Bathroom Renovation Guide
For our 60 second guide, please click here.
Introduction
How many times have you walked into a public toilet in Malaysia and just decided that you should do your big “business” at home instead?
If you answered too many to count, well… we are in the same boat. For many of us, the bathroom is a space where we perform our most private tasks (including some singing and dancing that we don’t want anyone else to see).
Maybe it’s because of this reason; the bathroom is one of the most common space we Malaysians renovate.
In this blog, we will explain the process of DIFM (Do It For Me) bathroom renovation. However, there may be some helpful tips for DIY-ers too! This process will be broken down into 4 stages;
Stage 1: Research
As the name suggests, this is where you begin your research on your future bathroom. This stage aims to develop a rough idea of your future bathroom so you will be able to plan around it. Lucky us, with the invention of the internet, research on literally anything is easier than ever.
Below is a reference of categories to research on:
Click here for Our Tile Guide
Depending on your renovation scope, whether it is improving the ambiance with tile change or full-scale remodelling, you would have to adjust the list accordingly.
Example of Research Sources
Online: Google; Instagram; Pinterest; Dresid
We update our design library regularly, so do come back and check out our latest designs!
Offline: Design magazines, Retail Outlets, Showrooms, Home Renovation Exhibition/Fairs
While this stage is undeniably the most fun, it can sometimes be overwhelming to newbies. Take a step back if you do get overwhelmed and refocus on your “essentials”, and list them down.
For example:
- Do you need 2 sinks?
- Do you want a bathtub/shower combo?
- Is there a specific colour scheme or theme that you prefer?
- Do you need additional storage space?
Once you have all your essentials listed own, start eliminating all ideas that don’t apply. After you have narrowed down your list, be sure to compile them to ensure that nothing important is forgotten.
Stage 2: Planning
WARNING: This stage is VERY tedious.
The planning stage is the most VITAL part of this whole process. Getting this stage right will reduce the chances of mishaps and minimize changes mid-process. Changing anything last minute will only cost you more money, time and effort.
Step 1: Set a Budget
Before any decision can be made, you need to know how much you can spend. Setting a budget should be based on YOUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY and not based on “expert” estimates or averages.
We recommend at least a 10-20% cushion in your budget for any mishaps. When planning your initial budget, be sure not to stretch your wallet too thin.
Lacking financial liquidity may delay the completion of your project or, worse stopping it completely.
Step 2: Knowing Your Space
After you have determined your budget, you have to determine your space’s size to the EXACT millimetre. Please refer to your floorplan for the exact measurement.
A floorplan will aid in your layout planning as you can ensure that everything fits into your space and you can still move comfortably in it. Most bathrooms aren’t large, to begin with, so you won’t want to cramp up your already small space.
There are 3 options to realize your floorplan:
- Option 1: Hire a professional (while the most expensive option, highly recommended if inexperienced)
- Option 2: Use Online Software
- Option 3: Do it Yourself (not recommended if you are inexperienced)
Note: If you are going with Option 2 or 3:
- Ensure that the plumbing layout is shown.
- Include an electrical layout if you are doing electrical work.
- Tile layout: Different tile layouts will create different ambiences.
Step 3: Sourcing
The goal is to scout out the various products and brands available for each category whilst comparing prices that fit your budget.
We advise dedicating at least one day for each category. Try not to research multiple categories on the same day, as you may risk confusing yourself.
This process may take multiple days or weeks to complete. Remember to jot down all the important information or decisions you made at the end of each day, so nothing will be forgotten.
Start sourcing through the internet first. It is the most convenient way to gather information as you can browse multiple brands, products and compare prices, all in the comfort of your home.
Start filtering brands or products you may not want so you won’t be flooded with information when visiting a brick and mortar store. This could also help you plan your trip when sourcing materials.
If you are rajin, you can probably dig up more information about the brand and/or product than any salesperson could provide.
Going to an exhibition or brick and mortar store is a good way to source products too! Compared to the internet, you may not get the variety you wish. However, you would have a better “look and feel” of the products.
Unless you are hiring an interior designer or architect, it may be hard to visualize all the products coming together in your bathroom.
Step 4: Choosing Your Experts
Here you have 2 options:
Option 1: Hire a main contractor to settle everything for you.
Option 2: Hire each expert yourself
Option 1 is usually more expensive, but it saves you the hassle of organizing and scheduling and coordinating with each expert for your project.
