Let's look at how to renovate a bathroom yourself. What tools do we need for this? What difficulties await us and how to overcome them. How not to miss important points when renovating a bathroom. Why high-quality DIY repairs will not always be cheaper than repairs by hired workers.
Like any other construction and renovation enterprise, you should start with a design and estimate. We need to figure out what exactly we want to see in the renovated bathroom. Make a detailed list of what you need:
- furniture
- plumbing
- household appliances
Then you should estimate the arrangement of all of the above, taking into account access to communications. For example, it is not always possible to lay a sewer in the place where you would like to install a washing machine or shower while maintaining the required slope of 2% (2 cm per 1 meter of length). Therefore, take this moment into account in advance so as not to suffer in the future with constant sewer blockages.
After you have “put” everything in its place, think through in detail the design that you would like. And start estimating.
If you're on a budget, you can start doing your own bathroom renovation. To do this, we need to understand what tool we need.
Essential Tool for Bathroom Renovation
Usually, those who start repairing with their own hands already have some kind of tool in their arsenal. If you are going to purchase necessary tool to renovate a bathroom from scratch, we strongly recommend that you think about whether it would be cheaper to hire workers with their own tools? Because the cost of work is usually 50% of the cost of materials for finishing and communications, and the cost of tools can even exceed this amount. Tool for quality repairs the bathroom is not cheap. And if in the future you do not plan to carry out independent repairs, it will be a waste of money. Consider leasing or later selling the instrument. So, what do we need:
- hammer drill with wide chisel, drill bits, mixer attachment
- groove tool
- soldering iron for plastic pipes
- tile cutter (if you plan to finish with tiles)
- spatulas
- diamond crowns
- electrical work kit
- regular set of plumbing tools
Work order
First, you need to turn off the power and water. Then remove all furniture and fixtures from the bathroom. But don't rush to throw it away. If you have a good-quality but old cast-iron bathtub, consider this.
After cleaning the room, cover the doors tightly with film or cloth and begin cleaning the ceiling, walls and floor. The old whitewash must be washed off, the paint must be removed with a drill with an attachment or construction hairdryer. The tiles are cut using a hammer drill with a wide chisel. Don't forget about construction glasses, a respirator and gloves. Dust and small chips of tiles are very dangerous.
Carefully examine the old plaster and floor screed. They must be strong, fairly even and without cracks. Otherwise they will have to be replaced. When replacing floor screed, consider installing . Small irregularities and blemishes can be repaired by puttying with tile adhesive, having first primed the surfaces well.
Sewerage
Let's start replacing communications. First we deal with the sewerage. An important point here is the insulation of risers and maintaining a slope when laying horizontal pipes. Be sure to insulate the sewer riser with foamed polypropylene, because condensation can seriously damage your repairs in the future. Don't forget, it goes through the sewer riser warm air. And the riser is usually “sewn up” with various partitions, screens, etc. Which significantly impedes external ventilation of the riser. Therefore on outside pipes, condensation forms, which then leads to moisture, dirt, rot, and fungus. Another advantage of insulation will be increased sound insulation. Let us remind you that the slope of the sewer pipe is horizontal plane should be 2% (2 cm per 1 meter of length). This slope makes it possible to wash away debris through the pipe in a stream of water. With a greater slope, the water will flow away faster than the debris, and with a smaller slope, the debris will stagnate.
Plumbing
Then we change water pipes. Modern renovation involves hidden wiring pipes Therefore, you will have to tinker with the grooves for the pipes. Provide a cabinet or niche with a door near the water riser to allow you to check water meters and locate the main shut-off valves there. In this case, you can always easily turn off the water in the bathroom.
Important point: When you have laid the pipes under the mixer on the wall, connect any old mixer (or a carefully closed new one) to the outlet and plaster the groove with the pipes. Or use a special fastening strip to secure the fittings. This will secure the ends in the required plane. So that it doesn’t happen later that they will “look” in different directions.
Electrics
The next step is to install the electrical wiring. Choose wires with good insulation; check this point with a consultant in the store. All sockets and lamps must also be manufactured specifically for rooms with high humidity. Under no circumstances should you install “regular” sockets and switches. Fortunately, now the choice makes it easy to find a suitable option. Provide protection for new wiring from short circuit and the ability to disconnect the bathroom separately from the rest of the home.
Ceiling
Then we start working on the ceiling. With modern renovations in old Khrushchev-type apartments, it is not uncommon for the ceiling level to be lowered. They make it either hanging or built into it spotlights etc. The main thing here is not to forget that the ceiling cannot be made of ordinary plasterboard and that it cannot be covered vent. Ventilation is very important in the bathroom. We take into account that the air flow into the bathroom should be at opposite end from the exhaust vent. Usually, the holes at the bottom serve as “inlets” front door. Consider removing humid air from the room in opposite side. Don't forget that if you have a small bathroom, e.g. 3-6 sq. meters, then you will need forced ventilation. Buy and install exhaust fan. At larger size premises, forced ventilation is installed in case of insufficient draft in the air duct.
Floor
After the ceiling we move to the floor. If you need a new screed, we make it. If possible, we insulate it. We are laying the flooring. The most common coating is still ceramic tiles. When laying it, they are guided by the principle that installation should begin from the most visible place. This is usually the entrance. So that the tile trims go under the bathtub or furniture. But tiles are not the only option for finishing a bathroom. Moisture-resistant wood varieties such as teak and larch are now popular. It is of course expensive, but very beautiful.
