The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Bathroom for a Remodel

Posted by Kate Johnson
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May 26, 2022
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Remodelling your bathroom can be an excellent way to update your home and increase its value, but it can also be an expensive process, so it’s important to do the prep work before you save time and money in the long run. If you’re looking to remodel your bathroom, the first step is preparing your space so that the renovation goes as smoothly as possible. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about preparing your bathroom for remodelling, from cleaning tile grout lines to preparing plumbing issues and beyond.

Know Your Bathroom

The first step in preparing your bathroom for remodelling is making sure you know what you’re working with. Look at your current bathroom—its size, layout, and condition—and think about how it works for you. Then, take some time to consider your vision: Do you want more space? A new layout? Or do you just want to give everything a fresh coat of paint?

Get Rid of Items

Whether you’re completely remodelling your bathroom or simply adding some new fixtures, it’s best to clear out as much as possible. Clutter makes everything more difficult, and you want nothing standing in your way when it comes time to remodel. This is especially true if you have smaller bathrooms—you might not even realize items take up how much storage space up you no longer use. One trick: Use sticky notes with dates on them to remind yourself when something was used last.

Protect from Water Damage

One of many common sources of water damage is a leaky toilet. That’s because water not only washes over your fixtures and furniture but also flows through them. To prevent costly repairs and mould growth, inspect your bathroom’s seal-welding for cracks or tears every year. If you find any, have a plumber seal off that fixture from any others as soon as possible.

Protect from Structural Damage

Before you tear out walls and tiling, make sure your bathroom is structurally sound. Check drywall that may be damp or peeling and look out for rot around window frames. If you’re concerned about leaks in plumbing, hire a plumber to do an inspection. You should also check with your landlord on whether there are any restrictions on doing work on your property—even if they don’t live there anymore. Do they want you to add any fixtures or paint first?

Remove Hardware and Trim

Chances are, you’ll be working with a few different trades when you remodel your bathroom. Some of them may need access before they can start work. Removing any unnecessary hardware and trim from around your bathroom it will make it easier for them to work later on. Just remember that if you plan on replacing some of those elements with new ones, later on, you’ll want to make sure they are labelled so that there aren’t any mix-ups or expensive mistakes!

Wash Walls, Counters, and Floors

Once you’ve completed your initial prep work, it’s time to wash down your walls and floors. The goal here is simple: remove as much dirt, grime, and general filth from your bathroom as possible before you get down to business with paint.

Seal Surfaces Before Painting

Before getting started with painting, it’s always wise to seal all surfaces. This will ensure paint sticks and reduces that awful smell of paint thinner. Using a silicon-based primer is your best bet. Avoid alcohol-based primers as they can actually eat away at your paint job.

Get New Bathroom Furniture

The best way to ensure your bath remodel goes smoothly is by making sure you have all of your bathroom furniture accounted for before work begins. Ensure that you get new toilet, shower/tub and sinks pre-ordered and ready, or else the installation will likely take longer than it should. You’ll also want to ensure you have all of your hardware (stainless steel) pre-purchased as well.
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