I’m thinking about doing my own demo in our bathroom to save money. What are the risks to demoing the tile in our shower myself?
Demoing is not so risky if you are not removing any load walls, especially load bearing. Demoing tile is not risky, if you know what you are doing. If you hire a contractor for the bathroom remodel, demo is usually included and does not add too much to the price. Feel free to contact us if you would like to get an estimate on this project.
Demolishing some bathroom tiles by yourself may be okay it you know what you’re doing. But it will be a best option to hire a professional to do to whole job because by tearing out tile you may damage more things and will spend more than expected. Remember to always wear gloves and eye protection when you need it most.
If you can grout a sink, you can install tile .
As for the demolition, hire a contractor with a license and insurance - it is not worth it to cause hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage performing the demo if you are not experienced at doing so yourself.
Hello Katie, as long as you pay attention, you will be ok to demo yourself. In a shower I would simply make a couple of holes through the tile and backerboard, reach in with gloves of course, and rip the whole sheet (tile and board) off of the studs. Be careful around plumbing stubouts; use a grinder to make those cuts if you have one. Take extra care around the drain since its most likely PVC and that material is prone to crack. That being said, floor tile is more difficult to remove and usually requires a chip hammer.
If you plan on hiring out for the installation, be advised most installers are not fond of homeowners doing their prep work for them because each installer does things a little differently and everyone has their own process. So, they will most likely still charge for some preparation work even though you have done it.
It is not risky to demo and install new tile in your bathroom, as long as you have the proper tools to demo and a good saw to cut the new tile you’re all set. A great wet tile saw can be rented from places such as the Home Depot tool department so you won’t need to spend $500 to buy one for such a small project. Always look on YouTube there are GREAT step by step videos there to review before you start your project.
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