Are you a new homeowner or looking at selling your property and have decided it’s time to give your tired old bathroom a makeover? Or are you just sick of the terrible lighting, impractical tap placement and the lack of storage? Before you jump head first into choosing tradies and tiles, there are three things you should know about renovating a bathroom.

With over 12 years’ experience designing and renovating bathrooms in the Sydney area, we have been asked these three questions more times than we can count.

How much do bathroom renovations cost?

The best way to answer this question is to decide what you want and how much you have to spend.

A quick makeover; replacing the toilet, vanity, shower screen, taps and towel rails generally will be around the $6,500 mark including materials and fixtures. This is the perfect option to make a tired bathroom look new again.

To include re-surfacing or tiling over existing finishes, the total price point will be around $8,500 to $15,000. This is an excellent option to increase the resale value.

A primary strip out and redesign can range from $18,000 to $30,000, including trades and materials.

Finally, high-end options are start from $30,000 to $60,000. This would include a full strip out, using an interior designer to design the space, using high-end fixtures, marble tiles, custom made vanities and strip lighting. This allows you to make a grand statement, creating a stylish bathroom that will still look great in 30 years.

How long do bathroom renovations take?

Contrary to what you see on renovation shows on television, renovating a bathroom is not an overnight job and can take anywhere from one week to eight weeks depending on the scale of the project.

You should allow 4 weeks for a standard bathroom renovation from removal to being able to use it again. For a high-end bathroom, this can take up to 7 weeks as you may need to wait for items like a custom made vanity and other fixtures as well as the extra time required in conducting the work.

Delays can often be caused by specialist tradespeople being unavailable at certain times, thus holding up the process. For example, shower and floor tiling cannot be completed until you have been issued a waterproofing certificate. Allow for extra time, just in case.

What are some common mistakes people make when renovating their bathroom?

1.    Choosing a quote purely on price. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

2.    Not ensuring that your contractor is only using licensed trades.

3.    The big one is letting your tiler conduct the full renovation including the plumbing and electrical.  (yes this happens and the results can be disastrous)

Please note that it is illegal for a tradesman to conduct plumbing and electrical work without the correct qualifications and contractor’s license.

Seeking professional advice can cut through the rigmarole of bathroom renovations. If you’re in the Sydney area and looking at renovating your bathroom, contact us today for an obligation free, consultation and quote.