Walls
Then we move on to the walls. Before finishing the walls, be sure to prime them. If you are finishing the walls with tiles, then here, as in the case of the floor, installation begins from the most noticeable place. If you decide to paint the walls, then choose moisture-resistant paint that does not allow steam to pass through. Before painting, cover the wall with penetrating waterproofing. If you have chosen plastic or other wall panels, then also take care of waterproofing. Keep in mind that the frame of the sheathing under the panels cannot be made of wood. In a space covered with panels, the wood will rot very quickly. In addition, it will be a source of fungus and other infections in your bathroom. Choose a galvanized metal profile. Or glue the panels with special sealants and adhesives, like ““.
Installation of furniture and plumbing
The next step is to install the furniture and connect the plumbing. Handle new equipment with care, do not forget to read the instructions before installation. After installation, we do a test run and check for leaks, correct operation of devices, etc.
If everything is ok, congratulations! You have successfully completed your DIY bathroom renovation. And this is not an ordinary event. We hope that our instructions helped you organize your thoughts, and perhaps taught you something. Please share your experience in the comments to the article. We are very interested in how you managed to renovate the bathroom yourself and what came out of it.
So, the moment has finally arrived. The moral fatigue from just the sight of premises for everyday sanitary and hygienic procedures, not to mention visiting, exceeded all future costs. We need to start renovating the bathroom. But where to start and how to plan the work?
Planning actions for bathroom renovation
The first thing to start with when renovating a bathroom and toilet is to find out what kind of work the apartment owners can do with their own hands, and which ones will require the involvement of specialists.
If possible, assess the condition of communications and screeds, although this can be difficult to do before dismantling. Draw up a complete list of works and their sequence. When contacting professional craftsmen, you should ask to see samples of repaired objects and do not hesitate to ask questions.
Depending on the budget, they determine whether it will be an inexpensive, light cosmetic renovation or a major refurbishment of a premium bathroom.
Sketch and design of the future bathroom
Taking into account the size of the room and personal preferences, they decide what to install in the apartment. If the area is small, you may have to limit yourself to a shortened or sit-down bathtub or shower.
In a spacious bathroom, on the contrary, it is appropriate to think about installing a jacuzzi and even a mini-sauna. Options that do not work not only due to size, but also design features, cut off.
Advice! After measuring the room, you need to transfer its plan to paper or a computer and try to find the most convenient location of plumbing and washing machine.
For design development, it is better to contact specialists in this field, but if there is a lack of funds, there is a chance to master it yourself. There are enough images and videos on the Internet with examples of repairs and detailed description. Particular attention is paid to decorating those details that should not be conspicuous.
Even before starting repairs, it is necessary to think through the lighting and electrical system. Don't limit yourself to just one lamp. Multiple lighting sources and additional mirror lighting will create a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.
Electrical installation items include a socket for a hair dryer and electric razor, a washing machine, a switch for a mirror and a duct fan.
Furniture, faucets, fittings and lamps should fit organically into the overall picture and create a feeling of a single style. An incorrect selection can negate all the most talented work of designers, and one single successful detail will make the space around you sparkle in a new way.
Selection of materials and plumbing
The main requirement for materials for bathroom renovation is moisture resistance and corrosion resistance, and for electrical equipment - waterproof design. Another important condition is high-quality plumbing. Unreasonable savings threaten not only loss appearance, but also equipment failure.
The main materials that can be used in the case of bathroom renovation are:
- pipes - there are metal-plastic, polypropylene, PVC, copper, stainless steel;
- tiles, mosaics, PVC panels are used for walls, decorative plaster, panels, coloring, various types wallpaper (vinyl, liquid, glass wallpaper);
- ceilings are finished PVC panels, paint, plasterboard, make slatted suspended ceilings, suspended ceilings;
- floors – tiles, self-leveling floors with a 3D pattern, linoleum, cork, laminate, parquet;
- partitions - blocks of cellular concrete, gypsum slabs, glass blocks;
- a bathtub after renovation can be new or restored with an acrylic liner, liquid acrylic;
- toilet – compact toilet, with a hinged or hidden cistern, with wall mounting, rimless, anti-splash system, different systems flush control;
- washbasin – built into the bedside table, with a “tulip” leg;
- lamps – energy-saving, halogen, LED, LED panels.
In case of replacement or modernization of wiring, it is preferable to use NYM brand electrical wire. Depending on the chosen bathroom renovation idea, the set of finishing materials may vary. An interesting option is a combination of contrasting colors.
Finishing materials are purchased with a margin of 10–15%, since the shade of different batches of goods does not completely match and subsequently it will be difficult to find a replacement. If you shop in one store, you can count on a discount. Receipts are not thrown away in order to exchange purchased goods in case of defects.
Procedure for vacating the bathroom
When the design is thought out, the materials are selected, the question arises, where to start renovating the bathroom with your own hands, with what actions? The answer is simple - they begin to vacate the premises.
After the water supply is turned off, they are taken out of the room old bath, remove plumbing fixtures and accessories, dismantle the plumbing cabinet. Dismantling water pipes and sewer pipes, the entrance to the sewer riser is closed with a plug. Without this, comprehensive repairs will not be possible.
The heated towel rail is cut off and, taking into account its transfer to another place, a new insert is made with bends into the riser of the hot water supply pipe. Or they completely replace the common sections of the water supply system that are in disrepair.
It is not possible to cut off the heated towel rail and replace the risers on your own; a management company is hired to carry out this work.
Important! Old utilities in the apartment must be replaced, otherwise after a while leaks will begin and the repair will go down the drain.
When remodeling or replacing flimsy structures, doors are removed and non-load-bearing wall partitions are demolished. Clean off old wall and ceiling coverings. The wallpaper is pre-soaked, the paint is softened with a hair dryer, and then applied with a spatula. The whitewash is washed off with water, and the facing structures are dismantled.
It is also better to knock down tiles with a plaster layer. Adhesive mixtures are now being produced that allow tiling work according to the previous cladding, but this reduces the volume of the bathroom.
