Do you have to wait in line in the morning to take your shower or to go to the toilet? Most pre-1990 family homes are built with only one bathroom, which isn’t enough if you need to share it with other family members. It’s time to stop dancing from one foot to the other when waiting for the toilet to be free again. You need a second bathroom. Better than that, you need an en-suite bathroom! However, before you get started, you will need to ensure a building regulation approval, as the room will need to be checked by the local authorities for adequate ventilation, drainage, structural stability and electrical safety. Depending on the approval option you choose, the approval can require up to 2 months, which gives you time to prepare for your almost DIY en-suite bathroom project.
WHAT YOU CAN’T DIY
Let’s get honest from the start. Unless you’re a professional electrician or plumber, you can’t fit a brand new bathroom on your own. You will need professionals to ensure that the room structure, the electricity and the plumbing are safe. Additionally, even if you’re tempted to get going by yourself, you should check the small print on your home insurance contract. Indeed, most insurers refuse to pay for accidents and damages caused by what we’d refer to as clumsy and inexperienced DIY, such as accidentally setting your house on fire as a result of an electrical hazard. You will need to work closely with at least a plumber, an electrician and a builder to create your DIY en-suite bathroom. In some cases, you might even want to call in a plasterer too!
TEAMWORK FOR THE WIN
If you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and do some manual work, you’ll enjoy tiling the bathroom. You might need to ask for professional support to cut the tiles to fit – from your local DIY shop – unless you have all the tools you need. You will need silicone from Direct Sealants to seal the gap between the tiles and the bathroom fittings – the sink, the shower tray and the in-built bathtub. When it comes to tiling, you need to work with a friend or a relative to place the tiles before the glue dries. Be quick; you don’t have much time! Thankfully, if you get your tiles cut to fit in advance, tiling a wall shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes, which makes tiling one of the quickest and most satisfying DIY job.
WHAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF
Last, but not least, is the decor. Now’s the time to add the finishing touches, from an elegant statement mirror to a quality bath mat. As surprising as it might sound, it’s the building phase that demands the longest. Indeed, you need to decide on the atmosphere, colourful ambience and shapes that you want to add to the room. Should it be a continuation of your bedroom decor? Do you want a modern feel? Your imagination is the limit!
Stop queuing for the bathroom this year with an en-suite solution. En-suites add value and style to your home. Let me know if you’ve got any DIY projects like this planned and leave your bathroom decorating tips below 🙂
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