How to plan for your DIY bathroom project

Remodeling a bathroom or creating a new one, DIY-style, can be much easier than meets the eye. DIY expert and blogger Sammy Pampani helped us to create an easy guide, full of tips on how to plan for your DIY bathroom project.

If you’re a beginner, this is the perfect guide for you to follow. From the inspiration stage to layout planning, we have you covered.

Here are the most important factors to keep in mind as you begin your remodel.

Search for inspiration

So you’ve decided you’re ready to start planning your DIY bathroom, but you’re not sure what you want the final design to look like. Begin your search for inspiration with Pinterest! Follow other fellow DIYers and create boards based on bathroom trends that interest you.

Searching hashtags on other social media apps, like Instagram, will be helpful as well. Some sample hashtags to search could be “#diybathroom, #diyflooring, #bathroomremodel.” You can also follow the DIY guru Sammy herself for ideas!

Research inexpensive options

While it’s possible to pay thousands of dollars to remodel or add a bathroom to your home, you also have many inexpensive options to choose from. These solutions can also be simple enough for a DIYer to install or construct on their own. 

Flooring and plumbing may seem difficult for a beginner to accomplish. But after some basic research, you will be thrilled at the number of simple, smart solutions that don’t break the bank.

One such solution Sammy chose for her DIY bathroom addition was Saniflo’s Saniaccess 3, an above-floor plumbing system that can discharge grey water not only from a toilet, but also from two other sanitary fixtures in a bathroom, such as sinks, tubs and showers. Homeowners will be fully capable of installing any above-floor plumbing fixtures from Saniflo because of their simple installation processes and their avoidance of breaking through walls or flooring.

Know your technical terms

After researching inexpensive DIY solutions for your bathroom, switch gears to researching technical terminology. You certainly don’t need to be a plumbing or electrical expert to successfully complete the project. But, in the event of problems, you want to be comfortable enough with the terminology to speak confidently to a professional plumber, electrician, building contractor, etc. A basic technical knowledge will help you describe any issues accurately and clearly to get problems solved.

Layout your bathroom design

Use basic tools to help you plan the layout of your bathroom. For example, Sammy uses Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to create a written view of how her designs will come together.

From there, she uses a trial-and-error process. Just because something looks good on paper does not necessarily mean it will be the right fit in reality. It’s perfectly okay to try something else to create a better fit. Having a layout to guide you will be essential to keeping track of what does and does not work.

Create a timeline

How long would a professional need to complete your project? Research the amount of time it took an expert to complete each job you will be working on throughout your bathroom project.

YouTube is a great place to start for this research. Follow a plumber from start to finish to get a solid idea of their timeline. Sammy’s best practice is to add about two additional weeks to the professional’s timetable. With Saniflo, above-floor drain pumps can be installed in as little as two days!

Save materials

A great tip from Sammy: Never throw anything away. If you have a little extra material or a product that went untouched, save it! Either can easily come in handy for another aspect of your bathroom remodel — or even your next DIY project!

DIY on a budget

Use Facebook marketplace, thrift stores and other outlets where you can find great deals. Why buy a sink from a large retailer if someone else is selling it if for a quarter of the price? Sammy always purchases the cheapest of everything at first and updates later if she finds it necessary.

For example, matte black-finish faucets are trendy now, but costly. For her most recent DIY bathroom project, Sammy bought a cheaper faucet and spray-painted it herself — a quick-and-easy DIY move that changed the whole look of the project.

Use a spreadsheet for mapping out prices. Itemize the materials you will need and find them online. This way, you can at least have an idea of a starting cost.

In addition, researching the costs of having a professional do each job is helpful. Of course, different professionals have different rates, but Sammy finds it easiest for her budgeting process to overestimate that roughly 50% of those professional costs are material.

Best advice for beginners

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” says Sammy. “Don’t compare yourself.”Being authentic and true to your surroundings

One of the most valuable lessons Sammy shares as a DIYer: There are countless ways to complete a job. If a part of your DIY bathroom remodel feels impossible to do solo, you can most likely simplify and modify it to fit your skills or needs.

What’s the best Saniflo solution for your DIY bathroom remodel? Email [email protected] with details about your installation to learn which products would best meet your residential or commercial needs!

Questions about adding a bathroom to your home classroom? Call (732) 305-2200 with details on your installation to find out which products would work best for your installation.

For more information about the product line, including new-product launches, contact Saniflo at (732) 305-2200. Or visit the Saniflo website at www.saniflo.com.

For editorial assistance, including press information and photography, contact John O’Reilly c/o GreenHouse Digital + PR: 815-469-9100 or [email protected]