A concrete screed in good condition can be left, except in cases where it is planned to install a “warm floor” system or when it is necessary to get rid of a high threshold and bring the floors in the bathroom and corridor to the same level.
Construction of partitions and leveling of bases
To replace the demolished partitions, new ones provided for by the project are erected, as well as false walls for zoning space, niches, and shelves. At the same time they restore ventilation shaft if it is damaged.
Important! Doorways are formed in such a way that a box of standard sizes fits into them. Otherwise you will have to pay more for individual order doors or remodel.
For cladding on frame or suspended ceilings No preliminary leveling of walls and ceilings is required. An additional advantage of such structures is that they can hide communications without gating, which will facilitate bathroom renovations.
If leveling is still necessary, the surface is primed, beacons are placed and plaster is applied. In areas affected by the fungus, first remove all layers down to the base and treat with an antiseptic. The plane of the finished surface is checked using the diagonal rule.
After plastering, the screed is poured along the beacons on the floor. Simultaneously with this operation, a “warm floor” system is installed. If you decide to leave old screed, it is sanded and leveled with a thin layer of self-leveling flooring.
Laying new pipes and electrical wiring
They start cutting walls for pipes and electrical wiring, thoroughly equipped with respiratory, vision and hearing protection. In the lower part of the wall, where the pipes run in a single bundle, communications are usually put away in a box. There is no need to hide pipes in grooves if they are covered from above by a bathtub or shower tray.
Advice! It is very convenient to make a recess in the wall under the hoses of the washing machine in order to move it closer.
Metal water risers to prevent corrosion, painted and packaged in thermal insulation material to protect them from condensation and extend their service life. The sewer riser is replaced using management company. To prevent the noise of water drained by neighbors from disturbing the apartment, the sewer riser is lined with sound insulation.
Before wiring, a frame installation system is installed in the plumbing cabinet for hidden installation toilet cistern, which saves some space. After connecting the hot and cold water supply pipes to the collector with the installation of meters and sensors, the strength and tightness of the connections are checked - pressure testing. This is a mandatory procedure for major repairs.
Important! Installation of hot and cold water supply pipes is carried out taking into account the location of the corresponding inlets on the mixer.
Electrical wiring is supplied to the locations of electrical installation products and equipment. For electrical safety, the wires are hidden in corrugation and a grounding loop is made. To ensure that electrical wiring is done correctly, the work must be carried out by an experienced person.
After laying the communications, the grooves are sealed and the walls of the plumbing cabinet with a hidden inspection hatch are erected. Depending on where it is more convenient to open, forward or sideways, choose one of two hatch design options - sliding or hinged. The old toilet is installed until the new plumbing is installed.
Plumbing installation
A major bathroom renovation is not complete without replacing the plumbing. The floors are covered with coating or penetrating waterproofing. If they decide not to change the bathtub, they do a restoration. Apply at the edge of the bathtub silicone sealant. Then the bathtub is moved close to the wall and leveled horizontally for normal drainage.
Advice! You can push the edges of the bathtub adjacent to the walls into the groove made in advance.
After connection, the joint is filled with a waterproofing solution. It firmly fixes the bathtub and seals the seam at the junction with the tile, preventing it from cracking.
The bathtub is grounded, connected to the sewer system, a mixer is installed and filled with water to check the functionality and tightness of the siphon and drain-overflow system. The space under the bathtub is covered with a screen.
Screen installation options:
- non-removable. They are laid out from foam blocks or assembled on a plasterboard frame with an invisible hatch in the drain area. A recessed niche for the feet is left below;
- removable. They buy it ready-made and install it after laying the tiles. The removable hatch looks less aesthetically pleasing, but the space under the bathroom can be used to store all sorts of household items.
The toilet and washbasin with faucet are installed later, after finishing is completed.
The plumbing is connected to the sewer outlet and water supply and fixed to the floor or wall, not forgetting to level it horizontally.
The pipes under the washbasin are masked with a furniture cabinet, a “tulip” leg, and a tabletop pre-laid out of foam blocks.
A seat with a lid is installed on the toilet. Classic white sanitary ware looks beautiful.
Room decoration
Finishing in the case of cosmetic and major repairs can differ greatly. The instructions for tiling are as follows.
Laying the tiles begins from the top edge of the bathtub. Since the surface of the side is not very smooth, it is usually impossible to maintain the same width of the seam along the entire border with the bathroom. The tiles have to be cut very evenly or the seam must be covered with a corner or plinth.
Advice! A perfectly even seam is obtained when cutting with a mechanical tile cutter. An electric tile cutter with a diamond blade makes chips on the surface.
Cutouts are made in places where communications are supplied. The socket boxes are placed so as not to hit the joint. At external corners, tiles are cut at an angle of 45°. Fitting and laying the bottom row of wall tiles is carried out only after tiling the floor.
When laying, they try to remove the cut tiles from view and hide them in corners, under the bathtub or boxes. For precise fitting, manufacturers offer borders, friezes, and inserts, but they are much more expensive. More affordable option– use scraps of tiles of a different color.
After installation is completed, the seams are filled with epoxy resin-based grout, and excess grout is removed immediately. Once frozen, the puffer is more difficult to clean and can scratch the surface.
Installation of PVC panels is simpler than working with tiles and takes much less time. PVC panels are mounted on guides made of wooden slats, metal or plastic profiles hidden fastenings- clampers. The wood is pre-treated with antiseptics.
The cut ends are hidden at the top and bottom with starting strips. External and internal corners are installed in the corners. Particular attention is paid to the vertical evenness, especially of the first plank, and the alignment of the pattern. The finishing process is completed by installing a stretch or suspended ceiling.
