Why a Pro is Essential for a Bathroom Remodel

You can do anything if you can find a tutorial on the Internet. While this is not actually true, it does seem that way. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Take bathroom remodels, for example. You will find more than 17,000 results when searching for videos on ?bathroom remodeling tutorials? and many of them look like something anyone can do. However, the reality is different. Serious DIYers with some experience in construction and remodeling may have a good chance of pulling off a remodeling project successfully provided they have the tools. In most cases, however, it is probably going to end up in disaster.

Bathroom remodeling is challenging even for professionals. The scope of the work involved is far more extensive than may first appear. For example, if you are putting in a granite countertop for a bathroom vanity, you have to shore up the framework to support the stone. You may also have to redo some of the tiles of the wall or reroute the plumbing. All these things require a working knowledge in different trades, and most people just don?t have it.

That said, it is possible to DIY some minor changes in your bathroom. You can change a faucet quite easily, or install a new light fixture. Anything more than that may be more than you can handle. Here is why a pro is essential for a bathroom remodel.

Cost factors

You can save a lot of money with the DIY route because at least half of your remodeling project estimate goes to labor costs. The problem is you might conceivable spend twice as much if you mess it up. For example, if you have to make a new line for the water supply and all you know about plumbing is what you see in a YouTube video, chances are you are going to get a lot of it wrong. Even if you don?t you may get the wrong things, so you end up with stuff you can?t use or doesn?t work as it should. You will also need to buy or rent the equipment. All in all, you will probably drop quite a bit of money on materials and tools, and then end up having to call a pro to fix whatever you?ve done so far.

Time issues

Some people start thinking it is probably not that hard to do a bathroom remodel because the contractor estimates just a couple of weeks to get it done. This is because a contractor has a team of people working on different things at the same time and going at it full time. It is a different matter when you are an inexperienced DIYer going solo, or roping in one or two friends, and doing it after work or on weekends. A job that would take contractor just two weeks will probably take you at least a couple of months. In the meantime, no one can use that bathroom, which is a big problem if you have just one in the house. If that?s the case, hire a pro and get it over with as soon as possible.

Skills required

A DIY bathroom remodel is only doable if you have at least a working knowledge of plumbing, masonry, carpentry, and electrical wiring. Most people, including the pros themselves, are unlikely to have all the requisite skills to do the job.

Take the floor, for example. If you want to replace your bathroom floor, first you have to tear the old ones out. It may seem like a piece of cake to break up some old tiles, but it actually takes a bit of skill to do it properly. You may have to remove the bathtub, toilet, and/or bathroom sink to avoid damaging them. You need to make sure you don?t end up with an uneven subfloor (not to mention you may have to replace the subfloor). It is hot, dirty, exhausting work, and you still have to sweep up all the debris and arrange for proper disposal.

Even if you manage to pull this part off with some success, you might find the next part even more challenging. Putting down tiles requires mixing up mortar or cement in the right proportions and at the correct consistency. And it is quite a science. If you put in the wrong proportion of materials and you end up with something too coarse, too smooth, or too wet, and you will end up with tiles that will come loose in no time.

You have to make sure you put just enough to set the tiles evenly If you do get that right, and do so at the right slope. If you get that last thing wrong, the water will pool in the wrong places. That will be a real problem if you ever get the bathroom working again.

All those steps are just for the floor. It gets even more difficult when you deal with wall tiles. Let?s not get started on moving any part of the bathroom, replacing electrical wires, or repairing leaky pipes.

Conclusion

It is not a bad idea to flex your DIY muscles for some small updates for your bathroom. However, when it comes to anything involving walls, floors, pipes, or countertops, you should really hire professionals. Find a reputable remodeling contractor to make the most of your investment.
Mimosa Kitchen and Bath knows all about bathroom remodeling. It is a full service remodeler on which you can rely for carrying out your renovation project. If you are in the DC metro area, Columbia, Rockville, Bethesda, Jessup, Chevy Chase and surrounding areas, then we are the contractor you need.

Aside from expert remodeling services, we sell high-quality products manufactured by leading brands in the industry. When you purchase your products from us, we guarantee speedy delivery compared to ordering from big box stores. Our contractors will fabricate the product and install it into your bathroom quickly and with excellent artisanship.

We sell a host of products, from bathroom and kitchen cabinets, flooring, faucets and sinks, to vanities. Some of the brands we carry include Zodiaq, Fabuwood, Forevermark Cabinetry, Caesarstone, MSI, Kitchenmaid, Wolf Cabinets, Cambria and Hardware Resources.
You can visit our showroom in Ellicott City, Maryland to see the many products and stone slabs we have available. This includes marble, granite and engineered quartz for your vanity tops.

All of our products come backed with brand warranties.