover.
Wallpaper can stain and peel off if there’s too much moisture. And worse — it can be a breeding ground for mold. If you’re hoping to put up wallpaper in your bathroom, you should follow these tips:
- Clean your bathroom exhaust fan and make sure it’s ventilating the room properly
- Choose a vinyl wallpaper
- Use a mold-proof wallpaper primer
- Add a protective coating of acrylic varnish onto the wallpaper after applying it
If you’re planning on painting the walls, then you need to get a paint that will be resistant to mold, mildew and moisture in general. Choose one with a satin or semi-gloss finish. These will stand up to humidity much better than a paint with a flat finish.
Laying Tile without Care
Cutting corners when you’re laying tile is not a good idea. You will end up with tiling mistakes like messy grout or cracked tiles that will stand out like a sore thumb. Before grabbing your thin-set and tile-cutter, watch online tutorials to get familiar with the task. Read the instructions and warnings on all of the products that you use. And give yourself plenty of time to get the job done. Doing tiling the right way can be tedious, but the results will be worth it.
When you do a DIY project the right way, you can revitalize the look of your bathroom and save money at the same time. But when you do it the wrong way, you can cost yourself a ton in repairs. Make sure that you follow these tips and get the results and the savings that you’re looking for.
