Before the job
The chat
A phone call to get the basics: suburb, house or unit, which room, roughly how old the house is, and what's bugging you about the bathroom.
The measure
About half an hour at your place. Beyond measuring the room, we look at:
- The floor — slab or timber, and whether there's access underneath
- The walls — fibro or not, and whether a sample needs testing
- The pipes — galvanised, copper or plastic
- Ventilation — fan or no fan, and where it goes
- Access — stairs, steep driveway, unit lift, parking
- What you want — shower, bath, storage, accessibility
The quote
Written and itemised. Fittings by model, tile allowance, waterproofing method, allowances for older-house extras, and a program in working days.
Approvals
Most internal bathroom work in houses doesn't need council approval. Units need owners corporation approval where the waterproofing is replaced. If windows or outside walls are changing, or the house is heritage-listed or on bushfire-prone land, check first.
Picking everything
Tiles, vanity, tapware, toilet, screen, mirror, fan, lights and accessories — all picked and ordered before strip-out. This is the step that makes or breaks the timeline.
On site
Days 1–2: Set-up and asbestos
Floors and paths get protected. If testing found asbestos, a licensed removalist takes it out first and a clearance is done.
Days 2–5: Strip-out
Everything comes out, down to the frame and floor. Noisy and dusty. Once it's bare, you'll see what's really there.
Days 4–8: Repairs and carpentry
Soft joists replaced, walls straightened, blocking for the vanity, screen and future grab rails, and any wall changes framed up.
Days 6–10: Plumbing and electrical
New pipes and wastes. New wiring for lights, fan and heating. Anything moving position happens now.
Days 9–12: Sheeting and screed
Wet-area board on the walls, structural sheeting on timber floors, and a screed that falls to the waste.
Days 12–16: Waterproofing and cure
The membrane goes on, then it's left to cure. In humid or wet weather, it can take a bit longer. Photos get taken before any tiles go on.
Days 16–23: Tiling
Floor and walls, grout and silicone.
Days 22–26: Fit-off
Vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, fan and lights installed. Plumber and electrician connect and test.
Days 26–28: Clean and handover
A proper clean, a walk-through with you, and any small bits sorted. You get the waterproofing certificate and product info.
Where it can slip
- Selections not locked in before strip-out
- Rot, termites or old pipework found behind the tiles
- Waiting on asbestos results or a removalist
- Wet weather slowing the membrane cure and making carrying harder
- Strata logistics in units
A good quote has an allowance and a method for dealing with the second one, so it's a conversation rather than an argument.
Living through it
If there's a second bathroom or toilet, most people stay home. If not, sort out somewhere to shower for the middle few weeks. Expect dust in the first week, even with protection. Keep kids and pets well away from the work area.
Laundries and ensuites at the same time
Doing a laundry or ensuite alongside the main bathroom shares the trades and usually adds about one to two weeks to the overall program. If it means losing your only shower, stage them instead.
After it's done
Run the fan every time you shower, and leave it going a while afterwards. Wipe down tapware and glass now and then, especially close to the beach. Keep the waterproofing paperwork with your house documents.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on request. See prices and common questions.
Call 02 4214 4073 or send the bathroom details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
How long will I be without a bathroom?
Around three and a half to five weeks on site for most main bathrooms. Brick veneer on a slab is usually at the quicker end. Older cottages with asbestos, floor repairs and new pipes are at the longer end.
What causes the most delays?
Late selections, mainly. If the tiles, vanity or tapware aren't on site when the trade needs them, the job stops. After that, it's what turns up behind the old tiles, and wet weather slowing the membrane cure.
Do I need to be home during the work?
Not all the time. You'll need to be available for the start, for any decisions if something's found once the room is stripped, and for the handover walk-through.