A typical bathroom renovation – breaking the reno show myths
On TV it all happens in a week, as an Interior Designer and Builder’s Wife, I know it can take a couple of days for the tile bed and the waterproofing to cure, particularly in Winter, a week is just plan unrealistic. I have broken down the stages a typical bathroom renovation, as I want to break some reno show myths on the amount of work and time that goes into a bathroom renovation. Making expectations clear around timeframes and budgets is essential when communicating with our clients.
It is a well-known fact that wet areas are most costly spaces to renovate. A typical bathroom is upwards of $20K. There are good reasons why! Bathrooms are labour intensive, include expensive finishes, fixtures and involve a number of qualified tradespeople, the minimum being: builder, plumber, tiler, painter and electrician.
Major stages in a Bathroom Renovation
1. Planning and Design – concept, functionality, layout, selection of finishes and fixtures, if you are not confident contact me or your own interior designer
2. Builder’s quotes – If you are working with an Interior Designer, they will handle managing the quotes, trades and project management. If you are managing your project and you want an accurate quote, have the design completely resolved before requesting a quote.
The other option is to ask the builder quote off prime cost (PC) allowances, an industry basic cost such as tiles at $30 per m2. Your quote is indicative only, the cost for the labour with basic allowances and variations to quote will be necessary at a later stage. Expect project costs to change and depending on your selections the actual cost maybe be significantly different from quote estimate.
3. Assess the builder’s quotes, when comparing quotes ensure that you understand what is in and out of the scope in each quote. Do not just look at price, also consider how the businesses manages communication with you, the quality of work, the experience of the builder and the timeframes they can deliver the project within.
4. Appoint Builder and if over $20K sign a contract and always check that insurances and licences are current.
5. Construction stage, this is the typical steps of a renovation, if there is structural damage, new construction etc this would also need to be factored into the process.
Demolition/Strip out bathroom
Alter services (plumbing, electrical)
Plumbing rough in
Electrical rough in
Plastering walls
Waterproofing is not something to mess with, if the membrane is not intact and leaks it spells disaster. Costly to fix and if it goes unidentified structural issues can occur as a result.
Screed laid for tiling (tile bed)
Tiles laid
Cabinetry install
Plumbing fit off (bath, basins, toilet, shower & tapware)
Electrical fit off (lighting, heated towel rails)
Carpentry fit off and painting
Fit shower screens and accessories
Silicone all joints
Test and handover
6. Post-handover follow up – a good interior designer and builder will follow up before the defect period has finished to make sure that you are happy with the space. The project would then come to an end.
If either Damian (Builder) or I can help with any questions or you would like to discuss a project, please reach out and let us demystify the process.
Cheers
Pip