24-Hour Bathroom Reno

Elysia English shows how she renovated her small bathroom in just 24 hours.

Elysia’s small half-bathroom had been a thorn in her side for a long time. It was more than just an eyesore; it was also dysfunctional. The toilet was finnicky, the sink didn’t drain properly, and there was absolutely zero storage. On top of all that, the worn-out floor and terrible lighting made for an overall dingy look. This bathroom is mostly used by her children. What she really wanted was a cheery environment for them to start and end their day, with enough storage space to keep the kids’ gear out of the main bathroom. To accomplish this Elysia and her husband Philip installed new flooring, a new toilet, new sink & vanity along with bright lights and a big, beautiful mirror. They also brightened the entire room with a new coat of paint—all in less and 24 hours! Their local Home Hardware store was there with products, supplies and helpful advice.

Here’s Elysia’s rundown of the products and materials they used, and the steps followed: 

1. Sink Removal:

    

   We turned off the water valve to the sink and used an adjustable wrench and groove joint pliers to unhook the pipes underneath. I wore safety glasses for this just in case any residual water came out. We then pried off the panel trim to allow the sink to lift out. 

2. Toilet Removal:

    

   I turned off the water valve and used the same adjustable wrench to unbolt the toilet from the floor. Then wrapped the bowl and tank in plastic garbage bags to avoid any spillage while carrying it outside. 

3. Vinyl Floor Removal:

    

   Years of moisture had loosened the adhesive, so we were able to just pull the old flooring up by hand. 

4. Painting:

    

   We removed the electrical outlet faceplates and used sandpaper to smooth out any rough spots on the walls. We then cleaned the walls and applied BeautiTone Paint Primer to both the upper walls and lower wood panelling. Once dry we applied BeautiTone Paint. We used paint rollers for the wide, flat areas and brushes for the trim and baseboards.

    

   Helpful Tip:

    

   Remember to paint before installing new fixtures to avoid getting paint on them! 

5. New Vanity Light:

    

   We turned off the power and used a flashlight to brighten the work area. Then we unscrewed the old light fixture and disconnected the wires, then connected the wires for the new vanity lighting and screwed it onto place. Important! Always remember to turn the power off first before working with electrical wires! 

6. New Vinyl/Laminate Flooring:

    

   After thoroughly cleaning the old floor surface, we used a rafter square to measure out the pieces of new flooring, and a utility knife to cut them to size. 

7. New Toilet:

    

   First, we installed a new toilet gasket and new toilet floor bolts, then secured the new toilet onto the bolts. 

8. New Vanity:

    

   We maneuvered the new vanity into the bathroom, moving the cabinet portion first, then fitting the sink onto the top. This ensured the overall fit was right before proceeding with the installation. We then installed the new faucet and hooked up all the plumbing again. 

9. New Mirror:

    

   Last step! We used a level and tape measure to ensure the new bathroom mirror was even and optimally positioned for kids, then secured the mirror to the wall.