The bathroom is a room that is difficult to get through even a day without. It is important to correctly determine the sequence of work and prepare the necessary materials. Study in advance the technological processes and draw up a schedule of works for yourself. Only in this case, the work will proceed quickly, without physical and moral suffering of the family members. If the process is properly organised, a complete bathroom renovation will take from 10 to 30 days, depending on the chosen technology, skills and personal organisation. How this depends on the technology is described in point 7.6. The floor levelling technology with the “screed floor” method allows for waterproofing after 3 days and for laying tiles after another day. All in all after 5 days the floor is fully ready for use. If a traditional screed on cement-sand mortar is used, it will take 28 days for the screed to harden.
Drafts
Major or cosmetic repairs begin with a project or sketch. According to the project, the materials needed are calculated, electrical and plumbing points are marked, furniture, appliances, plumbing fixtures are placed.
Then a floor plan is drawn on millimetre or on a flipchart sheet. It is important to note down the dimensions on the correct scale. Make a note of door and window openings. Calculate the areas of the floor, ceiling and each wall.
You will need at least four sketches – it’s not convenient to put everything on a single drawing. On one drawing calculate the materials on the second draw electrical points on the third plumbing points on the fourth do the arrangement of furniture, appliances and sanitary ware.
In a small bathroom it is extremely important to first place objects on paper according to the adopted scale, but exactly to size, otherwise something may not fit in reality.
Removing old materials
Preparing the bathroom for renovation is a type of work that can be done yourself. You will need some inexpensive tools: a chisel, a hammer, a spatula, a brush with metal bristles, or a drill with a round metal bristle nozzle.
Laying new pipes
Rectangular pipes are vertical pipes that run from the cellar to the upper floors. They are the responsibility of the building management company. Usually there are 4 systems connected to the flat: cold water, hot water, sewage and heating. Piping is located in a technical sump at flat level and is the responsibility of the landlord. It includes shut-off valves, which shut off the complete water supply to the flat, and control valves. They must be operable and accessible in case of an emergency, so that the water supply can be shut off quickly. Although it is easier and cheaper, it is strictly forbidden to brick up revision hatches. We do not recommend replacing valves or installing new pipes yourself unless you have the knowledge and experience to do so. Saving money can be expensive. It is better to have your plumbing work done by a professional to avoid bad surprises with your bathroom renovations. Most plumbing work must be approved by your building management company.
Wall finishing
After removing the old coating and plumbing equipment, the next step is to thoroughly clean the surface and eliminate defects. Cracks are cleaned, unevenness is removed and the surface is cleaned of construction dust. Only then are the walls to be plastered. The work is not very simple, but you can learn it in the process. If you are afraid of not being able to cope, at this stage you can invite a plasterer. The master will level and plaster the surface of the wall, and the rest of the work you will do yourself.
Finishing the ceiling
As a rule, the ceiling does not need to be coarsely plastered with a thick layer of mortar. Puttying the surface is sufficient. It is easier to work with putty than with plaster. Choose a wide stainless steel trowel. It will not leave defects and marks on the fresh mortar and will not rust. After the finish plaster dries, sand it with sandpaper. The surface is primed and painted. Or ceiling panels can be glued.
If the walls were prepared for painting, use ceiling plinth. This will hide any irregularities in the joints between the wall and the ceiling.
Finishing the floor
The subfloor of the bathroom must be carefully prepared. It must be waterproofed, screeded and then covered. If modern technology is used, it is not difficult to level the floor without the use of ready-to-use self levelling floor mixes. You will have to pay a little more for the material, but you will save your household budget on the cost of the work as well as buying time. A traditional cement-sand screed takes 28 days to dry. “Self-leveling floor” is ready for subsequent installation in just 3 days. If the layer is less than 10 mm thick, you can step on it after 3 hours.
Only after the work has been completed can tiles, linoleum and vinyl tiles be laid. The work is carried out according to the technology of the chosen covering. However, if the substrate is properly prepared and of good quality, further work on the decorative covering will not cause any problems.
