Bathroom Renovation: DIY vs The Pros

Renovating a bathroom takes a lot of time, skill, energy – and money. You might be a keen DIYer, but does that mean you should take on a project like this? Calling in the professionals will certainly save you time, but it can also cost more, so what’s the best course of action? Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of DIY compared to getting the experts to do it.

Doing it yourself

The main advantage of taking on the job yourself is that you will save money – and lots of it. Estimates suggest that you will save around 70% of the overall cost of your bathroom renovation by fitting your own bathroom suite.

Another benefit of taking the DIY route is that you can carry out the work in stages as required. There will be some jobs that you are happy to do and others you are not. For example, tiling and simple plumbing jobs may be well within your capabilities. As long as you know your limits, the project should run smoothly.

Finally, if you do the work your house remains your own throughout the process, rather than being filled with a stream of plumbers, tilers, electricians, plasterers and builders. You can also change your mind as much as you want without incurring additional costs and you don’t run the risk of having your suggestions over-shadowed.

Calling in the pros

Getting a team of people (or one professional) with the skills and knowledge to complete the job will reduce the project’s timetable dramatically. You may well be able to do all the jobs required, but a professional will have the time, knowledge and ability to do them quickly to meet a deadline- plus they can trouble-shoot as and when problems arise with access to a wide range of products.

Renovations carried out on bathrooms need to comply with Building Regulations. Using professionals means you have one less thing to think about.

However, if you are still undecided, the best plan of action may be a combination of both. Take on the jobs you are comfortable doing and leave the rest to the experts. This will save you time and money in the long run as well as making you feel satisfied that you have played your part in the process.