The last stage of repair
At the final stage, the attributes of the bathroom are installed: mirrors, shelves, cabinets, soap dishes, holders, racks. Attach hooks and towel racks and other small fittings. Connect the heated towel rail to the hot water outlets and install a curtain for the bathroom.
IN suspended ceilings cut niches for lamps, connect electrical installations and lighting fixtures to the wires. They put ventilation grilles and decorative overlays. The renovation of the bathroom and toilet is completed by installing doors.
Many home craftsmen do not know where to start renovating a bathroom and in what sequence to carry out such work. We have prepared detailed and understandable instructions.
The room in which we take water procedures is considered very specific. Serious humidity and temperature changes are constantly present here, and water flows in large volumes. It is clear that to renovate such a room it is necessary to select special materials that can withstand all negative influences. To decorate the room we are interested in, we usually choose:
- plastic panels;
- porcelain stoneware;
- tiles (for finishing walls and floors).
These materials have the required qualities that allow them to be used in rooms where there is steam and high temperature.
Bathroom finishing with plastic panels
In addition, the bathroom should have a special atmosphere that promotes relaxation. This means that you need to carefully think through the design of this room and choose the right color scheme. Most often, bathrooms are decorated in pastel colors that do not irritate a person, but on the contrary, soothe him nervous system after a busy day. Professional designers recommend finishing bathroom units with products in beige, light blue, peach, and blue shades.
Thus, bathroom renovation should begin with drawing up a design project, selecting and purchasing the required materials. At this stage, you will need to provide for a lot of little things and purchase a lot of different products, from sewer pipes and adhesive for installing tiles to shut-off valves and a heated towel rail.
Now you need to decide on the scope of work and make a plan for completing it. The sequence of self-repair of a bathroom is usually as follows:
- Preparing the room for renovations.
- Analysis of the condition of the existing floor covering and the choice of technology for its restoration or complete replacement.
- Floor repair, insulation and waterproofing.
- Installation of sewer and water pipes.
- Laying electrical wiring.
- Plastering ceiling and wall surfaces, covering them with the selected material and insulating them.
- Installation of an effective ventilation system.
- Installation of sanitary equipment.
The given sequence will allow you to spend a minimum of time on creating a room for water procedures perfect look.
Where to start preparing the described room for its complete transformation with your own hands? Of course, from the dismantling of all plumbing fixtures installed in it, as well as furniture (if any), lighting fixtures, mirrors and hanging structures. If you do major renovation bathroom, be sure to remove the faucets and mixers.
Removing old tiles in the bathroom
After this, begin removing old finishing materials. Remove cladding from walls and ceilings, knock down ceramic tiles(along with the layer of glue that held it in place), wash off the paint. If you have a hammer drill, preparing the bathroom for good repair goes much faster - feel free to knock down everything that moves away from the ceiling and walls. Your task is to get to the brick or panel wall masonry and floor slabs.
After such actions, it will be necessary to carefully treat the areas that you “exposed” with primers. You should choose them wisely. Do not forget that now there are a variety of primers - bioprotective, hydrophobic, contact, increasing adhesion, strengthening. If you don’t know exactly what composition you need to purchase, be sure to consult a specialist. Real help Consultants from good hardware stores often provide assistance in this matter.
The next step in preparing the bathroom is to inspect the flooring. When the old screed showed its best side during operation (for example, you forgot to turn off the water, it flowed for a couple of hours, and not a drop of moisture leaked to the neighbors below), leave it. If the screed has clearly served its purpose, it must be removed.
This operation is performed with a hammer drill and a chisel. These tools can also remove the previous cement backing under the tiles. Important point! If you do not touch the old screed, it is better to clean the substrate with a grinder equipped with a cup-shaped grinding wheel (usually called a diamond cup). The cost of such a device is quite high. But it will always be useful to a craftsman who does all the housework with his own hands.
Now you can sweep away all the dirt and debris and proceed directly to the repair work.
- sifted quartz sand;
- cement M500 (you can also take M400);
- PVA emulsion;
- water.
The ratio of cement to sand is 1 to 4. The same amount of water needs to be mixed as cement. The most convenient way to form a screed with your own hands is using marker beacons. The mixture is applied in a layer of about 4–5 cm, rubbed building rule, after which it must be carefully smoothed with a polyurethane foam or stainless steel polisher until it is in perfect condition (no cracks, ripples or other defects). Very important! The screed made from sand and cement cannot be touched for 40 days. During this time, no work can be done in the bathroom.
Creating a new concrete floor screed
Waterproofing a room with high humidity is best done with materials made of polyester or aquaizol. Do not use regular waterproof film for these purposes. Waterproofing material lay it as carefully as possible, the joints between its individual parts are connected in two ways:
- Construction hairdryer.
- Adhesive mastic having a special composition.
Waterproofing is applied to the walls by 25–30 centimeters. Please note that the presence of cuts in the moisture-proof film is not allowed in the corners of the room. It’s better to bend the insulating material and make folds. But under no circumstances cut the film.
Open sewer pipelines These days it is almost impossible to see in apartments. Such communications spoil the entire appearance of the bathroom and nullify all the designers’ tricks. Scoring walls to hide pipes is also not a solution. This procedure is very tedious, dusty and truly lengthy.
Installation of pipelines in the bathroom
For this reason, sewer pipes are now most often installed using a special method - they are run along the bottom in a bunch, and then masked with galvanized slopes. You can then easily stick tiles (cladding) onto the latter using silicone. The silicone composition is also used to attach the slope to the floor surface and to the wall.
Unfortunately, bathroom renovations cannot be completed without gating. In any case, you will need to make two grooves for cases when a separate faucet is installed on the washbasin, or one if a common faucet is used. One thing is reassuring - the length of the groove will be minimal. In addition, they are located vertically. Punching them with your own hands is relatively simple, which cannot be said about horizontal grooves.
