An independent reference about bathrooms and the wet rooms of a home. We sell nothing and do no work; we are not connected with the former site on this domain. Trust electrics, gas and shared building pipes only to specialists.
Tools
A bathroom does not need a workshop. For inspections and small repairs, a small kit that fits in one box on a high shelf is almost always enough. What matters is keeping it together and knowing where it is. When the sink suddenly starts dripping, the bucket and rags should be at hand right away, not after a search through the whole home.
A bucket and dry rags kept in their place will one day save someone's ceiling.
How this section works: we list tools by task and do not name brands, models or costs. For how to use a specific tool, see its instructions.
Things that help you spot a problem and understand the size of the room.
The main inspection tool. Under the sink, behind the toilet, behind the tub and in the ceiling corners it is always darker than it seems. A flashlight with an even, wide beam that you can stand up or hang to free your hands is the most convenient.
Needed to measure the room before a renovation and before buying any furniture or appliance. Measure not just the walls but also the doorway, the width of the passage and the distance to the pipes.
Shows whether shelves and the mirror hang straight and where water on the floor actually flows. A short level is enough for household jobs, and floor slopes are easier to check together with your contractor at sign-off.
A kit for sealant, grout and the sink trap, plus everything you should have at hand if something starts leaking.
A plastic scraper removes what is left of an old joint without scratching the tub enamel or tile glaze, and a dedicated knife neatly cuts the sealant along the edge. Keep the blades in a sheath.
Lets you squeeze out sealant in an even bead without jerks. A simple manual gun is enough for household jobs; clean it after use before the leftovers harden.
Narrow stiff brushes reach grout where a sponge just glides over the surface. Keep one brush for the floor and shower grout and another for the sink.
Handy for holding or snugging an accessible nut on a supply line. Use it without excess force: plastic and brass parts are easy to damage. Do not touch anything that belongs to the risers with a wrench.
A bucket, a couple of large rags and old towels are first aid in a leak and a must for any work on the sink trap. Keep them in one place that everyone at home knows.
How to renew the sealant around a tub, clean a sink trap and refresh tile grout lines, calmly and following the manufacturer's instructions.
The order of a bathroom renovation: inspection, waterproofing and ventilation, specialist work, sequence of jobs, sign-off and choosing a pro.
Caring for grout, sealant, drains, faucets, the exhaust fan, glass, textiles and bath mats, by fixture and by season.
Domfordom's advice is written in general terms and is based on the instructions of finish and plumbing fixture manufacturers and on guidance from building management. Check the label for sealant or grout drying times and for how to use a cleaning product, and leave electrics, gas and shared building pipes to specialists.