Every now and then, a homeowner will ask me, “Robbie, do you think I can just renovate the bathroom myself?” And my answer is always honest: you can—but you probably shouldn’t. I’m Robbie Fraikin from Raakss Reno, and I’ve renovated hundreds of bathrooms across Toronto and the GTA. Bathrooms are one of the trickiest rooms to get right. They require not just good taste, but serious technical skill.
If you’re thinking about taking the DIY route to save money or test your skills, here’s what you need to know before diving in—along with helpful links to guide you further and avoid major pitfalls.
Why Bathrooms Are the Most Complex Room to Renovate
Unlike painting a bedroom or laying down some laminate in your hallway, a bathroom involves nearly every trade in the book:
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Plumbing
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Electrical
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Drywalling
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Flooring
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Tiling
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Painting
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Fixture installation
Miss the mark on just one of these, and the whole job suffers. That’s why bathrooms are arguably the most complicated room to renovate on your own.
For example, if your tile work isn’t level or properly set, it will lift. If you don’t seal things properly, you’re creating mold risks. And if you install a toilet incorrectly—or in the wrong spot—you’ll quickly find out it doesn’t fit (or worse, doesn’t drain properly). There are building codes and space standards for every one of these elements.
If you want a deeper dive into why proper prep work matters, check out my article on what has to be done for a flooring installation.
Plumbing & Electrical: Never DIY These Without Experience
I get it—there’s a ton of satisfaction in doing something yourself. But in bathrooms, the stakes are high. Let me be clear: if you don’t know how to do plumbing or electrical, don’t touch them.
With plumbing:
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A small mistake can flood your home.
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Improper seals can cause slow leaks behind walls that rot everything silently.
With electrical:
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Miswiring a bathroom light, outlet, or fan can literally start a fire.
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Most bathroom electrical requires GFCI outlets and must follow strict codes.
As a licensed bathroom contractor in Toronto, I’ve seen the results of poorly done plumbing and wiring—and it’s not cheap to fix.
Gutting the Bathroom: You Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good
Some customers offer to “help me out” by gutting their bathroom before I start the job. I always politely say, “Thanks—but I’ll handle that myself.”
Here’s why:
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Some people over-gut, tearing down things that didn’t need replacing.
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Others under-gut, leaving materials or pipes that should’ve been removed.
When I demo a bathroom, I do it to a specific standard that sets up the next stage of work. If I have to correct or redo someone else’s prep, it adds more time and cost. In fact, I don’t take over half-finished DIY projects anymore because fixing previous mistakes often costs more than starting from scratch.
Timing: DIY Takes Weeks or Months, Not Days
If I’m renovating a bathroom professionally, I can often complete it in 2–3 weeks, depending on the scope. For a DIYer, especially someone learning as they go, it could take months.
You’ll be:
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Watching how-to videos
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Making multiple trips to the hardware store
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Re-doing sections after errors
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Waiting on inspection approvals if permits are needed
And during all that time, you’re living without a fully working bathroom.
Standards Matter (And May Cost You More in the Long Run)
A lot of DIY efforts start with cost savings in mind. But what you “save” in labor could cost you:
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In materials, when you make mistakes
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In rework, if a contractor has to undo your effort
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In damage, if plumbing or waterproofing fails later
I’ve had to quote jobs where fixing a half-done DIY project was more expensive than doing the entire bathroom from scratch. That’s not to discourage DIY—it’s just the reality of what happens when critical steps are skipped or misjudged.
The One Exception: Cosmetic DIY Touches
That said, not all DIY is bad. If your bathroom’s bones are solid and you’re only updating the surface, go for it:
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Painting walls
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Installing a new mirror
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Swapping light fixtures (if you know how)
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Updating cabinet hardware
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Changing a toilet seat or faucet
These are low-risk upgrades that won’t destroy the structure if done wrong.
And if you want help with more involved elements like lighting placement or vanities, check out our articles on bathroom lighting fixtures or bathroom renovation ideas for professional insights you can use.
So… Can You DIY Your Bathroom Renovation?
Technically, yes. But here’s my honest take as a professional:
“Unless you’ve got strong experience in plumbing, electrical, tiling, drywalling, and finishing—you’re going to hit walls (literally and figuratively).”
I don’t discourage learning. Everyone starts somewhere. But a bathroom renovation is not the place to test your skills for the first time. The risk is too high, and the damage from mistakes too expensive.
If you really want to get involved, work with a pro. Do some of the demolition, help choose materials, and learn along the way. That’s how you’ll get the best of both worlds: hands-on experience with none of the regret.
Final Thoughts
A bathroom renovation isn’t just a design challenge—it’s a technical one. And unlike painting your bedroom or building a garden shed, mistakes here can cost you thousands in repairs, delays, or water damage.
If you’re serious about upgrading your bathroom the right way, let’s talk. I’ve worked with homeowners across Toronto and the GTA who wanted results they could trust—and I’d be happy to do the same for you.
Reach out to me to get a quote, ask a question, or start planning your next renovation the right way.