It is advisable to install metal-plastic pipes for heated towel rails. It’s not worth looking for other options these days. Such pipe products are ideal for use. They can be easily bent, slanted, using transition fittings.
But for a cold water supply system in the bathroom they are more suitable polypropylene pipes(PPN). They are easily welded into a strong and reliable monolithic structure, and then hidden in the walls. It’s worth saying right away that it is advisable to purchase fittings for such pipes from solid plastic. It is not advisable to use metal reinforcement elements. They can leak at any time. But sealed plastic will never let water through.
Pipeline installation should begin with the installation of sewer pipes. Using sealant and seals, you will spend no more than one day on their assembly. After this, feel free to install polypropylene products for cold water and solder them. Be sure to blow foam into the pipes in the grooves. This way you will be sure that the pipeline will not fog up. And heat loss in this case will be significantly reduced. Follow the recommended sequence of piping installation, and your bathroom renovation will go faster.
Electrical wiring is carried out with a cable protected by a double insulating layer. It is advisable to place the wire in a metal or plastic corrugation. It is better to use a metal sheath, as it perfectly shields the wiring.
Having dealt with communications, proceed to processing the wall surfaces. It is performed with two compositions – starting (it has increased tenacity) and finishing. The latter perfectly levels the treated surface. It is necessary to plaster from the ceiling to the floor.
Plastering walls in the bathroom
The following stages of repair work:
- Insulation and ceiling covering. It is recommended to perform thermal insulation in the form of a cake consisting of two glass-magnesium sheets and insulation placed between them. The cladding can be made with clapboard (plastic) or laminated boards, which are fixed to the ceiling with construction silicone or durable mounting adhesive.
- Laying tiles on the floor. The sequence of the operation is as follows: mount the products with glue, starting from the door, tap each tile with a hammer (rubber). All cut rows should be laid last and after the adhesive under the remaining rows has completely cured.
- Wall covering. It is produced using plastic panels, porcelain stoneware, and ordinary tiles.
The last stages of work are cleaning ventilation duct(or installation of a new one), installation of a sink, bathtub (shower stall), faucets, water meters. If you were able to complete all the previous operations, placing the plumbing will be easy for you. There is no special wisdom here.
Here, in principle, is the entire step-by-step plan for self-renovation of the bathroom. You just need to start implementing it and after a while you will enjoy the new look of your water treatment room.
Before you start renovating your bathroom, you should consider the sequence of work. Without following the technology, you can ruin the tiles laid on the floor if you start finishing the walls. It is also possible to damage the tiles on the walls when electrical wiring is required. In order for a bathroom renovation to be of high quality, you need to start it correctly, which can be found in this article.
Required materials
Materials for the initial stage of renovation in the bathroom will require:
- Mixture for mixing concrete.
- Waterproofing (roofing felt, epoxy resin or bitumen mastic).
- Pipes and hoses for pipeline construction, shut-off valve.
- Cables of the required length and cross-section for electrical appliances.
- Waterproofing.
Tools
The following tools will be used to carry out the work:
- Spatula.
- Container for mixing the solution.
- Scissors.
- Rule.
- Construction meter.
- Pencil.
- Brush.
Where to start
Any work in the bathroom begins with determining the location: sink, bathtub, shower, furniture.
To do this, the locations of all objects are drawn on a sheet of paper. The future furnishings of the room depend not only on own desires, but also on the convenience of pipe laying. It is necessary to place all items in such a way that it is convenient to pull pipes for supplying and draining water to them.
Preparing the bathroom
Preparing a bathroom for renovation consists of several stages:
- Water shutoffs.
- Dismantling old plumbing and pipes.
- Removing the door.
- Preparation of all surfaces.
The first step is to shut off the water that flows into the bathroom. Only after this can all items be removed from the premises. When the room is free of unnecessary objects, all surfaces are prepared.
If there are old tiles on the walls and ceiling, they need to be knocked down. On a painted wall, the coating must also be removed. You can use special products to quickly remove paint. If the old coating is still difficult to remove, then shallow notches are made along the entire surface of the walls so that the wall becomes rough.
Bathroom renovation. Step by step instructions
After preparatory work the following actions are performed:
- The floor is being screeded.
- Waterproofing is being installed.
- The pipeline is being laid.
- Power is supplied to the devices.
Floor screed is necessary to facilitate further work for laying tiles. Thanks to this stage of work, the floor is perfectly flat. In addition to leveling, the screed provides noise and thermal insulation. This is especially important for those who live in a private house and on the first floors of apartment buildings.
When the screed has dried, it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing that will protect the floor from moisture penetration. Then the pipeline is connected to all plumbing fixtures. Water supply and drainage is provided.
Don't forget about wiring.
This is very important at the initial stage of repair. After all, it is possible to immediately make a groove on unfinished walls for laying cables to electrical appliances.
Screed installation
Screeding is done only on a clean, dry floor. It is necessary to remove all debris from the floor so that no grains of sand remain. After this, the floor is primed using a brush. Then the screed mixture is prepared.
First you need to determine the curvature of the floor. For this purpose it is used building level. If the floor is level, then a screed is not required. If the height difference per 1 m 2 is no more than 1-2 cm, it is done cement-sand mortar. But if the curvature exceeds 2 cm, then you will need concrete mixture made of cement, crushed stone and sand.
The concrete mixture to eliminate large differences in heights is prepared from cement, crushed stone and sand in a ratio of 1:3.5:2.5 in a concrete mixer or thoroughly mixed by hand in a large container.
After preparing the solution, beacons are installed on the floor, along the top of which a horizontal line can be drawn. If you place a building level on top of the beacons, it should show a flat surface.
