How to Put in an Upstairs Bathroom

Having a bath in a bedroom space or upper-level area is necessary for convenience. A full bath is ideal for most homes, but installing a half bath can work if space is limited. Plan the bath fixtures to fit well with the house design and create a bathroom that incorporates fixtures important to your family. For example, install a double-sink vanity to make getting ready in the mornings easier. Add a jetted tub or steam shower as other options.

Sketch pad
2-by-4 framing boards
Nails
Soleplate
Drywall
Crown molding
Wood trim
Electrical wiring
Plumbing materials
Joint compound
Paint
Bath main fixtures
Heating vents
Floor tile
Toilet
Wax ring

Instructions

- 1
  Draw the house floor plan for both levels. Check if a first-floor bathroom is convenient to second-floor space where you want to build the bathroom. Use interior house walls to run plumbing to the upstairs bathroom from below. Select the best routes for plumbing and electrical needs, including house duct work for the heat pump, so you can design all details for the upper-floor bath.
- 2
  Sketch the framework design of the bathroom walls. Borrow some space from a nearby hallway, closet or bedroom for the room enclosure. Plan the bath interior layout so the vanity wall is the focal point wall. Design the bathroom door, so that the interior view is appropriate. Draw a half wall to hide a toilet from the main door view, for example.
- 3
  Enclose the bath footprint with framing boards. Do this after removing any walls in the way, which is a separate process. Ask an expert carpenter to help you determine if a house wall is weight bearing. Construct a header beam and support columns to hold up any wall weight, if you plan to take out a wall that is holding up part of the house structure, under the guidance of an expert. Frame the bathroom walls with 2-by-4 boards on 16-inch centers. Nail the soleplate on the floor level and cut studs to fit between the soleplate and top plate of the room nailed to attic rafters overhead.
- 4
  Cover exterior walls of the bath with drywall as needed. Install crown molding or another wood trim to make the bath exterior walls blend with house surroundings. Run electrical wiring and plumbing to the bathroom interior while stud walls are open. Nail up drywall on bath interior walls, finish with joint compound and paint. Add bath fixtures and hook up plumbing. Install vents from the house heat pump as well. Don’t install the toilet until the flooring is done.
- 5
  Use tile on the bath floor to help protect the floor below from drips and leaks. Use porcelain ceramic tiles in 9-inch squares, as one choice, with tiles installed in the baseboard areas as well.
- 6
  Seat the toilet last. Use a wax ring to seal the toilet over the drain.

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Bathrooms