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    Bathroom DIY: How to bring your washroom up to scratch

    Published on 30 July 2015, Thursday, 12:41 AM
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    The bathroom is no doubt a critical part of the modern home - and it's often noticeable when the room just isn't up to scratch. Whether it's paint that needs a refresh, a toilet that has seen better days or a mirror that could be more fitting with the room, a little bathroom DIY could be in order.

    Thankfully, it's not that difficult to bring the room up to scratch, and with the right know-how and equipment you can ensure your bathroom looks great and functions perfectly. Here are four projects that shouldn't take you too long.

    1) Replace the flooring

    First on the list is the flooring, and it's arguably one of the most important aspects of any bathroom. The question is, what flooring is appropriate for your space?

    Tiles are one of the better options, and it's a perfect choice for any area that's going to see quite a bit of water. There's also a number of options when using tiles, as you're able to use either a smaller number of large tiles or numerous smaller alternatives. What's more, there's limitless options when it comes to the look and feel.

    Stone can be another excellent choice, though it's often expensive. There are no moisture problems, and it certainly looks fantastic. However, it can be quite slippery.

    If you're thinking about a wooden floor, but don't want to deal with the water issues, then engineered wood is a great choice. It uses a plywood base, topped with a layer of actual wood to give the proper feel and look. This means that unlike regular wooden floors, there's no chance of major water issues.

    Once you've decided on a suitable choice, it's time to get to work. While the exact steps will often depend on what's under the current flooring, you'll usually need to set aside a couple of days to rip up what's there and lay down the new surface.

    2) Install a new toilet

    Moving along, it's time to take a look at the toilet. It's an essential part of a bathroom, and as such should be one of the big items to tick off when renovating the room.

    If you're not moving the toilet, it's not going to be a major job, as the plumbing will largely stay the same. Start by picking out a new toilet, ideally one that fits in the dimensions of your current one. This means measuring from the wall to one of the closest bolts, as well as the back of the new toilet to the centre of the mounting holes.

    In terms of toilet models, you're likely going to need a bowl and a tank unless purchasing a new one-piece unit. It's important to find a toilet that fits in with the room, so pay attention when looking for a unit.

    Other considerations: Using brass bolts is a great idea to avoid rust, and they're also easier to cut away if required down the track.

    3) Fit a new mirror

    Next on our list is the bathroom mirror, another quintessential feature that can make or break a room. Start off by finding a suitable replacement, whether that involves buying a new unit off the shelf or getting one made to your specifications. Then, it's time to remove the existing mirror.

    Cover the current mirror with heavy duty packing tape to stop it cracking, and insert wooden shims around the edges between the mirror and the wall. Then, using a crow bar, carefully release the mirror from the wall. The main objective here is to prevent cracking and get the mirror off the wall in one piece.

    It's now time to install the new mirror. There are several ways to do so, with most methods using either mirror adhesives, brackets or clips. Using clips and brackets is quite straightforward - it's when using adhesives that it pays to be extra careful.

    Start by marking on the wall where the mirror will actually sit, and then place the mirror near this position to see how it fits. Then, apply adhesive as per the instructions and push the mirror back onto the wall.

    4) Replace the bathtub

    Finally, and again one of the larger projects, replacing the bathtub. This involves quite a few pieces of equipment, and you'll probably need someone to give you a hand with the tub.

    Start by choosing a replacement bathtub, ideally one that will fit where the current tub is located. You'll also need to ensure that you have the right fittings and connectors. For tubs raised off the ground, it may be necessary to amend the flooring.

    When removing the current tub from the wall, it's probably going to be necessary to cut into the surrounding wall, as the tub will be attached via the falange to the studs.

    Before beginning any sort of DIY work on your home, whether that's installing a new loo or getting stuck into a floor sanding project, be sure to check that you have the right equipment ready to go. Your tools can make all the home DIY difference.

    Nathan Mills portrait image
    Nathan Mills
    Nathan is a seasoned Kennards Hire team member passionate about empowering DIYers in their projects. He loves everything DIY and brings together years of equipment and project experience to help customers get the right tools for their next job.