Then the prepared mixture is poured onto the floor in parts. It should reach the top of the beacons, but not completely. After an hour, the beacons are pulled out of the dried solution, which is why it is required that the solution does not completely cover their tops.
The resulting cracks from the beacons are filled with a solution. After this, the room is left to dry the floor. When drying, it is better to cover the floor surface plastic film, due to which the concrete will not crack.
DIY floor waterproofing
After the concrete has dried, it is necessary to waterproof it. This is extremely important in order to protect the concrete from absorbing excess moisture.
Waterproofing consists of stages:
- Primers.
- Preparation of material for waterproofing.
- Applying solution (or material)
First of all, the floor must be re-primed. When insulating the floor with liquid mixtures, priming will additionally provide better adhesion.
If roll waterproofing is used, it is cut into sheets required sizes. After this it is laid on the floor. Sheets of material should be laid tightly to each other. The seams should be taped with special tape.
When using liquid mixtures There will be no problems with seams - the compounds lie on the floor in seamless layers.
Using bitumen pastes, you can not only insulate, but also level the floor.
Liquid waterproofing is applied with a brush to the entire surface. And when using paste-like compositions, a spatula is used. In the first and second cases, you need to ensure that the material is applied in an even layer.
Pipeline installation
Installation of pipelines in the bathroom is one of the complex tasks. The main thing in this matter is the correct drawing up of communication layouts. It has already been described above how to do this correctly.
After this, the laying method is determined, which can be:
- Open.
- Closed.
Open means passing pipes along the walls from the outside. This type is less presentable than the closed type of gasket. The last option is good because all the pipes are hidden in the walls. But for this you will have to spend a lot of time, because you will have to scratch the walls.
So, if an open type of installation is chosen, then all pipes are laid along the walls as low as possible to the floor. When closed, you need to draw on the wall where the pipes will pass, then groove the surface. Pipes are laid in the prepared groove and covered with cement mortar on top.
When installing a pipeline, it is necessary to connect one element to another in series. All connections must use rubber gasket which will protect against leaks.
Sequential installation will not allow the simultaneous use of several devices with good water pressure. To ensure uniform distribution of water, you can use collector wiring.
The collector type of laying involves separate laying of pipes to each device. Due to this, a shut-off valve can be installed in each area, which will allow you to shut off the water not in the entire house at once, but only for separate area. After laying the line, you need to check the system for leaks.
Electrical wiring
When laying electrical wiring in the bathroom, there are several points to consider:
- Installation of automatic switches.
- Use of 3-core cables.
- Use only protected electrical appliances.
First of all, you need to calculate the load of all electrical appliances in the bathroom. You need to add about 25% of the reserve to it. After this, the devices must be divided into several groups (the load of a separate group should not exceed 1.5 kW). After this, in the electrical panel for each group of consumers it is installed circuit breaker the corresponding denomination.
With an installed power of a group of electrical appliances of 1.5 kW, a 10 A circuit breaker is suitable (1500 W/220V = 6.8 A. The closest rated circuit breaker is 10 A).
Only three-core cables should be used. The 1st conductor is connected to the phase, the 2nd – to the neutral conductor, the 3rd – to the ground loop on the house. If there is no such circuit in an apartment building, then the core can be routed to any metal surface, for example, on the switchboard door.
Basic tips from professionals for initial bathroom renovations:
- First of all, you need to level the floor.
- The second stage is connecting the plumbing and electrical.
- You need to decide in advance on the location of the plumbing so that you don’t have to redo it.
Carrying out the initial stage of renovation in the bathroom is the most difficult and responsible. Further work and the final result depend on this. Such recommendations will help you complete the rough work as efficiently as possible and help save time and money.
There are many reasons to start renovating a bathroom: it’s broken plumbing equipment, the bathtub has lost its original shine, old tiles have fallen off, and mold has grown in the corners.
As a rule, one attempt to change something in the interior entails a whole series of design ideas, and as a result, subtle cosmetic touches turn into a complete overhaul. Let's try to sort everything out and understand the nuances of repair work.
There are two ways to create a design project. You can contact the bureau and order a bathroom project, providing the dimensions of the room and choosing one of fashion styles. The company’s specialists will make calculations and, taking into account your wishes, will select several options for possible interior construction.
Be prepared that you will have to pay for the designers’ imagination, and remember: the more famous the company, the more expensive the finished project.
However, there are no guarantees that the proposed options will suit you - perhaps you will not be satisfied with the color, the choice of plumbing fixtures, the price range of materials for renovation, or the recommended style.
Having sketched the bathroom in color, you will be able to imagine the picture of the interior as a whole and understand what needs to be added or removed so that the room fully matches the chosen style
Thanks to the abundance of information in magazines, books and the World Wide Web, you can independently draw up a sketch of your future bathroom and study the characteristics modern plumbing, choose wall coverings to suit your taste.
And most importantly, you can create a project based on your own style preferences. Cold high-tech, strict classics, luxurious art deco, sophisticated rococo - reflect any ideas first on a piece of paper, and then in life.
So, in order for the design project to be complete and meaningful, pay attention to the following nuances:
- detailed procedure;
- list of materials and tools;
- approximate estimate (including the purchase of new plumbing and furniture);
- several sketches from different angles;
- communications diagram - water supply, sewerage, electrical cables;
- exact dimensions of all planes and planned dimensions of plumbing equipment.
Owners should be especially careful small rooms, since limited space is less functional. You will have to choose a compact bathtub, give up convenient floor cabinets and, possibly, a washbasin, since a washing machine is often installed in its place.
Consider installing hanging cabinets to store hygiene and cosmetics products and effectively use the space under the bathroom.
A small space does not allow you to fully realize the design concept and forces you to choose what is better: a shower stall or corner bath, multi-row heated towel rail or shelves for accessories
To visually expand the boundaries small room, choose shiny cladding, glossy ceiling panels and large mirrors. Light pastel colors fixtures and finishes will also make the bathroom feel more spacious and bright.
