Bathrooms are among the most daunting—and disruptive—rooms in a home to update. Whether remodeling or renovating, having a bathroom out of service is incredibly inconvenient—especially if it’s the only one for the household.
So when you get to the point where this type of work is unavoidable, you probably want to make it quick, and keep costs down. To help you do that, here are three expert-backed tips for saving time and money when updating your bathroom.
How to save time and money updating your bathroom
According to recent survey from Toolstation, it typically takes around 8.5 days for a professional to complete a full bathroom update, and roughly 22 days for an average DIYer to finish the same job. Of course, a lot depends on the extent of the work, and the experience of the DIYer, but when it comes down to it, even eight days without a functioning bathroom is a long time.
Fortunately, there are ways to help keep the process moving along smoothly, while staying on budget. Toolstation asked hundreds of contractors specializing in bathrooms for advice on how to do this, and these are their top three tips:
Stick to the original layout
“Keep the layout as close to the original as possible,” Toolstation spokesperson Rhiannon Moore tells Lifehacker in an email. “This avoids the need to re-route pipes and drainage—especially the toilet, as this is the largest pipe to install.”
Empty the bathroom before the work begins
Don’t put off cleaning out your bathroom until the last minute. “You should sufficiently prepare the area beforehand,” Moore explains. “This will save the tradesperson time having to clear out the space.” Instead, they can get right to work.
Go in with a plan
“If you have a clear plan and know where everything will be located before the work even starts, it will streamline the installation process,” says Moore. “Problems might be identified early on, and we can think of solutions or alternatives, reducing delays.”
