DIY Bathroom Remodel: Do I Really Need a General Contractor? 5 Questions To Ask Yourself

The do-it-yourself (DIY) trend has gained popularity in recent years, largely due to easy access to social media for inspiration, “How to” videos and tutorials, and stores to purchase tools and materials. 

But should you jump on the DIY bandwagon for your bathroom remodel or should you hire a general contractor instead?

JSB Home Solutions has been remodeling bathrooms in central Ohio for 46 years, including some remodels that started as DIY projects. We know what it takes to complete a DIY project because we have heard the reasons DIY’ers decide to come to us to finish their bathroom. Obviously, we have some skin in the game but our goal is not to convince you to hire a general contractor. On a personal note, I’ve done my own DIY bathroom remodel so I know there are cases when a DIY bath project works well. Our purpose is to walk you through the thought process of choosing between DIY and hiring a contractor so that your bathroom remodel will be a success, regardless of which route you choose to take.

In this article, you will learn what questions to ask yourself to decide if you should DIY your bathroom remodel or hire a general contractor. If you choose to DIY your bathroom, you’ll be confident that your project will end in success.

Table of Contents:

• #1 Do you have the skills or expertise necessary to complete all parts of your bathroom project?
• #2 Will a DIY bathroom remodel save you enough money to make it worth it?
• #3 Do you have the time to allocate to your bathroom project?
• #4 What quality are the materials you can purchase?
• #5 How much risk are you comfortable with if something goes wrong?

There are three questions to ask yourself to decide between DIY and hiring a professional for your bathroom remodel project.

#1 Do you have the skills or expertise necessary to complete all parts of your bathroom project?

A DIY bathroom remodel may require expertise with plumbing, electrical work, flooring, tile, waterproofing, and drywall. If you are comfortable with these skills, you can move on to the next step. 

If you aren’t comfortable with what your job will require, it would be best to find a professional. Without the necessary skills, you could find yourself halfway through a project that you can’t finish and end up hiring a contractor anyway, leaving you out all the time and money you already invested.

#2 Will a DIY bathroom remodel save you enough money to make it worth it? 

DIY bathroom remodeling usually costs about half the amount of hiring a professional. At first glance, that sounds amazing! But there are a couple of other things to consider before you take a sledgehammer to your bathtub. That way you can compare the total cost of a DIY bathroom remodel to the cost of a bathroom remodel with a contractor.

• Do you have all the tools you need or will you need to purchase some? Any tools you will need will increase your cost for the project.
• How much time will it take you to complete the project and what is your time worth? 

If you have the tools you will need and are willing to give your time to the project, it could be worth completing your bathroom remodel yourself. However, if you are going to have to purchase tools or can’t justify the cost of your time, it would be best to hire a professional contractor.

#3 Do you have the time to allocate to your bathroom project?

Think about when you will be working on your bathroom remodel. Will it be evenings and weekends when you are off work? Especially if you work a physically demanding job, will you want to jump into a bathroom remodel after your workday is done?

One of the most challenging things about any remodeling project is living with the construction. The last thing you want to do is start a project, realize you don’t have time or energy to complete it and be stuck living in a construction zone. Be honest with yourself about the time and motivation you will have to complete the project. 

If you are chomping at the bit to get rolling, go for it! If you aren’t sure your schedule can handle adding a large task like a bathroom remodel, hire a professional so you can just enjoy your finished bathroom.

#4 What quality are the materials you can purchase?

You should also consider if you are getting the same quality of materials as you would get by doing your bathroom remodel through a contractor. For example, a faucet purchased at a home improvement store will usually have plastic fittings that connect the faucet to the water pipes. That same brand and style of faucet purchased by a contractor directly from the supplier could have brass fittings that will hold up better to wear and tear. The added cost of the professional might be worth it if you get better quality products in your bathroom.

#5 How much risk are you comfortable with if something goes wrong?

You could also ask yourself, “How much do you like surprises?” But honestly, you never really know what you will find when you start tearing into a bathroom. You may be completely prepared to replace your toilet with all the tools and skills necessary. Only to find that there are corroded pipes and rotten wood under your toilet that was unknowingly leaking under the floor. Are you prepared to deal with these kinds of surprises?

There are plenty of surprises that can come up during your bathroom remodel. And you can also face surprise issues after construction is completed. A product could fail or maybe it wasn’t installed just right and you could run into cracked grout and a leaking shower 9 months after your project is completed. This is where you should consider product and workmanship warranties.

Some materials may only have a manufacturer warranty if a licensed contractor installs them. By installing them yourself, it may void any product warranties. Be sure to read the fine print on your materials to make sure that you do not void the warranty by mistake during your project.

In addition, most contractors should offer a 1-year workmanship warranty (the minimum required in the industry). Some contractors cover their installation of the materials for longer, like our limited lifetime workmanship warranty that covers your project for as long as you own your home. A DIY project means that you won’t have access to any workmanship warranties.

If you are comfortable with your skills and the terms of the product warranties as they apply to your bathroom remodel, a DIY project could be the solution for you.

If you aren’t a fan of surprises or want your products and their installation to be under warranty after construction is completed, hiring a general contractor would be the better option.

Is a DIY Bathroom Remodel Right for Me?

Saving money is one of the leading reasons homeowners choose the DIY route for a bathroom project. However, there is a lot to consider before you start demolition on your bathroom.

A DIY bathroom remodel could be right for your project if you… 

• Have the skills necessary to complete all pieces of your project,
• Don’t have to buy too many tools,
• Have the time in your schedule to work on your remodel,
• Can access to quality materials,
• And, are confident in your ability to handle surprises during and after your project.

It would be best to hire a general contractor for your remodel if you… 

• Don’t have the skills to complete your project, like waterproofing your shower or handle plumbing,
• Will have to buy too many tools,
• Don’t have the time to complete your project in a timely manner,
• Can only buy lower-quality materials,
• Or want product and workmanship warranties after construction is completed.

If you’ve landed on a contractor being the right decision for you, you’ll want to make sure you ask the right questions to hire the best bathroom contractor for your remodel.

Time and money are some of our most important resources. Investing them wisely in your bathroom remodel will ensure that your bathroom remodel project is a huge success!