And a few words about the most popular styles. The classical direction is characterized by a noble palace style: light light shades, a lot of space and light, exquisite furniture and plumbing, the use of elegant interior details - baguette mirrors, candlesticks, elegant gilded trinkets.
Traits classic style with a touch of luxury: a bathtub on a decorative podium, light curtains with tassels, antique columns, a chandelier with a set of sconces
High-tech is characterized by minimalism and functionality, it is characterized by cool tones in design and lighting, lack of decorations, large number glass, plastic and chrome parts. The plumbing meets the requirements of high technology, the furniture is simple and practical.
The high-tech style involves the use of one accent shade that would dilute the monotony of the interior, in in this case this is a lighting feature - bright blue backlight
The main features of a romantic bathroom are coziness and comfort. Furniture can be modern or old-fashioned, but always elegant, decorated with hand-painted or picturesque ornaments.
An armchair with a soft back, a wicker basket on the floor and a couple of decorative shelves will also not be superfluous.
Often a bathroom decorated in romantic style, reminds me of an expensive spa: exquisite interior flowers decorate, and the air is filled with aroma essential oils and cosmetics
Necessary stages of bathroom renovation
All work performed must be performed sequentially. For convenience, all actions are divided by order of execution. And that's right. The quality of the final result depends on the most complete implementation of previous work.
Stage #1: Calculation and selection of building materials
If you have approximately determined the cost of purchasing materials and plumbing and are sure that it makes no sense to calculate the cost of each tile or each bag of glue, then you will be very surprised to learn exact figure. As a rule, it is two times higher than planned expenses.
In order not to make a mistake in calculating the number of tiles, panels, fasteners, cables, mortars, take the dimensions of the room and enter the data into the project. Then you can determine exact quantity. Here is an approximate diagram for calculating the number of ceramic tiles for wall cladding:
The diagram should display all the walls separately, based on the perimeter indicators, and draw a “grid” using the dimensions of the tiles - this way you will find out the exact number of ceramic elements of each type
Do not forget that during cutting and laying some of the tiles may be damaged, so add 5% to the total quantity. In the same way, count the number of floor tiles, ceiling panels, and decorative elements.
Prices for plumbing equipment, furniture, and finishing materials can be found on the websites of trading centers and stores, but keep in mind that the product you choose is not always in stock, so take care of purchasing it in advance.
Before counting the quantity building materials you must know exactly the layout of the room, the arrangement of furniture, the type of decoration, the communications diagram and the dimensions of all planes
Stage #2: Dismantling the old cladding
It is necessary to carry out renovations in the bathroom in stages, that is, start with dismantling old decoration – ceiling panels, flooring, wall plastic or ceramics. It seems easier to break than to build, but this is far from true.
If the tilers tried their best, it will be difficult to remove the tiles from the walls, and even more so from the floor, given the quality of modern glue. At best, you will need a hammer and chisel, but most likely, a drill or hammer drill.
Please remember that construction work is apartment buildings are allowed from 8.00 to 21.00 (in some regions - until 20.00), and continuous renovation work should last no more than 6 hours, after which you need to take a break
There are two methods of dismantling: gentle and emergency. In the first case, you carefully soak the grout, scrape it out and carefully, using a hammer and chisel, try to separate each element from the wall. In the second, you take a hammer drill and much faster, but with noise and dust, demolish all the finishing in layers.
As you can see, both methods have disadvantages, so experts recommend saving time and effort for repairs by calling a team (or one technician) for dismantling. In just a few hours, your bathroom will be completely free of old finishes and ready for renovation work.
Stage #3: Updating communications
Home communications usually mean:
- sewerage;
- water supply;
- electrical wiring;
- ventilation.
The ventilation shafts are not touched during repairs, but sometimes the exit grille is changed, as it must match the surrounding finish.
The hardest thing will be for owners of old apartments and houses in which cast iron pipes. They will have to be completely dismantled, and sewerage and water supply systems will have to be built from plastic pipes. It is necessary to make connections to all water points - bathtub, washbasin, washing machine.
To work with pvc pipes You need special soldering equipment, which can be rented.
When laying the pipeline, do not forget about important functional details - water meters, plugs, outlets for washing equipment, shut-off taps for hot and cold water
To ensure that water flows freely, sewer pipes are laid as low as possible. For this reason, for shower stalls with a low descent it is necessary to install a podium - minimum angle The slope of the drain should be at least 5 degrees.
You should also consider a way to camouflage the pipes: you will have to ditch the walls or install plasterboard boxes. In addition to pipes, I also lay electrical cables in the walls, having drawn up in advance a diagram of the location of all electrical appliances, lamps and sockets.
Stage #4: Insulation and waterproofing of the floor
Bathroom floor repairs begin with a screed. Its height depends on the method of insulation. If additional thermal insulation is not provided, you should only take into account the thickness of the tiles - 1-1.5 cm. When installing the “Warm Floor” system, the screed resembles a pie, the middle layer of which is the heating system.
In this case, the total thickness of the screed is at least 3-4 cm.
There are several types of screed: dry (not suitable for the bathroom), semi-dry (with fillers that lighten the load) and wet - most suitable for rooms with increased level humidity
Procedure:
- we treat the base (concrete slab) with a deep penetration primer;
- we install beacons at intervals of 60-80 cm, using a level;
- dilute the sand-cement or concrete mixture with water;
- fill the floor areas between the beacons with the solution and level them;
- upon completion, remove the beacons and smooth out any irregularities;
- cover the floor with film and wait for it to “ripe”.
