Renovating a bathroom: DIY or professional?

A new bathroom is one of the finest renovations in the home, but also one of the most complex. Water supply, drainage, electrics, ventilation, waterproofing, tiling and sanitary ware all come together in a few square metres. A handy DIYer can do some jobs perfectly well. Others need a professional, or are work for a certified installer by law or for safety. This blog goes through the jobs one by one.

👷 Calling in a professional is never superfluous. Certainly not in the bathroom, where a small mistake may only show up years later as a leak or mould. Even if you do a lot yourself, a professional for advice or the tricky parts is worth their weight in gold.

Plan first

Start with a plan: what has to go, what comes back and who does what? Decide where the shower, toilet and washbasin go and whether pipes and drains need to be moved for that. You can find planning tips in our guide to planning a bathroom renovation.

💡 Discuss your plan early with an installer and a tiler, even if you want to do a lot yourself. They can see straight away whether a drain can get enough fall or whether a wall needs straightening first.

Overview: who does what?

Demolition and stripping

DIY: often yes. You can remove old tiles, sanitary ware and cabinets yourself, provided you first have the water and power safely shut off and know where the pipes run. Use a multifunction wall detector before you start chiselling or drilling.

⚠️ Homes built before 1994 may contain asbestos, for example in old sealants, adhesives, window sills or sheet material. In doubt? Stop and have it investigated by a certified company first.

Water and drainage pipes

Professional: installer. Rerouting pipes, connecting a concealed cistern or laying a drain with the right fall is work for an installer. A mistake in pipework often only shows when it is too late.

Electrics and lighting

Always a certified installer. Strict rules apply in a bathroom for zones, residual current protection and the protection rating of light fittings and sockets. Work on the electrical installation is not DIY.

Ventilation

Professional. Good mechanical extraction prevents damp and mould. Have a professional determine the capacity and the connection.

Walls and waterproofing

Partly DIY, professional if in doubt. A handy DIYer can install plasterboard or cement boards. Waterproofing is crucial: a liquid membrane such as Kerakoll Nanodefense Eco with sealing tape such as Kerakoll Aquastop 120 in corners and around penetrations, applied exactly according to the manufacturer's system. A mistake here later causes leaks into the floor or to the neighbours. If in doubt, have a tiler do it.

Tiling

Walls: DIY possible. Floor with a fall or large tiles: professional. You can learn to tile a wall with medium-sized tiles yourself; read our blog on tiling a wall. A shower floor sloping to a Tako linear drain, large formats or natural stone call for a tiler's experience.

Installing sanitary ware

Much of it can be DIY. Installing a Bonica washbasin cabinet with two drawers with basin, a Bonica mirror cabinet or a Larga shower enclosure with tray on a Tako Slim shower tray with siphon is quite possible yourself, provided walls and connections are ready. How to install a shower enclosure is explained in our blog on installing a shower enclosure. A Delfi wall-hung toilet with seat on a concealed cistern needs a sturdy mounting; you can read more in our blog on rimless wall-hung toilets. Connecting a tap such as the Zen thermostatic shower tap can be done on existing connection points; if in doubt or for new pipes: installer.

Sealing and finishing

DIY. Finishing sealant joints with sanitary silicone sealant is a good job to do yourself. A step-by-step plan is in our blog on resealing a bathroom with new silicone.

Working safely: PPE

Demolishing and renovating in a small space means dust, noise and sharp edges:

• Hands: work gloves with nitrile coating against sharp tile remnants and adhesive.
• Eyes: safety goggles when chiselling, drilling and working overhead.
• Breathing: an FFP2 dust mask for dust, an FFP3 dust mask for a lot of fine dust, such as when grinding tiles or joints.
• Hearing: earmuffs when chiselling and drilling.
• Knees: knee pads when tiling and working on the floor.
• Head: a safety helmet when you demolish under a ceiling.

You can read more about working safely in our blog on safe working on the construction site.

How to combine DIY and professional

1. Let the professional lay the foundations: pipes, drainage, electrics and ventilation.
2. Do the demolition and preparation yourself, after agreeing what must stay in place.
3. Have a tiler do the waterproofing and the shower floor, or have your work checked before tiling.
4. Do the finishing yourself: wall tiles where you feel confident, installing sanitary ware, sealing and accessories.
5. Make clear agreements about who is responsible for which part. That matters if something goes wrong later.

Frequently asked questions

May I install the electrics in the bathroom myself?

No, always leave work on the electrical installation to a certified installer. Extra safety requirements apply in the bathroom because of water.

Can I strip the bathroom myself?

Often yes, if water and power have been safely shut off and you know where the pipes run. In homes built before 1994, take asbestos into account first.

Is waterproofing difficult?

It is not complicated, but it has to follow the manufacturer's system exactly. A mistake only shows later. If in doubt, have a professional do it or check it.

Which part of the renovation is most suitable to do yourself?

Demolition (with the right precautions), installing sanitary ware on existing connections, sealing and accessories. Leave pipes, electrics and ventilation to the professional.

Read also: How to tile a bathroom and Plastering a wall: DIY or professional?

Read also: How to descale a shower enclosure

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.