| When most people think of plumbing they think | | | | inspected by your local building authority. So to |
| messy and difficult. For example, have you ever gone | | | | facilitate the process consult your local building |
| down to your basement and looked at the tangle of | | | | authority before you start any work, as you will |
| pipes running up through your floor boards and | | | | more than likely have to fill out a building permit, |
| thought to yourself can I really renovate my | | | | arrange for your premises to be inspected and file |
| bathroom without flooding the whole house? Before | | | | your plans with them. |
| you reach for that phone book you need to consider | | | | Yes, I know it has been drilled into us over and over |
| what actually has to be done in your bathroom. | | | | again and there is good reason for this, planning is the |
| If you think about it, most of the plumbing done | | | | key to your success. Plan your time and make sure |
| when remodeling your bathroom is going to be "new | | | | there is another bathroom to use or make some |
| work" so you may not even have to deal with the | | | | type of contingency plan with your neighbors or |
| old pipes or at most minimum interaction with them, | | | | nearby family members in case your bathroom |
| unless you plan on overhauling your whole entire | | | | renovation runs longer than expected. Work safety is |
| bathroom. And of course the added bonus is that by | | | | not an option. Make sure water and any power |
| doing it yourself you'll save a bundle that you'd be | | | | running to your bathroom is turned off. If you're |
| paying out to a plumber or subcontractor to do the | | | | working with power tools then run an extension cord |
| renovation work for you. | | | | from another room. |
| Ok, now the reality check. Yes it's true that even if | | | | And because you're probably going to be working in |
| you have never attempted home improvements | | | | cramped tight spaces, its always good to take |
| before you can learn how to replace your bathroom | | | | frequent breaks to relieve your tight sore muscles. |
| fixtures whether it is your tub or toilet. But the | | | | Keep a bucket and some rags nearby and you can |
| bottom line is you must get a firm grasp on the basic | | | | use an old pillow or purchase some knee pads to |
| techniques of plumbing systems. This includes pipes, | | | | kneel on. And lest we forget, as mentioned before, |
| fittings and what are the best practices to work with | | | | we are going to be working in confined spaces |
| them. If you have the time and patience, with | | | | where lighting will be at a premium so do have a |
| practical learning and following step by step | | | | flashlight handy. The important thing to take away |
| instructions, these plumbing techniques can be | | | | here is to remember that you must have a basic |
| brought within the reach of the weekend | | | | understanding of plumbing principles before tackling |
| do-it-yourselfer. | | | | your bathroom renovation project but above all you |
| It is important to note here that any new plumbing | | | | must understand your own plumbing system and |
| must abide to stringent plumbing codes and if | | | | how these principles apply to your situation. |
| renovated by you, your bathroom plumbing must be | | | | |