How an Older-Home Bathroom Renovation Runs

Before anything is removed

The measure

The measure is where an older-home renovation is won or lost. Beyond room dimensions, it checks:

• Floor construction — timber, slab or suspended slab — and whether there is access underneath
• Wall and ceiling linings, and whether any sheeting needs an asbestos test
• Pipework type and condition, as far as can be seen
• Ventilation: whether there is a fan and where it discharges
• Access from the street, including stairs, steep driveways or a strata lift
• Heritage or bushfire considerations if windows or external walls are changing

The written quote

An itemised quote lists fittings by brand and model, the tile allowance, the waterproofing method, the allowances for asbestos and structural repairs, and a program in working days. It also sets out how any variation would be priced.

Approvals

Most internal bathroom renovations in houses are exempt development. Strata units usually need owners corporation approval, which can take weeks to arrange. Heritage items and external changes on bushfire-prone land may need more. These are sorted before a start date is set.

Selections

Every item is chosen and ordered. Anything with a long lead time — custom vanities, imported tiles, some tapware — should be confirmed as in stock or delivered before strip-out.

Stage 1: Asbestos testing and removal (days 1–3)

Where sheeting has been tested and is positive, a licensed asbestos removalist removes it first, under controlled conditions, and a clearance is provided before the rest of the strip-out continues. If there is no asbestos, this stage disappears.

Stage 2: Strip-out (days 2–5)

Tiles, mortar bed, bath, vanity, toilet and linings come out. Old mortar beds are heavy and slow to remove, and on a steep block the carry to the skip adds time. This is the noisiest and dustiest week of the job.

Once the room is bare, the true condition of the frame and floor is visible. Any damage is photographed, discussed and dealt with under the allowance or variation method in the quote.

Stage 3: Repairs and carpentry (days 4–7)

Rotten joists or bottom plates are replaced, walls are straightened where needed, blocking goes in for the vanity, grab rails and shower screen, and any wall changes are framed.

Stage 4: Plumbing and electrical rough-in (days 6–10)

New supply lines and waste connections go in, with galvanised pipe replaced back to a sensible point. The electrician runs cabling for lights, the exhaust fan, heating and power. If the layout is changing, this is where it happens.

Stage 5: Sheeting, screed and falls (days 9–13)

Wet-area-rated sheeting goes on the walls and ceiling. The floor is prepared and screeded with falls to the waste. On a timber floor, structural sheeting is fixed first.

Stage 6: Waterproofing and cure (days 12–17)

The membrane is applied to the floor, shower walls and junctions, with puddle flanges and upstands detailed. It then cures. In cool, damp weather — common in shaded Hornsby Shire bathrooms — curing can take longer. Photograph the membrane before it is covered.

This is the stage people most want to hurry, and the one that should not be hurried.

Stage 7: Tiling (days 16–24)

Floor and wall tiles go on, then grout and sealant. Larger rooms, complex patterns and niches take longer. The tiler also sets out around the out-of-square walls common in older homes.

Stage 8: Fit-off (days 23–28)

Vanity, toilet, tapware, shower screen, mirror, exhaust fan, lights and accessories are installed. The plumber and electrician return to connect and test.

Stage 9: Clean and handover (days 27–30)

A final clean, a walk-through with you, and any small items noted and completed. You should receive the waterproofing certificate and any warranty and product information.

Where delays come from

Late selections. The most common cause. A tile or vanity that is not on site stops the trade that needs it.

What is found behind the walls. Rot, termite damage or unexpected pipework in an older house. A clear allowance in the quote keeps this manageable.

Asbestos timing. Waiting for a test result or a removalist's availability.

Weather. Cool, humid conditions slow membrane curing, and wet days make carrying materials on steep blocks slower.

Strata logistics. Lift bookings, restricted hours and building manager availability.

Living through it

With a second toilet in the house, most families stay home. Without one, arrange access to a shower and toilet elsewhere for at least the middle three weeks. Keep children and pets away from the work area, and expect some dust in the first week even with protection in place.

Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on request. See the cost guide for 2026 price bands and the FAQ for common questions.

Call 02 5926 2135 or send the room details through.