With a little more digging, it becomes clear why so many are eager to go it alone. HomeAdvisor estimates that labor accounts for a hefty 60%-70% of bathroom remodel costs<\/a> (compare that to 30%-35%<\/a> for the kitchen).<\/p>\n And the payoff is worthwhile: \u201cIn my area, a renovated bathroom could easily add approximately $25,000 in value to the property,\u201d says Basil Yaqub<\/a>, a Bay Area real estate agent who\u2019s purchased and flipped close to 300 homes in his career.<\/p>\n We spoke with real estate experts, house flippers, and DIY pros who blog about their work. It turns out there\u2019s a lot you can do to refresh a bathroom with a little know-how and elbow grease. Here we share their advice for bathroom DIYers jumping in for the first time or looking for a little guidance along the way.<\/p>\n Even the ambitious DIY-er doesn\u2019t expect to renovate an entire bathroom on their own. While there are projects you can take on yourself, think about calling a professional instead of embarking on any of the following:<\/p>\n In some counties, it\u2019s illegal<\/a> for homeowners to do their own electrical work. Shoddy electrical work can also pose risk of electrocution or starting a fire<\/a>. If you complete something incorrectly, hiring an electrician to clean up your work won\u2019t be cheap.<\/p>\n If you plan to swap out light fixtures or switches, do it safely with the help of a licensed professional \u2014\u00a0ask any contractor connections you have or friends, family, or coworkers for a referral.<\/p>\n There are tiling projects a DIY-er can take on, but anything around the tub or shower is generally off-limits, explains Yaqub.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re tiling around your bathtub or shower, you have to do waterproofing, and that\u2019s an art. It could have long-term repercussions if you don\u2019t do it right.\u201d Turn to a contractor<\/a> licensed to do waterproofing work.<\/p>\n Taking a sledgehammer to a wall could be a great way to work out aggression, but if it\u2019s not done right, it could severely damage your home\u2019s structure. If you\u2019re not sure whether a wall is load-bearing<\/a>, call a general contractor instead of tempting fate.<\/p>\n Taking on a few simple bathroom renovation projects is a great way to reduce costs. According to Yaqub, swapping out a few fixtures like the vanity, faucet, and toilet on your own instantly updates the bathroom, and saves you \u201c$1,000 easily in labor,\u201d he estimates.<\/p>\n If you feel comfortable with a hammer or power drills, you\u2019ll be able to conquer these projects alone. While they may seem on the smaller side, these changes can make a big difference in the small room.<\/p>\n Revive a dated vanity with a fresh coat of paint. A trendy neutral can make the room feel bigger, and the vanity brand new. Try one of these top neutral shades on your vanity as a foundation for the bathroom\u2019s redesign:<\/p>\n Color inspo:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to tackle the project, courtesy of interior design blogger Driven by Decor<\/a>:<\/p>\n Changing out a vanity faucet is fairly simple plumbing work, but \u201cthat’s about $500 in labor,\u201d Yaqub says.<\/p>\n Even Moen, a well-known faucet creator, reveals that<\/a> \u201cr<\/i>eplacing a faucet is a quick way to refresh the look of your kitchen or bathroom, but many people think it’s too complicated to do themselves. While this misconception is great for plumbers, the truth is that installing a faucet is actually a pretty straightforward job.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Save a few bucks by swapping out the hardware on your own. Moen offers a handy step by step guide to DIY faucet replacement<\/a>, noting that DIYers should always check the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for installing the product.<\/p>\n Switch outdated faucets for trendy brushed brass<\/a> or matte black<\/a> fixtures for an instant update.<\/p>\n Bathrooms with dingy, dated vinyl tile can get a quick refresh with a coat of paint. The trick to this project is the prep work \u2014 make sure you thoroughly clean and lightly sand the flooring to ensure the paint sticks. Use painter\u2019s tape<\/a> to protect the baseboards, toilet, and cabinetry from the paint.<\/p>\n In addition, don\u2019t skimp on the paint itself, recommends home renovation blogger Tanya Watson of Dans le Lakehouse<\/a>. Think: more is more!<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to use a latex porch, floor, and patio paint for this job. Valspar\u2019s latex floor paints<\/a> come in a variety of colors, but consider one of the following shades to keep the bathroom from feeling too busy:<\/p>\n Plan on a primer coat<\/a>, then two coats of the final color. With this project that is more time consuming than challenging from a skills perspective, be patient and make sure the floor is fully coated to prevent nicks or chips in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cPaint is a great way to make a big impact,\u201d explains Lauren Ahrens, an Austin flipper with a fanbase of 65,000+ on YouTube<\/a>. \u201cStick with a neutral color that will go with your current scheme and any upgrades you have planned for the future. Our go-to color is Sherwin Williams\u2019 Drift of Mist<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s the perfect gray and goes with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n To paint like a pro in the bathroom, use a paint with a satin finish \u2014 which will be more durable than eggshell or semi-gloss<\/a> in areas of high moisture, advises Consumer Reports.<\/p>\n Before painting, thoroughly scrub the bathroom walls using a sponge with a mix of 1 parts bleach to three parts water to cut through any mildew that could be lingering on the wall. To avoid the paint bleeding onto baseboards or fixtures, apply painter\u2019s tape<\/a>. Paint corners and nooks with an angled sash brush<\/a> for more control than a flat brush.<\/p>\n Sliding frosted glass shower doors can make a bathroom feel dated and small, but luckily, removing them is a lot easier than it looks.<\/p>\n First remove the shower doors from their track \u2014 typically you\u2019ll lift them up to get them out. Then use a screwdriver, removing the visible screws from the frame with a counterclockwise turn.<\/p>\n With the screws removed, the only thing holding the frame in place is caulk. Carefully cut through the caulk using an X-Acto knife<\/a> or other sharp blade.<\/p>\n Cut along the caulk and the wall and tub, not against it to avoid nicking the tile. Fair warning, you will have to spend a fair amount of time scraping up the excess caulk from the tub and walls<\/a>, according to a guide from Apartment Therapy. The top rail should simply pop off, since it\u2019s not caulked to the wall or bathtub.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve cleaned up the caulk and patched the screw holes, you can hang a standard rod and modern print shower curtain<\/a> for added visual interest.<\/p>\n Ditch the faux wood lid or kitschy crochet toilet cover and replace it with a modern toilet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is one of the main projects I recommend [to sellers],\u201d explains Yaqub, as it\u2019s an inexpensive purchase that can bring an instant update to the bathroom. In many counties, this project does require a permit, so double check before you throw out that porcelain throne.<\/p>\n Changing out the toilet isn\u2019t too challenging, but you will want to have a partner on hand to help move and place the heavy fixture.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/can-i-diy-bathroom-remodel-tool-666x381.png\")
<\/a>Leave certain tasks to the pros<\/h2>\n
Electrical work<\/h3>\n
Waterproofing<\/h3>\n
Structural changes<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/can-i-diy-bathroom-remodel-paint-666x381.png\")
<\/a>Where you can save with DIY<\/h2>\n
Repaint the vanity<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Swap out the faucet<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/how-to-remove-an-old-faucet-775x406.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/how-to-install-new-faucet-775x447.jpg\")
<\/a>Repaint vinyl floors<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/painted-vinyl-floor-pinterest-775x1550.jpg\")
<\/a>Paint the walls<\/h3>\n
Remove glass shower doors<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/bathroom-before1-775x517.jpg\")
<\/a>Replace the toilet<\/h3>\n