Bathroom Remodeling – DIY Or Hire a Contractor?

The decision of whether to do it yourself or use outside help when you want to remodel your bathroom may already have been made for you. If you cannot afford to pay a contractor, then you will have to do the work yourself if it is going to get done. On the other hand, if you lack any DIY skills and have no confidence in your ability, then you will need to hire a contractor to do it for you.

If you are thinking about doing the work yourself, then you should make sure you manage your expectations to keep them in line with your ability. Unless you have substantial DIY experience, you should avoid making big plans. It is usually best to avoid moving walls or making the bathroom larger, and it is also best if you can keep the layout in its current form. It will be much easier to take out the old bathroom fixtures and simply replace them in the same place, attaching them to the existing plumbing then it will be to lay new pipes.

If changing the fixtures seems too difficult or is not necessary, then you can still make a substantial difference to your bathroom by concentrating on the more manageable changes. Rather than getting a new bathroom suite, you may want to simply put in new faucets. Changing the tiling, the color of the walls, the curtains and lighting can make a huge difference to the look and feel of a bathroom.

Make sure you know what you are doing. Find out what is involved before you begin your DIY work, and don’t take on any jobs that you are not ready to handle. Before you begin, ensure that you have all of the necessary tools and equipment and that you understand how to do the work.

If your plans for remodeling your bathroom is greater than your DIY ability, then you will need to bring in a contractor. Make sure you know what you want them to do before you hire them, and be as specific as you can about what you want them to do. If you are able to do some of the work yourself, then consider saving some money by only hiring a contractor to do the parts of the job that you are unable to do for yourself.

You will find contractors listed in your local directories, but if you know anyone who has recently had some work done, then it is a good idea to ask them for a recommendation. Get quotes from several different contractors before you pick one to do the work. Hiring a contractor can be very expensive, but getting your bathroom professionally remodeled can add value to your property, so it may be worth spending some money on it if you are planning to sell your house in the near future.