If you are going forward with Option 1, you may skip to Contacting Experts section.
For those that have chosen Option 2, you would have to hire experts based on your job requirements.
The following are the types of experts you may need:
Expert | Description |
Architect / Interior Designer | Design and plan your space. Ensure that everything fits into the space. |
Carpenter | Build cabinets or storage space |
Electrician | In charge of anything electrical; Lighting, ventilation fan, etc. |
Painter | Paint your space. |
Plumber | Anything that involves water and piping. Makes sure that everything flows smoothly. |
Tiler | Install tiles. |
Sub-Con (Waterproofing) | Waterproofs your space. Some tilers do waterproofing too. Among all the task, this is the MOST important to be done correctly. Water damage over time can be very costly. |
If you aren’t using a main contractor, we recommend having a Renovation Schedule. Renovation Schedule indicates which experts are coming in on which days and shows the timeframe required for each expert.
A Renovation Schedule also prevents clashing between two or more experts. The bathroom is generally a small space, and it would be difficult for two experts working in a small space at the same time.
Sample of how a Renovation Schedule looks:
Note: The image is only a reference and does not represent the actual timeframe required.
Contacting Experts
We recommend contacting experts at least 1 month before your desired start date. Some experts may already have their schedule filled up with multiple projects, and it is best to contact them early so you can get your desired dates.
When discussing with experts, it is important to discuss pricing and their job scope and the timeframe they require. This way, expectations from both parties will be aligned and avoid any unnecessary conflict.
Remember to jot down the timeframe into your Renovation Schedule to prevent any clashes. Also, if any delay were to happen, your Renovation Schedule could help you reorganize everyone’s schedule without much hassle. However, do contact the expert ASAP if there is any delay as it is not guaranteed that they will be available in your new schedule.
Once you have confirmed your experts, be sure to give them plenty of notice on their start dates.
At Dresid:
Our goal is to simplify home renovation.
Therefore, you can expect us to simplify this stage too!
For each of our designs, we have chosen products and materials that match the design style. Furthermore, we will consolidate all the products into one shipment and have them delivered to you on the date of your choosing.
If you do not have any contractor contacts, fret not, for you can choose one of our partner contractors on the Checkout page.
Important Things to Consider:
- Does your renovation work require any legal permit?
- If you are in a strata title building, have you gotten permission from the building management?
- Be a good neighbour and notify your neighbours in advance that you will be renovating.
- Do consider purchasing extra tiles (between 10-20%) for cutting of tiles and future replacements.
- Revisit your budget, does everything you want and need fit into your budget and STILL have 10-20% cushion?
Stage 3: Construction
As this is a DIFM guide, we will NOT be covering steps or process to renovate your bathroom. Instead, we will be covering what needs to be prepped for the construction work.
Before Construction Begins:
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During Construction:
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Other than the tips above, the contractors and experts will do what they are hired for. Just be sure to be nice to them as renovation is tiring and hard work!
Stage 4: Post Construction
This is the last 100 metre stretch of your long marathon but don’t you worry; these are simple steps that would prevent unnecessary headaches in the future.
- Organize and keep all your warranties in a safe place.
- Better yet, go the extra step and digitalize them.
- If you were to have any issue in the future, like a ventilation fan, you can find the warranty easily.
- Store all unused and extra parts properly.
- Please refer to the product user guide for proper storage.
- For tiles, store in a dry, covered area, away from any things that may cause them to break or chip.
- Request Defect Liability from your Main Contractor / Experts.
- This is UNCONVENTIONAL practice and may not be accepted by most contractors, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
- Defect Liability Period allows the customer to hold the main contractor/expert liable for any defects until the end of the liability period (usually around 3 months).
- Usually, the main contractor will do a final walkthrough with the homeowner and the experts. If there are no issues, the final payment will be released.
After everything is set (in place) and done, I HIGHLY recommend you do your favourite activity in your new bathroom. Whether it is singing in the shower, chilling in the bathtub or even just scrolling your phone on the toilet, you deserved it and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
Final Thoughts
I hope that you have a better understanding of the DIFM Bathroom Renovation process and are ready to start your journey!
If you think that the DIFM renovation process is still too complicated and looking for a reliable shortcut, Dresid has got your back!
Dresid Bathroom Renovation Steps:
If you have any further questions or concerns about our renovation process, feel free to contact us at support@dresid.com, and our service expert will reply within the next business day!