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FRESH FLOORING
P. 4 5U P G R A D E T H E
FAUCET
P. 4 4▼W
hen you watch remod-
eling shows on TV, you
can get the impres-
sion that anything’s
possible. A shower
big enough for a farm animal, an
increase in home value that’s higher
than some lottery payouts, a window-
facing jacuzzi tub with “Best House
on the Block” printed on the side in
diamonds. All of that is potentially
achievable—and probably the
reason you want to renovate your
bathroom—but you should be aware
that a gut renovation is a big, ugly
job. The bathroom may take up the
smallest footprint, but it’s the most
complex room in your home, served
by vents, water lines, waste lines,
and electricity lines—most of which
will try to kill you if you don’t know
what you’re doing. (The vents are
probably safe.)
If you want to tackle a bathroom
reno, you’ve got two options. OK,
three, if you’re a professional
plumber, or a home f lipper with a tele-
vision show: Put a dumpster on the
lawn and have at it. Otherwise, you
can buy your new bathroom by hiring
a contractor. Or, you can dramatically
improve the appearance and func-
tion of your bathroom by cleaning,
repainting, or focusing on key proj-
ects that require only basic plumbing
and electrical skills. Here’s how.QUIZ
SHOULD
YOU
ATTEMPT
A GUT
RENOVATION
YOURSELF?
1 How good are you at planning?
A. I have a master’s degree in
engineering and am also a CPA
B. I planned a family reunion once
C. How much do you know about
that Fyre Festival that I put
together a couple years ago?2 True or False: A gut renovation is more
difficult if it’s the only
bathroom in the house.
A. True: Taking your home’s
only toilet out of commission
is always a bad idea, even if you
rent a porta-potty
B. False: Doesn’t matter. You can
always rough it, right?3 How should your bath-room release water vapor
and gases?
A. Through a flexible, hose-like
duct to a closet in the attic
B. Out a window
C. Through a cast-iron or
plastic pipe leading to a vent
on the roof
D. Into the toilet4 Wusually a plumbing code hich of the following is
violation?
A. A fixture that receives water
easily but does not drain and
vent properly
B. Insufficient distance between
the wall and the toilet
C. A drain with an improper pitch
D. All of the above5 In electrical work, if you find a ribbed black wire on
a light fixture, you should
connect it to:
A. A black wire from the house
B. A white wire from the house
C. The green ground screw
D. Yo u r f i n ge r6 W stand for? hat does DWV
A. Double water valve
B. Drain-waste-vent
C. Department of water
vehicles
D. None of the above7 WBagster?hat’s a
A. A demolition dumpster that
comes preloaded with bags
B. An iPhone app for
crowd-sharing suitcases
C. Demolition bags that are
retrieved by a swing-arm
boom truck8 A pop-up trip waste isA. A linkage and
assembly that helps drain
the bathtub
B. A new type of electronic
music, related to acid house
C. The thing on the back of the
sink that pulls up the stopper
D. None of the above9 Dry-fitting PVC drain parts
together before gluing is:
A. A waste of time
B. A smart and necessary pre-
caution that assures alignment
and fit of the pieces
C. A good way to model tricky
drain assemblies before gluing
them
D. B and C
E. None of the above10 Wdetails is currently hich of the following
trending in bathroom
renovation?
A. Popcorn ceilings
B. Subway tiles
C. Combination shower-tubs
D. ChandeliersScore of 9 or above: Yo u k n ow
what you’re doing and might
even do this professionally.
Make sure you’ve got a clear
plan and a budget and go for it.Score of 5 to 7: You can handle
DIY projects requiring minor
trades skills, but hire a contrac-
tor for any major demolition,
plumbing, or electrical work.Score of 4 or less: Yo u m i g h t
need to read more Popular
Mechanics.1.A; 2.A; 3.C; 4.D; 5.B; 6.B; 7.C; 8.A; 9.D; 10.BAnswers: