Stage 1 — Chat and site visit
A quick call to understand the room and what is not working. Then a visit to measure, take photos, check the floor construction, look for signs of leaks or mould, and talk about how the household uses the room.
Stage 2 — Layout and ideas
A layout that fixes the problems you raised, with options where they make sense: keep or lose the bath, move the toilet or not, niche positions, vanity width.
Stage 3 — Selections
Tiles, tapware, vanity, toilet, screen, lighting and accessories chosen and confirmed. Coastal-grade finishes are recommended for homes near the water.
Stage 4 — Written price and contract
An itemised price that names the fittings and states the tile allowance. For jobs over $20,000, home building compensation cover is arranged before any deposit is requested, and the deposit is no more than 10 per cent.
Stage 5 — Approvals and ordering
Strata approval for units. Materials ordered so they arrive before they are needed. A start date locked in.
Stage 6 — Asbestos check
For homes built or renovated before about 1990, suspect materials are sampled. If asbestos is present, a licensed asbestos removalist handles it before general demolition.
Stage 7 — Strip-out
Protection laid through the house, the room taken back to frame or slab, and waste removed.
Stage 8 — Repairs and rough-in
Any rotten framing or joists repaired. Plumbing and electrical run to the new positions.
Stage 9 — Sheeting and waterproofing
Wet-area sheeting fixed, then the membrane applied by a licensed waterproofer and left to cure fully.
Stage 10 — Tiling
Screed and falls, floor tiles, wall tiles, niches, grout and sealant.
Stage 11 — Fit-off
Vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, lights, fan and accessories installed and tested.
Stage 12 — Clean and handover
A walk-through together, care instructions for the fittings, the waterproofing certificate and warranty paperwork.
Typical on-site timeline
| Stage | Typical working days |
|---|---|
| Strip-out | 1–2 |
| Repairs and rough-in | 2–4 |
| Sheeting and waterproofing, including cure | 3–5 |
| Tiling | 5–7 |
| Fit-off, clean and handover | 3–5 |
Living with one bathroom
Plenty of Coast homes, especially cottages and units, have just one. A few options that work: staying with family for the worst week, a gym or pool membership, a hired portable bathroom, or doing a laundry or ensuite first so there is somewhere to shower.
Next steps
Get a sense of budget on the cost page, or see what is involved in a full bathroom renovation.
Call 02 4307 6205 or pop your bathroom details in the form.
Keep planning: Bathroom Renovation Cost FAQ Contact
Questions people ask before they commit
How long does a bathroom renovation take from first call?
Allow a few weeks for the site visit, design, selections and ordering, plus any strata approval, then roughly three to four weeks on site for a main bathroom. Small bathrooms and laundries can be shorter; large or complex rooms longer.
Why can't the tiler start the day after waterproofing?
The membrane must cure fully before tiles go on, and humid coastal weather can slow drying. Rushing that stage is one of the most common causes of leaks later.
What if something unexpected turns up behind the tiles?
Older Coast homes sometimes reveal rot, old pipework or asbestos once the room is opened. Work pauses, you are shown the issue and the cost to fix it, and nothing proceeds on extras without your written approval.
Do we need to move out?
Usually not if there is a second bathroom or at least a separate toilet. Single-bathroom households often arrange showers with family, at a gym or pool, or hire a portable bathroom for the weeks the room is out.