A rough guide, not a price
People reasonably want a number before they book anyone to come out, so here are three broad bands. Treat them as a planning guide only. They assume the room is taken back to the frame and finished properly, and they will not match every bathroom in Hornsby Shire.
Smaller rooms and simpler jobs — roughly $10,000 to $20,000. Powder rooms, laundries refitted in the same place, and partial updates where the existing waterproofing is sound and staying.
Full renovations of compact rooms — roughly $18,000 to $32,000. Unit bathrooms, small house bathrooms and most ensuites: full strip-out, new membrane, tiling and fittings, with the layout largely unchanged.
Main bathrooms in older houses and larger rooms — roughly $30,000 to $55,000 or more. Family bathrooms in fifties-to-seventies homes, rooms with a separate bath and shower, layout changes, or a bathroom and ensuite done in one program.
The bands overlap on purpose. Where a particular job lands depends on the factors below, not on the room's name.
What moves the price
What is behind the tiles. This is the biggest unknown in an older Hornsby Shire house. Fibro wall or floor sheeting needs testing and, if positive, licensed removal. Timber joists under an old shower are often soft. Galvanised supply pipes are usually worth replacing while the walls are open. None of that is visible until the room is opened up, but a careful measure can predict most of it.
Changing the layout. Moving a toilet or shower waste on a timber floor with access below is often manageable. On a slab or a suspended slab over a garage, it is the single largest cost variable.
Room size. Almost every line item scales with area, from sheeting and membrane to tiles, adhesive and grout.
Tile format and pattern. Straight-laid tiles are quickest. Large formats need more preparation, and herringbone, mosaics and mitred corners add labour at every cut.
Fittings and finishes. Wall-hung toilets with in-wall cisterns, wall-mounted mixers and custom vanities cost more than floor-mounted standard units, though they often solve space problems in small rooms.
Access. Steep blocks, long stairs, walk-up units and narrow streets all add time for carrying materials in and rubbish out.
Strata requirements. Unit bathrooms are smaller but rarely cheaper. Approvals, restricted working hours, lift protection and carrying through common areas all take time. See small bathroom renovations.
Ventilation and windows. Replacing a fan that vents into the roof with one ducted outside is a small item. Replacing an old window is a bigger one, and bushfire-prone land can add requirements.
What does not move it much
Full-height tiling. Adds a moderate amount of tile and labour, but removes painted surfaces that peel in a humid room.
A better exhaust fan. Small cost, large difference to a shaded Hornsby bathroom.
Blocking for future grab rails. Almost nothing while the wall is open.
What sits inside a bathroom price
A bathroom renovation is not mainly tiles and tapware. The money is spread across three groups:
Trades and labour. Strip-out, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tiling and fit-off. In a small room, several trades each visit more than once.
Materials and fittings. Sheeting, screed, membrane, tiles, adhesives, grout, vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, fan and lights.
Site costs. Skip or bins, protection, cleaning, and the time spent managing the job.
In older houses the first group is bigger than people expect, because the strip-out is heavier and the rough-in usually replaces more.
Every bathroom is different
That is the honest answer to "how much will mine cost?". Two bathrooms the same size in the same street can be priced very differently once the floor structure, linings, pipework and access are known. A figure given over the phone or off a photo is a guess, and guesses in older houses tend to turn into variations later.
A proper on-site measure is the only way to get a customised price. At the measure, the room is checked, the likely hidden work is identified, and the options you are weighing up are priced separately. You then receive a fixed written quote that spells out what is included and what would be extra.
Payments and protections
In NSW, the maximum deposit for residential building work is 10 per cent. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested. Contracts over the relevant threshold must be in writing, and progress payments should be tied to completed stages rather than dates.
A quote that asks for a large upfront payment, or that has no written contract, is a reason to stop.
Comparing quotes
Ask every contractor to confirm in writing:
- Whether asbestos testing is included, and how removal would be priced
- The structural repair allowance
- Which pipework is being replaced
- Fittings by model and the tile allowance
- The waterproofing method and cure time
- Access and carrying costs
- The program in working days
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on request. The process page shows how the program runs, and the FAQ answers the questions most people ask next.
Book a measure for your price
Call 02 5926 2135 or send the room details through to book a free measure. You will get a fixed written quote for your bathroom, not a band.
Questions people ask before they commit
Why are older-home bathrooms more expensive to renovate?
Because more comes out and more is found. Mortar-bed floors are heavy to remove, fibro linings need testing and sometimes licensed removal, galvanised pipes need replacing, and floor timbers under an old shower are often damaged. Newer houses rarely have those extra stages.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
Only a rough band. Two rooms the same size can differ a great deal once the floor structure, wall linings, pipework and access are known, so a fixed written price follows a measure at the house.
What deposit can a builder ask for in NSW?
The maximum deposit for residential building work in NSW is 10 per cent. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested. Progress payments should follow completed stages.
Is a cheaper quote always worse?
Not always, but compare what is included. A low price for an older bathroom often leaves out asbestos testing, structural repair allowances, pipework replacement or full waterproofing. Ask each quote the same questions.