Basic Tips For DIY Bathroom Layout & Space Planning
After a few years of watching Bob Villa, you probably are fired up to remodel your own bathroom. Before you strap on the tool belt, be sure you are legally entitled to do any DIY renovation changes in your bathroom. If you rent, you are not legally allowed to do any home renovation. That's the prerogative of your landlord. You can talk to the landlord about minor changes you can make, such as a new paint job or installing new towel racks. But if you own your bathroom, you can think about a bathroom layout & space planning.
Check The Local Building Codes
In your bathroom layout & space planning concepts, forget about doing any electrical or plumbing jobs yourself. Leave that to a licensed professional. That professional will also be aware of the local building codes to make sure your bathroom is not only legal, but safe. But if you are planning any major bathroom layout & space planning, such as knocking a wall down to add a windmill (hey, it could happen), you better check with your local zoning board to see if you are allowed to do so, or if you need a building permit.
Get Creative
Your local zoning board may need a plan of your bathroom layout & space planning of your renovation project before they can issue you a permit. You can sketch your ideas, use graph paper, or use a home renovation software program to print out plans to submit.
You'll need to include the square footage of the completed project, materials used and if there are any major changes (like having his or her toilets in the same bathroom - hey, it could happen).
Your first bathroom layout & space planning designs will not be perfect. Expect to make mistakes. This is how we learn. Be sure to note where doors, windows, plumbing and electrical outlets are in your proposed bathroom layout & space planning designs. Don't be too attached to these plans, as most likely they will go under constant modification from the zoning board, any hired professionals, or your own brain.
Remember to keep in mind when drawing your bathroom layout & space planning that eventually you'll have to clean everything. You need materials that clean easily, and cabinets that fit when pulled out or to be physically able to reach the toilet paper when you are sitting on the toilet. You need to be able to easily maneuver about fixtures in order to give them a good clean, or repairs, if need be.
