DIY Saturday #90 – Weekend Project – Half Bathroom Makeover (Video)

  Guest Blogger #381, Entry #976, February 25, 2012

Happy DIY Saturday! It is the weekend and one of the top DIY projects is bathroom remodeling. Whether your bathroom is outdated with off color fixtures, or you want to upgrade to green plumbing fixtures, a weekend bathroom remodel could be on your list of things to do.

Start your half bath remodeling project!

Image via: House Beautiful

Today, watch this video for staging your bathroom remodel into phases, but planning everything in the beginning to avoid wasting time, reopening up walls, etc.. You know that saying, “Measure twice, cut once” ? Yep, same mindset!  Then read my guest blogger’s post to accomplish a weekend half bath project in a weekend! Get going!

You Tube Video – Bathroom Remodeling Ideas on a Budget – Lowe’s

Guest Blogger – Half Bathroom Makeover in a Weekend

Want an updated look for your small half bath? A weekend of work can pay off with a transformed space, and you won’t spend an arm and a leg!

1. Design it!

The project bathroom had a builder-grade vanity and dingy vinyl sheet flooring. The sink was very small and difficult to use, and the faucet had recently failed. Since it was going to take just as much work to install a new faucet as it would to install a new sink, the homeowners decided to tackle the entire project. They selected a new pedestal sink and polished chrome faucet, both square to complement the new square light fixture. New paint was picked for the walls, and natural stone tile for the flooring.

Bathroom remodel ideas for your powder room

Image via: Decor Pad

2. Demolition!

All water lines were shut off to the toilet and the faucet, and then each was removed. Removal of a toilet can be made much easier with a large sponge and a bucket. After the water is turned off, flush the toilet a few times until the tank is mostly empty. Then, simply allow the dry sponge to soak up remaining water in the tank and bowl before squeezing it into the bucket. Repeat as necessary until the unit is mostly dry. Tip: it will not be completely dry and will leak when you move it, so rest it on a towel or on a boot tray once it is extracted from the bathroom. Also, be sure to work the toilet free by gripping the bowl, not the tank. Remove the wax seal from underneath the toilet, and also clean up the flange on the floor.

In this bathroom, the vanity had been glued to the walls and floor, and was removed with a small sledgehammer. The sheet vinyl flooring was cut at the door threshold and peeled up, revealing two additional layers of vinyl underneath. All earlier flooring was then removed to get down to the plywood subfloor. The door was measured to ensure it would freely open over the new tile flooring, and the door casing was trimmed with an oscillating multi-tool.

3. Paint!

Since the walls behind the former vanity had never been painted, but would be exposed and visible behind the new pedestal sink, the homeowner sanded and primed the blueboard so that it blended in smoothly with the remaining walls. Trim was painted white, and the walls primed and painted a shade of blue. Tip: have your primer tinted the same color as your finish paint.

Follow these steps for an easier weekend warrior project

Image via: The Perfect Bath

4. Floor!

The homeowners wanted a tile floor, and considered a few options. Large 12×12 inch tiles are inexpensive and look nice. 1-inch mosaic tiles are typically sold in 12×12 inch sheets with a mesh backing to help make installation easy, but are almost always substantially more expensive than the larger tiles. Since the flange and a few water lines passed up through the floor, several cutouts would be necessary in the tile flooring. The homeowners chose to install the more expensive natural stone mosaic tiles, as they’d be able to simply use scissors to remove individual 1-inch square tiles for the cutouts, rather than needing to rent a wet saw to cut the larger tiles. Additionally, the smaller tiles are much less likely to flex and crack underfoot, so they permit a somewhat less rigid subfloor.

The plywood subfloor was smooth and in good condition. EZMat underlayment was installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, the floor was tiled. Tip: read about the type of tile you are using to ensure that you seal it properly – some tiles require sealing prior to grouting, and then again after the grout has cured. Be sure to let the floor dry per the directions on the mastic and grout before moving forward. Finish the job by installing pre-painted quarter round or shoe molding around the perimeter and a transition threshold at the doorway.

5. Fixtures!

With the floor in and looking good, it was time to install the new sink. Pedestal sinks must be affixed to the wall, ideally directly into studs. Use a stud finder and make pilot holes in the locations where the sink bolts will go. Wall anchors can work if you’re unable to bolt the sink into studs. Just be sure the anchors are sufficiently strong to hold the heavy sink. Very large toggle bolts will do the job.

Install the plumbing components in the sink, test for leaks, the hang it on the wall, making sure that the drain lines up properly. Place the pedestal underneath the sink. Ideally, it will rest on the pedestal but be firmly affixed to the wall. The drain connections should be hidden behind the pedestal. Connect the water supply lines. Tip: when installing any new faucet, remove the aerator prior to running any water through the faucet. You’ll flush out any foreign material from the supply lines and from inside your new faucet instead of clogging the aerator.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Image via: The decorista

Use a new wax seal and install the toilet on the floor flange. While the tank is dry, it’s not a bad idea to swap out the old float mechanism for a new one, so do that too if the inspiration strikes. Connect the water supply, then turn it on and watch for leaks. Tip: place paper towels around the connection between the tank and the bowl, and around the base of the toilet for easy leak detection. Leaks can appear days later, so keep checking!

Following all precautions relating to working with electricity, replace the light fixture with a new, modern one. Add a toilet paper holder, towel ring and any other fixtures you desire to complete the transformation. Don’t forget to seal your tiles and grout after it has cured.

6. Enjoy!

With just a weekend and $500, you too can transform your outdated half bath into a modern space you’ll be proud to share with your guests.

Kiersten Gurry is an expert on home decor and works for FirstImpressionSecurityDoors.com. The company boasts an impressive variety of Phoenix security gates and Arizona iron spiral stair case options for homeowners and apartment buildings in the area.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.