DIY or Plumber? Splitting the Work on a Massillon Bathroom or Kitchen Remodel

Tasks that are reasonable for most homeowners

Plenty of remodel work does not involve pressurized water, drainage or gas. Doing these yourself can save money and give you a sense of ownership over the finished room. Just make sure we have shut off and capped any lines before you start swinging a hammer.

• Removing old cabinets, vanities and countertops after the plumbing is disconnected
• Pulling up flooring and removing drywall in areas without hidden lines
• Painting, trim work and installing cabinet hardware
• Installing new cabinets once the plumbing rough-in is complete
• Hanging mirrors, towel bars and lighting fixtures with an electrician's guidance as needed
• Caulking around finished tubs and countertops

Where it pays to bring in a plumber

Some tasks carry enough risk that mistakes get expensive fast. A drain without the right slope will clog repeatedly, a missing vent causes slow drains and sewer odor, and a poorly made supply joint can leak inside a finished wall for months. Gas connections carry safety risks on top of that.

We recommend leaving these to a licensed plumber: moving or adding drains and vents, running new supply lines, installing shower valves and pans, any gas line work, and tying into older cast iron drains, which are common in Massillon's older housing. Where a permit and inspection apply, those jobs are also the ones an inspector will look at closely.

The gray area: fixtures

Installing a faucet or toilet sits in between. Handy homeowners can sometimes manage a straight swap, but in a remodel the fixtures connect to new lines that need to be sealed and tested properly, and a toilet set on a new floor requires a flange at the right height. If something leaks, it damages the brand-new finishes you just paid for.

Many of our Massillon customers have us handle fixture installation for that reason. We cover toilet installation in Massillon and faucet installation and repair as part of a remodel or as separate jobs.

How we coordinate with a DIY remodel

When a homeowner is doing part of the work, clear coordination keeps things on track. At the estimate, we agree on who does what and in what order. We typically come in first to disconnect and cap lines, return for rough-in once demolition is complete, and come back for fixture installation after you finish drywall, tile and cabinets.

We will also tell you what to watch for, such as keeping screws and nails away from marked pipe locations and protecting the shower pan once it is installed.

Our process

Our process follows three steps: you reach out for a free estimate, you approve the project specifications, and we complete our portion of the work with a quality inspection and pressure test. Our plumbers clean up after themselves so your part of the job is not slowed down. See the Stark County bath and kitchen remodeling page for more on what we offer.