ppe – The Interiors Addict

Can I demolish my own bathroom? With Baz Du Bois

A reader has sent in the following question for our resident expert Baz Du Bois:

“Hi Barry. We are about to renovate our bathroom and replace everything, including the toilet. We want to pull out as much ourselves as possible to prepare for the new bath, shower and toilet etc. What should we demolish ourselves and what should we leave for the experts to remove? Do we need to be careful when removing the toilet?”

Here’s Baz’s great advice:

Thanks for the question. Bathrooms are one of the most difficult and expensive rooms to take on in a reno, so with that in mind, it’s great that you want to jump in and get some of the hard labour done yourself. Even as a DIYer, it’s first important to have a critical path and demolition plan mapped out on paper so you and your tradies are on the same page and can schedule and collaborate.

Start with the date the plumber has agreed to start and work back with your demo from there. I find it very helpful to make a note of what I am going to do, in what order and what equipment I may need. For example:

remove toilet, vanity and bath (large hammer, crowbar, screwdrivers), one day, two people required for lifting.
remove mirror and wall tiles (small grinder with masonry disk, cold chisel, spade, buckets or bags for debris), two days.
remove floor tiles, one day (hire jack hammer).

By doing the job on paper like this, you will discover tools and processes you may not have allowed for in your timeline. Delays or delaying your tradies will cost you money. At this point ,you may be saying things to yourself like ‘that’s a lot of trips to the street or yard, do I have the time it takes, where am I going to put all this waste?’ They’re great questions so also add the answers into your construction plan and when you’re getting prices from your tradies, ask them the same questions. Collaboration and communication are the keys to a good reno.

My next tip is if your home was built before 1987, it could have asbestos in some of the building products. It’s not easy to know if it has, so treat the project as if it does and take best practice measures. Check out asbestosawareness.com.au but a couple of measures I always take are to wear personal protective gear (like disposable overalls, gloves, a mask and eye protection) and use a plastic drop sheet or similar to isolate any dust from spreading through the rest of your home.

Ok, let’s get down and dirty. I see no reason why you can’t carry out all the demolition but be aware that all ceramics tiles, baths, basins and toilets can be dangerous and sharp when broken so where possible, cover such items with a towel etc if you need to break them up to remove them and wherever possible, remove them intact. Many of these items are accepted at reuse and recycle yards.

As soon as you remove items such as the vanity, bath and toilet, use an old shirt or rag in a strong plastic bag to temporally seal up the plumbing and protect it from building and demolition debris. Force it like a plug into the pipe. This will also stop any smells!

Demolition is hard work and renovating is very rewarding. I promise the more times you do this on paper, the smother the process will become.

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Safety and first aid tips for the DIY home renovator

With the warm weather upon us, it’s time to spend time outdoors, open the windows, and start the home renovation projects. You might be planning to get some jobs done over the holiday break. If you choose to do your home renovation projects on your own, make sure to do your best to prevent injuries, be prepared for accidents, and to have a basic understanding of first aid.

It is always better to be prepared, even if you don’t need your first aid skills, than it is to find yourself or a loved one injured and not know how to handle it.

Know what you know, and what you don’t

The best kind of first aid is prevention. You know what you are capable of, so use your best judgment when determining when to do it yourself, and when to hire a professional. Saving money and pride by completing an entire project by yourself is not worth your health and safety, and the health and safety of those who will interact with your renovation when it is completed.

Wear protective clothing and gear

No matter what your home renovation project may be, you always need to wear the right kind of clothing during the completion of the project.

Eyes: Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from both flying objects and airborne particles.

Feet: Especially when you are working with any kind of equipment, wear thick work boots that will protect your feet from all sides, whether you drop something on them or you step on a sharp object.

Skin: If you are working with chemicals, keep your skin covered to prevent burns, contamination, or potential allergic reactions.

Nose & mouth: If you are painting, working with chemicals, removing asbestos, or near dust, protect your health with masks to keep yourself from inhaling harmful substances.

Have the right tools

Not only do you need to make sure that you are using the right tools for the job, and using them the right way, but in order to take care of yourself or loved ones in the case that they do get hurt, you need to make sure that you have well stocked a first aid kit. Depending on what your renovation entails, you should be prepared to treat burns, cuts, abrasions, stings, splinters, sprains, strains, blisters, mild pain, and know when to call an ambulance.

Basic first aid skills

Working on home renovation projects means that there is always a chance for injury. It is in your best interest to have some key first aid skills. Make sure that you have some knowledge of first aid relating to your project. If the injured person is bleeding, put pressure on the wound. Cuts and scrapes should always be cleaned and left covered during the day. If they have suffered a stab wound, do not remove the object, but immediately call an ambulance. The best way to get the skills that you need might be to take a certification class.

CPR: A CPR certification is usually valid for one year, and could potentially be a lifesaving skill, especially if you are working around water or at heights over ground level. If a person stops breathing before an ambulance arrives, knowing CPR may be their only chance at survival and minimising brain damage.

First Aid Certification: A first aid certification can train you to take care of anything from cuts and scrapes to blisters, sprains and minor head injuries. You can learn how to set a broken bone, how to care for burns, and when you need to call an ambulance. It is always best to be prepared for what might happen.

Please remember that no matter what your project entails, your safety should be the number one priority. Good luck with your renovation, and stay safe!

–Mark Partridge is the director of Training Course Experts (TCE) in Perth, Western Australia. TCE is a registered training organisation which specialises in forklift training, senior first aid training and more.