Bathroom Renovation Vol.6: Floor Joist Repair

u270fufe0f Originally published: 2016-11-28 / ud83dudd04 Rewritten: May 7, 2026

2026 Update from DIY Dad: How to Tackle a Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom and laundry rooms are trickier than other DIY projects because of the plumbing involved u2014 but if you know the key points, you can absolutely do it yourself.

The Full Scope of the Bathroom Renovation

Here’s everything DIY Dad tackled in this bathroom/laundry room project:

• Remove switch and outlet cover plates
• Remove light fixtures and bath dryer control panel
• Remove and replace the vanity unit
• Replace wall wallpaper
• Replace floor cushion flooring
• Reinstall the bath dryer control panel

The thing that really raises the difficulty in a bathroom/laundry room is removing and reinstalling the bath dryer control panel. It’s wired into the unit bath system u2014 get the wiring wrong and you’ve got a serious problem.

Removing the Bath Dryer Control Panel

Unit baths almost always have the bath dryer control panel mounted on the laundry room wall. Before you touch the wiring, photograph everything.

DIY Dad’s method:

• Turn off the circuit breaker
• Remove the panel screws and ease it away from the wall
• Take multiple close-up photos of the wiring with your phone
• Disconnect the wires u2014 label each one with tape and a marker
• After the wallpaper work, reconnect in reverse order

It might seem tedious, but doing this properly means you’ll never end up staring at a tangle of wires wondering “which one goes where?”

Choosing and Replacing a Vanity Unit

The most important thing when replacing a vanity is getting the dimensions right u2014 depth, width, and height all need to match the existing opening. Look up the make and model of your current unit, or measure the opening carefully before ordering a replacement. DIY Dad triple-checked the measurements down to the millimeter before placing the order.

Also confirm the shape of the water supply and drain connections. Check whether the existing shut-off valve accepts a flexible hose, and whether the new drain trap profile matches.

What Matters Most in a Bathroom Renovation (Landlord’s Perspective)

From a tenant’s point of view, the two things they want most are cleanliness and storage.

• Choose a vanity with a mirrored medicine cabinet u2014 it dramatically increases usable storage
• Waterproof floor tiles outlast cushion flooring
• Always test the ventilation fan u2014 it’s critical for mold prevention
• Apply caulk thoroughly, especially at the joint between the vanity and the wall

After 15 years as a landlord, DIY Dad can say with confidence: the cleanliness of the bathroom directly affects your occupancy rate. Tenants use this space every single day.

For Anyone Considering a Bathroom or Vanity Renovation

Replacing a vanity is doable as a DIY project, but mistakes with shut-off valves or drain connections can cause immediate leaks. Always confirm sizing and pipe types before you start.

Hey there u2014 DIY Dad here.

Continuing the first-floor bathroom and laundry room renovation series. Now we get into the build phase u2014 starting with the floor joists.

Tools and materials used: SPF lumber, jigsaw, angle grinder.

I’m fabricating new joists from SPF lumber. A harder species might be more appropriate, but I went with what I had on hand. I cut each piece, dropped it in next to the original joists, and kept trimming until the heights matched. A lot of test fitting was involved.

Height adjustment in progress.

New joist laid next to the cut-out original. Then I notched the joist to clear the diagonal brace:

The notch.

Before nailing anything down, I got a little cautious and decided to do a dry fit of the washing machine drain pan first.

Dry fit of the drain pan. Just as I suspected u2014 the drain pipe was going to be right in the way. I had to position the joists with tight clearance around the pipe.

Extremely tight clearance. With that sorted, I nailed the joists in place u2014 two new joists added.

The two new joists in place. That’s it for today u2014 see you next time!

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