A bathroom renovation can give a whole new feel to your home, providing luxury and a functional contemporary style that you’ll love walking into. As well as comfortable living now, you’ll be adding incredible value to your home for the future, especially when your renovation specialist provides a lifetime warranty on their services
A detailed bathroom renovation plan is an important step to accurately determining your budget, timeframes for turnarounds as well as what the overall look will be. Planning alongside a professional renovation specialist will help iron out creases you won’t be expecting. Bathroom builders or renovators assess and oversee bathroom works every day. They know what to take into account and where the traps can be hiding, saving your time, stress and money.
We’ve provided a handy guide to help you plan your renovation and outline the costs involved. Because there are so many different aspects to take into consideration, it’s best to use this as a general guide only and make adjustments to fit your current bathroom setup and personal preferences when you request a free quote from experienced bathroom renovation professionals.
How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost?
| Renovation | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Upgrade | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Remodel | $15,000 – $25,000 |
| Renovate | $25,000 – $40,000 |
Australia wide the average for a new bathroom is $17,000. Some regions are more expensive than others, for example, NSW residents average $22,392 and South Australian bathrooms average $14,375 according to Housing Industry Australia (HIA) data in 2022.
How much you spend comes down to a number of factors, including the size of your bathroom and how much work you need to be done to achieve your ultimate goal. Some homes simply need an upgrade to get them looking their best, while others will require a remodel, or even a complete renovation to make enough space for a modern bathroom to really take shape.
We’ll take you through each of these options to help you decide which one suits your needs and what the associated costs might be.
Upgrade
A bathroom upgrade is the most basic and cheapest level of bathroom change. You’ll be looking to keep as much of the original structure as possible and swap out old for new pieces to get a fresh, clean look. In most cases, bathroom upgrades look to replace like for like in terms of style and positioning so that plumbing changes won’t be necessary.
Bathroom makeovers can include replacing:
- Taps and fixtures
- The vanity and or basin
- Mirrors
- Old and mouldy tile grout
- Toilets
- Exhaust fans
- Ceiling lights
Rather than replacing bathroom tiles, which can become expensive in terms of materials and labour, upgrades might involve re-coating or resurfacing the existing wall and floor tiles and having a professional recoat the bathtub lining.
Estimated bathroom upgrade costs are between $5,000 and $15,000.
Remodel
A remodel is the typical choice for bathroom renovations. It allows you to make some alterations to what you have to create a new, modern look. Typically you will be looking to swap up to more expensive fittings and fixtures, which not only look and feel great, but also last longer too.
Remodels can also involve slightly more extensive plumbing and electrical work such as changing from a standard toilet to one that sits flush to the wall, upgrading to a more expensive freestanding bathtub or having a frameless shower screen installed.
Bathroom remodelling can include:
- High-quality taps and fittings
- Replacing toilets
- New shower screens and mirrors
- New bathtub
- Quality vanity and basin
- New floor and wall tiling
- High-quality exhaust fans and towel rails
- Upgrading and replacing pipes
- Waterproofing wet areas
Estimated bathroom remodel costs are between $15,000 and $25,000.
Renovate
A bathroom renovation usually involves some level of demolition and rebuilding work. It can even include a complete structural renovation that strips your bathroom down to its frame. While you might not want to take your renovation quite that far, you can replace every aspect of your current bathroom for new and consider altering the position of key fixtures like toilets, showers and basins.
Some of the items involved can include new and elaborate:
- Taps and fittings
- Bathtub/spa
- Hidden cistern toilet
- Frameless shower screens
- Floor and wall tiles/features
- Wall hung vanities
- Stone basins (including twin basins)
- Mirrors
- Heated towel rails
- Heated flooring
- Waterproofing
- Lighting
As well as structural changes like
- Floor levelling
- Demolishing or building walls
- Refitting the shower area
- Upgrading or replacing the hot water system
- Upgrading or installing new windows or skylights
Estimated bathroom renovation costs are upward of $25,000 and can cost as much as $40,000 if you are looking for absolute luxury like heated flooring, twin basins and intricate mosaic tile designs.
Planning Your Bathroom Renovation Budget and Costs
| Renovation | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Wall Tiles – Per Square Metre | $20 – $28 |
| Floor Tiles – Per Square Metre | $35 – $120 |
| Bathtub | $300 – $8,000 |
| Shower Screen | $600 – $1,000 |
| Toilet | $120 – $1,200 |
| Vanity | $120 – $1,500 |
| Waterproofing | $800 – $1,200 |
As well as the type of bathroom works you need, the next determining factor in your cost will be your materials.
Below are some price outlines for bathroom works and fixtures to help you plan your bathroom budget. Just keep in mind that these fixture estimates don’t include any labour costs.
Bathroom plumbing costs
Plumbing costs will come into play if you are making any changes to fixture positions or if you are replacing your toilet, basin or shower.
The exact cost will depend on your plumber and their call-out terms as well as your location. If you are asking for multiple jobs to be completed, ask for a quote that itemises the costs so you can see where your money is going.
Bathroom tiling costs
Buying tiles and having them fitted can be one of the biggest bathroom remodelling and renovation expenses. While it’s not essential, like other licensed trades, getting a professional to carry out your tiling work is highly recommended because it’s a lot harder to do than it looks to perfect. Getting it wrong will cost a lot in the long run.
Expect tilers to charge a set price per square metre (usually around $60 per square metre), with the tiles themselves costing anywhere from $20 to $28 per square metre for standard wall tiles in white ceramic (60 cm x 30 cm) and $35 per square metre to $120 per square metre for floor tiles, higher quality porcelain, more texture or a wider range of colours.
Floor tiles can be more expensive than those designed for walls as they have a tougher load bearing to handle foot traffic and appliances.
Bathroom bathtub costs
Bathtubs are a personal choice and come down to functionality as well as aesthetics. There is a huge range of baths and bath prices to choose from, including integrated and freestanding versions. Materials range from acrylic and fibreglass at the cheaper end for as little as $300 to $1,000, through to the more durable steel, enamelled cast iron or polymer mid-range options between $1,000 and $3,000. At the high end, natural stone freestanding baths can cost as much as $8,000.
In terms of plumbing fees, you can expect to pay somewhere around $350 for a professional bath replacement and fit, although some installations will be more complex, like a corner spa, platform position or set in an alcove.
Shower screen costs
Frameless shower screens look fantastic in modern bathrooms but come with a price. The glass is thicker and of higher quality, which is where the extra expense comes in. You can expect to pay upwards of $1000 for frameless screens, compared to $600 for a basic standard shower screen replacement. There are semi-frameless shower screens available mid-range too. Just be careful that you factor size into your pricing as larger surface areas will be priced at the upper end of the scale.
Toilet costs
You can expect to pay $120 for a basic toilet, $400 for standard and as much as $1,200 for a premium range toilet suite.
The most common Australian toilet is the floor-mounted china toilet. Replacing this like for like will cost between $275 and $450 and will have minimal plumbing costs.
Wall-hung toilets create more floor space and give you the advantage of choosing your height at installation, but it will require new plumbing if your existing toilet is floor-mounted, which can get costly.
For aesthetics, the concealed cistern toilet creates a great look for modern bathrooms and sits at the upper end of the pricing scale.
Vanity costs
Unlike solid ceramic fixtures, your budget vanity is more prone to wear and tear, moisture issues and that dated feel. For this reason, you might want to upgrade your bathroom with a new vanity more frequently than your other fixtures to keep things bright and clean, or spend a little more on this aspect to take your long-term quality, durability and style to the next level.
In the budget range a vanity can cost between $120 and $200, moving up to a standard unit from $400 to $800 (including wall-mounted hidden handle varieties) through to the premium range with a double bowl vanity coming in at around $1,000 and large, high-quality wall hung vanity with integrated ceramic basin costing as much as $1,300 – $1,500.
Waterproofing costs
When upgrading or renovating wet areas such as showers, floors and vanities, it’s essential that these areas be waterproofed with sealants when work is completed. This will keep water out of grouting and stop any potentially damaging leaks. Waterproofing needs to be completed by a professional to meet legal requirements. Expect an average-sized bathroom waterproofing to cost between $800 and $1200.
How Long Will My Bathroom Renovation Take?
Typically it would take 6 to 8 weeks to have your bathroom remodelled; that’s assuming there are no big structural changes; however, if it is done by Precise, it will take just 15 days to turnaround.
We know that you need your bathroom; taking it out of action for months or on indefinite time frames just isn’t viable for most Australian families, even when a second bathroom is available.
You want a solid deadline which is why we work hard to be completed and out of your way in just 15 days. If your bathroom is larger than average, Precise can still turn your bathroom around in 20 working days.
The Precise 15-Day Turnaround applies to ‘Standard Bathroom Renovations’ that are taking place on the ground floor of your property. This is for bathroom remodels that don’t include work to the bathroom frame, such as windows, doors, floors or ceilings or any significant underfloor drainage works. You also need to ensure that all your item purchases – such as tiles, fittings and fixtures are available on site before our work commences.
Bathroom Renovation Process
Precise have a proven six-step bathroom renovation process to get you from planning through to a complete showroom-ready bathroom in the simplest and most transparent way possible.
1. Bathroom Design Consultation
We start with a free in-home consultation with our qualified interior designer. This gives us a clear understanding of your bathroom goals, budget and personal preferences. We then put our experts to work to design a beautiful, functional bathroom to match your dream outcome.
2. Design Presentation and Quote
We’ll meet with you in person to present our sets of design options and budgets for you to choose from. From there you can fine-tune what you need and have the opportunity to ask questions and get into the real details of our work. The quote is then finalised so you know exactly what to expect on your costs going forward.
3. Consent Requirements
In some cases, building work will require council permits and permissions from strata or local council. Now that your renovation plans are complete, we can assess what consent is required and put through the necessary paperwork on your behalf, or assist you in gathering what’s required for your own paperwork lodgement.
4. Bathroom Product Selection and Project Scheduling
Time to go shopping! Head to our supplier showrooms to confirm your new bathroom sections and see and feel your choices in person. Once you have locked in your selection, we set your start date.
5. Bathroom Renovation Begins – 15-Day Turnaround*
You can leave the rest to us. Precise have all the qualified builders, plumbers, gasfitters, tilers and electricians you need to cover every aspect of your work, so there is no need to hire or screen any individual workers yourself. All our work is carried out by licensed, experienced professional tradespeople who will tread lightly, clean up after themselves and be out of your hair in 15 days.
6. Your Showroom Ready Bathroom
The finishing touches make all the difference, which is why our designer will be back to add that final showroom stopper of a stunning plant, flowers or candles to make your new bathroom picture perfect. We’ll also have a professional cleaner come through and take care of the fine details with a complete bathroom polish as well.
We guarantee your satisfaction, as well as provide a guarantee for the lifetime of the bathroom on all complete bathroom renovations.
What Tradies Do You Need For Your Bathroom Reno?
If you contract your own tradies you’ll need to hire and screen a number of different licensed professionals to complete the variety of tasks a bathroom upgrade, remodelling or renovation requires.
Take a look at the list of jobs you need completed and plot a timeframe when each of these services will be required. This way, you can coordinate each worker to start when their section is ready.
Some of the tradespeople you will need to hire include:
- Bathroom builder or renovator
- Architect
- Carpenter or cabinet maker
- Electrician
- Painter
- Plumber
- Tiler
- Waterproofer
- Glazier
Precise Plumbing and Electrical have a full roster of qualified tradies who can handle every aspect of your job, large or small, so you don’t need to coordinate and screen multiple tradespeople.
While outfitting your bathroom can be expensive, quality fittings and inclusions will last for years to come and maintain a current feel, while basic fittings and fixtures may not be as durable.
Choosing how much you change, the quality and style of your fittings and fixtures is something you can closely control. It pays to set your budget in advance and discuss your plans and desires with your renovation professional to make sure you don’t accidentally overspend.
Precise are the Adelaide Bathroom Renovation Specialists. Our bathroom consultants are ready to step in and assist you in every way to make your bathroom dreams come true. Take advantage of our all-inclusive obligation-free design consultation and quote to see just how far our expertise can take you.
