As a homeowner, you may be eager to tackle a bathroom renovation project yourself. While it can feel rewarding in the moment, your DIY project can turn into a complete disaster. The bathroom, albeit a small space, is a very important one. Not only is it used daily, but there is a mix of electrical, plumbing, and intricate fixtures in a very small area. This makes it very easy to make a mistake when renovating. When it comes time to renovate your bathroom, it’s best to leave it to the pros. Read on to learn about why you should never DIY your next bathroom renovation.
Your Safety Comes First
Attempting to complete the plumbing and electrical for your new bathroom can be a safety hazard. Your home requires certain permits in order to complete these jobs for a reason. This is because they are difficult and are best done by licensed professionals. Thankfully there are tons of bathroom renovations companies, it’s just important to know what to look for. Hiring a pro will help you avoid (potentially dangerous) issues.
Leaks:
Plumbing can be very sensitive and if not properly moved or worked on it can lead to costly leaks. If left unnoticed, it can lead to future larger leaks and a possible build-up of mold. Additionally, pre-existing water damage is quite common in older bathrooms, and if this goes untreated, it will lead to further damages and costs down the line.
Home Fires and Electrocution:
With both water and electricity being so close together, there is a higher risk of faults or injury. Home fires can be started during and post reno due to faulty or ungrounded wiring. There is also a risk of electrocution from handling the equipment unsafely.
Hiring a licensed pro to complete your plumbing and electrical will help to spot pre-existing issues. They will perform the work properly and to standards so as to protect you and your home from any risks. Ultimately you will save costs from further damage and repairs.
Difficult Installations
What may seem simple on paper (or on YouTube), is not what it seems when it comes to renovating your bathroom. Installing a bathroom fan, laying tile, or installing shower glass are just a few examples of projects where you should always hire a pro.
A bathroom fan is very important for the longevity of your bathroom. Being very prone to moisture, fans help avoid the growth of mold. Fans are most commonly routed directly outside and in order to do this, a hole needs to be cut in your roof. This adds danger to what seemed like a simple installation and is best left to a pro to install.
Hiring a pro to lay your tile can be quite expensive compared to the cost of the actual tile. This is why many homeowners think they can save costs by laying it themselves. The cost of labour for laying tile is expensive for a reason — it’s difficult! Not hiring a pro can lead to crooked, unaligned tile that you have to look at every day. Avoid this and hire a tiler to complete the job.
If you have glass for your shower and have ordered the piece needed, hire a pro to install it. Glass can be extremely heavy and fragile. One slip up and your bathroom floor will be covered in broken pieces. Improper installation can also lead to water leaking out of your shower and onto your floor- which is hazardous and not good for preventing mold in the bathroom.
Below are the average costs of Bathroom Renovation services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $9,816 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Calgary | $8,738 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $7,937 | $150 | $50,000 |
| Hamilton | $15,707 | $150 | $50,000 |
| Oshawa | $14,152 | $300 | $48,000 |
| Ottawa | $11,416 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $9,486 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $8,983 | $123 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 5095 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
There’s a time and place for a DIY project, and the bathroom isn’t it. Avoid making any of these mistakes and hire a pro the first time around. You will be happy you made the investment and your bathroom will look professionally renovated. To get started, simply click on the banner below to get in touch with available bathroom renovation companies in your area.
