DIY Bathroom Remodel Do's and Don'ts

In the age of YouTube and Pinterest, it might seem like there’s no limit to what you can DIY. As you budget for your bathroom remodel, the urge to DIY as a money-saver can start to take hold. The problem is that some projects simply aren’t a good fit for the DIY approach. Where should you draw the line?

At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’ve completed thousands of shower and tub renovations, and we’ve had to repair DIY mistakes more often than you might think. We know that every homeowner can probably complete at least a few projects on their own, but we also know when it’s best to put down the tutorial and hire a professional. Read on to discover our top bathroom remodel DIY do’s and don’ts to determine when the savings are really worth it.

Table of Contents

1.  Bathroom Remodel Projects You Can DIY
   1.  DIY Bathroom Painting
   2.  DIY Bathroom Hardware and Accessory Replacement
   3.  DIY Bathroom Decor
2.  Bathroom Remodel Projects You Shouldn't DIY
   1.  Wet Area and Plumbing Upgrades
   2.  Electrical Work
   3.  Major Structural Replacements
3.  Questions to Ask Before You Try DIY
   
   1. Do I Have the Skills for This DIY Project?
   2. Do I Have the Time for This DIY Project?
   3.  Will This DIY Project Really Save Me Money?

Bathroom Remodel Projects You Can DIY

First, let’s start with the projects that may be appropriate to tackle on your own. The key is to stay within your skillset and stick to tasks that are easy to amend or fix as needed. Our top examples of good bathroom remodel DIY projects are bathroom painting, hardware replacement, and decor.

DIY Bathroom Painting

Painting can be a good DIY project if you’re only painting your walls, trim, and/or ceiling. 

According to Homeguide, professional painters typically charge between $250-$650 per room or $20-$50 an hour. 

Meanwhile, a standard bathroom with untextured walls needs one gallon of paint for complete coverage, and a gallon of quality interior paint costs between $20-$80. The tools needed to paint a bathroom, like brushes, pour trays, and drop sheets, are also low-cost.

DIY Bathroom Hardware and Accessory Replacement

Updating your bathroom hardware can make the space look more cohesive and stylish with minimal effort. If you have experience with a screwdriver and have a tool on hand like a level, you can probably handle a few hardware and accessory replacements. 

The cost to DIY this project will vary. Home Depot, for example, sells bathroom hardware sets with pieces like a towel bar, toilet paper holder, and hand towel ring for anywhere between $35.90 and $186.38.

💡Bonus tip: If you’re installing an accessory for safety reasons, consider hiring a professional unless you have significant experience doing so. The last thing you want is to install a grab bar or shower seat that isn’t secured properly!

DIY Bathroom Decor

Maybe you’re less of a hammer-and-nails type of DIYer and more of a crafty DIYer. If so, bathroom decor is your place to shine.

DIY bathroom decor ideas range from pebbled bath mats to floating shelves to hand-painted storage solutions. These types of projects offer an opportunity to embrace a new aesthetic, one low-cost piece at a time. Bonus points if you can incorporate recycled or upcycled materials that you already have on hand!

Bathroom Remodel Projects You Shouldn’t DIY

What about the projects you shouldn’t DIY? If someone went to school to learn how to do a certain type of home improvement, it’s probably not something you should try to learn from a YouTube tutorial. Our top examples are plumbing, electrical, and structural upgrades.

Wet Area and Plumbing Upgrades

In theory, you can install a shower yourself with a $2,000 kit, a $30 hole saw, and a $50 electric drill. The reality is that you may also need:

• Dumpster rental for demolished bathroom materials: $300
• Basic PPE: $15-$100
• Professional plumbing for as-needed repairs: $45-$200 an hour

The point is that a complex DIY project like a DIY shower remodel tends to come with a lot of unexpected costs. More importantly, any project that involves plumbing probably isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

Electrical Work

Some homeowners may be able to DIY a simple lighting upgrade. According to Homewyse, the average bathroom lighting fixture costs between $91 and $216. The labor to install a lighting fixture can cost an additional $350, more than doubling the cost of installation. Is it worth the savings?

If you have an older home that has not undergone a complete electrical upgrade in the past decade, you may want to leave this kind of work to the pros. Improper installation of any electrical fixture can increase the risk of shorts and even electrical fires.

Major Structural Replacements

Not all bathroom remodels are designed to improve aesthetics alone. Some homeowners need to remodel their bathroom to account for structural problems like an uneven shower pan or water damage behind the shower walls or sink basin.

Unless you have experience in construction or home renovation, you should probably hire someone to complete these kinds of structural repairs. This type of work can really impact your home value for the better when completed properly. When completed improperly, an inspector is likely to flag the issues for potential buyers, which can lead to more buyer concessions, lower offers, and less buyer interest.

Questions to Ask Before You Attempt a DIY Bathroom Remodel

Maybe we haven’t covered the specific project you’re debating yourself. Maybe you’re still on the fence about the projects we have covered. Either way, we’ve got the questions you should always ask yourself before you commit to DIY home improvements.

Do I Have the Skills for This DIY Project?

This is the most important question to ask yourself, and honesty is key. Have you attempted a similar project before and had success? Are you receiving help from someone who does have relevant experience? Can you learn what you need to in just a quick tutorial? If the answer to all of these questions is no, you may not be the best person for the job.

Another way to approach this question is to think about the types of mistakes that arise during DIY projects. Would small imperfections have a huge impact? 

For example, even a small leak in your shower can cause serious water damage and mold growth. On the contrary, small imperfections in your bathroom paint might be aesthetically bothersome but aren’t likely to result in costly damage.

Do I Have Time for This DIY Project?

One of the benefits of paying for professional labor is that you don’t have to find the time in your schedule to commit to a DIY project. Before you buy all the supplies and get started on a bathroom upgrade, think about how much time it’s going to take from start to finish. 

Replacing drawer pulls may take as little as twenty minutes, but installing new flooring (even if you’re working with stick and peel tiles) will take hours, if not days.

If you do have the time, ask yourself if that’s really how you want to spend it. If you don’t want to give up the next few weekends to bathroom remodels, you may want to hire someone who can get the job done for you.

Will This DIY Project Really Save Me Money?

About 25-40% of most remodel costs cover the cost of professional labor. In theory, you’re almost always going to save money up front by doing a project yourself. However, there are a few different angles to consider before you determine that DIYing is a real money saver:

• Some DIY projects require specialty equipment that you’ll never use again, but that a professional would already have on hand. Calculate the cost of tools and equipment you don’t already own, not just the cost of the materials or products you’re using.
• The most expensive bathroom remodel is the one you have to do twice! If you aren’t confident that you can do a satisfactory job, you may want to reconsider whether it’s really worth trying to save the money by forgoing professional labor in the first place.
• Installation mistakes require fixing down the road. When a professional makes a mistake (which they’re less likely to do), you probably have a warranty that can cover the expense of repairs. When you make a mistake, you have to pay out of pocket for those repairs.

Not All DIY Projects Will Cut Down Bathroom Remodel Price

Should you attempt that bathroom remodel on your own, or should you call an experienced professional? With this guide, you can learn where to draw the line and see better results now and in the long-term.

At ZINTEX Remodeling, we know that few things matter more than staying within your bathroom remodeling budget. Financing can make a lot of projects more accessible, but financing isn’t always the right call when you’re still working on improving your credit score. Discover more in our guide to improving your credit score before a remodel.