Insulation materials are used to insulate the floor. Modern mineral wool is not suitable, as it has a property that is not necessary for a bathroom - high hygroscopicity. However, sometimes it is used, carefully isolated from moisture. Polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) is perfectly resistant to water.
It is usually placed on concrete base in front of the screed device, reinforced with reinforcing mesh. Elastic and flexible penoplex performs similar functions.
Used as waterproofing in bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. following materials: films with a thermoreflective layer, cement-polymer coating, liquid silicone membranes
A more comfortable option is the “warm floor” system. It has several versions, here are the main ones:
- water - a flexible system of plastic or metal tubes, heated by centralized (boiler) heating;
- film - infrared design with electrical wiring and thermostat;
- electric – assembled from heating elements operating on electric current.
Any of the listed systems improves the microclimate in the bathroom, while being low cost and easy to install.
Stage #5: Decorating the walls with modern materials
Traditionally, tiles are used to decorate a bathroom - ceramic tiles made of baked clay, but often the process is made cheaper by covering the walls with plastic panels or paintable plaster. Before you renovate your bathroom yourself, consider the pros and cons of the options listed.
Always fashionable ceramics
Diversity tiles allows you to choose any option - from budget to exclusive.
In construction supermarkets you can find monocottura, bicottura, mosaic, monoporosa and majolica for interior work, as well as durable porcelain tiles, which are equally good for finishing a bathroom and for cladding stairs or the facade of a building.
The greatest demand is for collectible ceramics, which most often consists of a set of wall and floor elements, borders, decor and panels
The cost of tiles largely depends on the manufacturer. The highest quality and, accordingly, expensive tiles are produced by Italian brands: Gardenia Orchidea, Fondovalle, Roberto Cavalli, Rex Ceramiche, Vitrex.
Only Spanish manufacturers are not inferior to the Italians. Cheaper tiles are made in Poland, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania.
Before laying the tiles, it is necessary to plaster the walls so that they are perfectly smooth, and then prime them and cover them with waterproofing mastic. Then proceed as usual:
- lay the tiles on the glue according to the pre-applied markings;
- remove excess glue from seams;
- Fill the seams with grout.
Along with the usual classics, they actively use seamless tiles. All elements of the seamless collection do not have chamfered edges, so the wall covering visually looks monolithic.
Practical and inexpensive plastic
A democratic alternative to tiles are plastic panels designed specifically for rooms with high level humidity.
Along with traditional snow-white products, there are many options in a variety of color scheme: plain and “stone-like”, with geometric shapes and floral compositions, with bright patterns and metallic coating.
To give the interior a complete look, use the same plastic panels to decorate the walls, make a screen under the bathroom and create boxes for communications
Using plastic panels, you can cover walls in just one evening. If the walls are perfectly smooth, then the panels are fixed liquid nails or brackets, but the most acceptable option is mounting on a profile. First, a profile frame (sheathing) is installed, and the panels are attached to it, one by one “assembling” them.
You may have to cut off some of the product in the corners, so buy 1-2 more pieces. In addition to the panels, you need to buy a guide profile, plastic corner for masking gaps and fasteners (screws).
Decorative plaster
Modern artistic (decorative) plaster perfectly withstands moist air, exposure to detergents and chemicals, therefore suitable for finishing bathroom walls.
The main condition for its correct application is perfectly smooth walls. For leveling do not use regular mortar, a sanitizing plaster with waterproofing properties is required.
To create an original style along with color accents often use the effect of a cracked surface, hand-painted or stenciled patterns
Venetian plaster is in great demand - a smooth plaster that has a wide range of shades and a glossy finish. It does not absorb moisture and retains its original appearance for a long time. It can be contrasted with structural plaster, the texture of which traps water droplets.
It will look perfect for some time, but lime or iron impurities contained in tap water, sooner or later they will ruin the aesthetics of the wall covering.
Stage #6: Ceiling
The design of the ceiling largely depends on the decoration of the walls and the overall style concept. Used less and less simple plaster, since it limits the possibilities for arranging lighting, and, on the contrary, suspended structures are very popular, which can be divided into the following types:
- rack and pinion;
- plasterboard;
- tension
Ceilings made of plastic panels are chosen by those who want to save money. The slats and the profile on which they are attached are inexpensive, and installation of the ceiling takes a minimum of time. Despite the low cost, some types of panels look very attractive - they have a mirror or colored surface, decorated with gold or silver plating.
The shape of the panels also varies: in addition to narrow and wide slats, rectangular and square plastic modules are used.
Mirror and “metallic” plastic is not suitable for rooms in classic or french style, but for art deco or high-tech bathrooms it is more than appropriate
Suspended plasterboard structures allow you to build multi-tiered ceilings and experiment with the placement of lamps. It should be remembered that levels are good where there is a lot of space and there is no likelihood of a strong drop in the ceiling surface.
For work in rooms with high humidity, a special moisture-resistant type of plasterboard is produced, the surface of which is painted green.
One of the most common models of suspended plasterboard construction: a backlit box is installed along opposite walls (or along the perimeter), and the middle remains untouched
Flexible vinyl film used for tensile structures, also suitable for finishing the ceiling in the bathroom. And although the installation of the coating steals 7-10 cm, the gloss visually “raises” the ceilings upward.
Unfortunately, traces of condensation are clearly visible on it, while the matte surface hides dried moisture and goes well with tiles and plastic.
Polyvinyl chloride – ideal option for the bathroom: does not lose color, is resistant to moisture, easy to clean. Fabric fabric is not suitable as it easily becomes damp, which contributes to the appearance of mold.
Final actions
When the finishing work is completed, you can install the bathtub, furniture and connect equipment. As you can see, self-repair is a difficult task, requiring certain skills, but, nevertheless, interesting and educational!
You can see how to fill a finished renovated bathtub with what you need in this video: