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GUIDE — RENOVATION COST
Bathroom renovation cost: what actually moves the price
No single figure fits every bathroom, because two rooms the same size can need very different work. The price comes down to scope: how much gets opened up, what moves, what turns up behind the tiles and what goes back in. This guide goes through each cost driver in the order a bathroom is built. That way, a quote for a bathroom in Moorabbin, Bentleigh or Cheltenham makes sense line by line.
IN THIS GUIDE
Services layer: drain pipe, supply lines and shutoff valves, all hidden once the wall is lined and tiled.
LAYER 01 — SCOPE
Repair or rebuild: the decision that sets the budget
The first question isn’t which tile you like. It’s whether the room needs a targeted fix or a full strip-out.
A targeted repair
If a shower leaks but the rest of the bathroom is sound, the work may stay inside the shower zone. That means lifting tiles, finding where the water is escaping, replacing the membrane and re-tiling that area. There’s less demolition, fewer trades and a tighter scope. Leaking Shower Repairs explains how that assessment works.
A full rebuild
When wall linings are damaged, the layout no longer works or every fixture is due for replacement, stripping the room back is usually the better use of money. That brings in demolition, plumbing and electrical work, new waterproofing, tiling, fixtures and finishing, which covers most of the 12-step process. See Full Bathroom Renovations.
Sometimes opening up a repair reveals damage that changes the scope. That’s why an on-site assessment comes before the quote.
LAYER 02 — UNDER THE SURFACE
Cost drivers you won't see once it's finished
Much of the budget goes into layers that end up behind tile. These are also the layers where cutting corners costs the most later.
Size and tiled area
A larger floor and more tiled wall mean more membrane, adhesive, tile and labour. Tiling floor to ceiling costs noticeably more than tiling only the wet zones.
Layout changes
Keeping the shower, toilet and vanity where they are is generally simpler than moving them. Relocating a toilet or turning a bath into a walk-in shower affects floor falls, framing and waste positions. Bathroom Design settles the layout before a quote is prepared.
Plumbing and electrical moves
Every relocated waste, water point, light or power outlet adds rough-in work inside the wall or floor. In older homes, pipes or wiring may also need updating once they’re exposed.
Waterproofing and substrate condition
A membrane is only as good as the surface under it. If demolition turns up rotten framing, a damaged floor or a screed that doesn’t fall to the waste, that has to be fixed before waterproofing starts. Read the Bathroom Waterproofing Guide.
Top layer: glass shower enclosure, marble-look wall tiles with patterned feature bands and grey vanity cabinets.
LAYER 03 — THE LAYERS YOU SEE
Tile, fixtures and finishes
Tile choice
Price per square metre is only part of the cost. Large-format tiles need a flatter substrate and careful handling. Mosaics, feature bands and herringbone take longer to set out and cut. Bathroom Tiling covers the options.
Fixtures and fittings
Wall-hung vanities, in-wall cisterns, concealed mixers, frameless screens and heated towel rails each carry their own product cost. Several also need framing or services planned early.
Finishing
Silicone, trims, painting, accessories and the final clean. These are small line items, but they’re what you look at every day.
LAYER 04 — YOUR QUOTE
Get a price for your bathroom, not an average
Online price ranges can’t see behind your tiles. The only figure worth planning around is a quote based on your room’s size, layout and condition. We quote bathrooms in Moorabbin and nearby suburbs, including Highett, Bentleigh East and Mentone.
Worth having ready before you enquire
■ Photos of the whole room, the shower and any stains or loose tiles
■ Whether you think it needs a repair or a full rebuild
■ Whether the layout stays the same or changes
■ Any tiles, vanity or tapware you’ve already chosen
Planning the timing as well? Read How Long Does a Bathroom Renovation Take? or work through the Bathroom Renovation Checklist. Have a question first? Contact us.