How to start planning a bathroom renovation in NSW

Of all the rooms in the house to renovate, the bathroom is probably the most complex because there are a number of stages of work, such as waterproofing, tiling and plumbing than need to happen in the right order. We’re going to walk you through the basics of how to start planning a bathroom renovation so you can minimise the disruption to your home and get the best possible outcome from this significant investment.

What's involved in planning a bathroom renovation?

The old saying ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’ rings true when it comes to a bathroom reno. Spending a little (or a lot of) extra time here can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of inconvenience down the track. Here’s a basic rundown of the steps involved:

Know your budget, space limitations and key features you want to include (such as a bath or double vanity).
Develop the design.
Research your local council regulations and find out what permits may be required. Regulations vary state to state and can also differ from one local council area to another, so make sure you are clear on what you need to do depending on your location. If you are a strata title owner, you will also need to seek approval from your strata committee.
Choose fittings and materials – tiles, light fittings, plumbing fixtures, towel rails, shower screens… the list goes on.
Arrange for quotes from local tradies. In NSW, work exceeding $1000 (including materials and labour) requires a builder’s licence. You also need to have bathroom waterproofing carried out by a licenced waterproofer.
Review your budget – have you got a little left over in case of unexpected expenses?
Check with your tradies what they need in order to begin work and what their availability is like.

Can you renovate a bathroom yourself?

While a handy homeowner can often undertake many kinds of renovation work themselves, a bathroom renovation required a number of specialist skills. Licenced tradies such as a builder, waterproofer, electrician, plumber and tiler will be needed to make sure your bathroom adheres to Australian building regulations. The risk of using unlicenced tradies is far greater than breaching regulations – improper waterproofing could mean disastrous implications down the track and anything involving water and electricity needs to be done properly.

In many cases, a bathroom reno means completely stripping out the old floors and walls to make sure everything is up to standard, so the process can be pretty inconvenient when you are still living in the home. Using professionals to get the job done means your bathroom renovation will be completed in less time, meaning less disruption to your and your family.

Other trades involved in a bathroom reno can include a painter, joiner / cabinet maker or a glazier for features such as frameless shower screens. A specialised bathroom renovation company can provide all of the services required and make sure they work seamlessly together so that each stage of the project occurs in the right order. Project management can be one of the toughest aspects of trying to organise a bathroom renovation on your own.

What tradies are needed to do a bathroom reno?

Different tradespersons will be required at different stages of your bathroom renovation, each with their own area of expertise and coming together in the right order to ensure every step of the process is done right.

Your tradies will include a bathroom designer, draftsperson or architect who can make the best use of your available space and design a functional, yet beautiful new bathroom. Good bathroom design is a real art, especially in smaller spaces and might involve relocating doors or making efficient use of natural lighting and ventilation.

Next will be the demolition stage, where your existing tiles, floor and fixtures are stripped out. Removal of demolition waste may or may not be included, so be sure to confirm this to avoid unexpected costs.

You will definitely need a professional involved if you are moving plumbing or changing the existing floor plan. Remember, a builder’s licence is required for bathroom renovations in NSW.

Plumbing will come next and could involve moving any pipework or drainage as well as connecting new fixtures such as the toilet, bath or shower.

A licenced electrician will come in to ensure lighting, powerpoints and electrical fixtures such as heated towel rails are wired up correctly, before plastering takes place to hide the plumbing and electrical work behind nice new walls.

A licenced waterproofer will make sure that your new bathroom complies with regulations, applying a waterproof membrane to walls, floors and around fixtures before handing over to the tiler. A quality tiler can make or break a bathrooms renovation as not must it look great, but the tiler needs to get the floor drop just right to allow for good drainage.

Take the time to plan your bathroom renovation. There are a lot of stages to a bathroom reno that need to occur in the right order, so we recommend engaging a professional bathroom renovation company for the job. A specialised bathroom renovation team will be able to design a space that meet your needs, budget and preferences plus they will know what approvals and permits are needed for your area. With a team of licenced tradies on the books – each with their own areas of expertise, a local bathroom renovation company can ensure your project goes smoothly and causes the least disruption to your life, while avoiding unnecessary costs.