Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Melbourne?

Most Melbourne bathroom renovations land between $20,000 and $40,000. A compact bathroom keeping the existing layout is usually $18,000 to $25,000, a family bathroom with relocated plumbing and premium finishes is $30,000 to $45,000, and larger luxury bathrooms with natural stone and custom joinery go higher. The biggest cost drivers are whether plumbing moves, tile size and format, and what condition the substrate is in once the old bathroom comes out. We provide a fixed itemised quote after an on site measure.

Q2. How long does a bathroom renovation take?

Three to six weeks on site for most Melbourne bathrooms. A straightforward refit keeping the existing layout is usually three to four weeks. Relocating plumbing, changing the layout or adding custom joinery pushes it to five or six. Waterproofing needs curing time between coats and that cannot be rushed, so any builder promising a two week bathroom is cutting something you will not be able to see.

Q3. Do I need a building permit for a bathroom renovation in Victoria?

Not always. A like for like refit where nothing structural changes and fixtures stay in the same positions generally does not need a building permit. You will need one if the work is structural, if you are altering the building footprint, or in some cases if you are creating a new wet area. Plumbing work always requires a licensed plumber and a plumbing compliance certificate regardless of the permit position. We assess this before quoting and lodge any applications on your behalf.

Q4. Can I stay in my home during a bathroom renovation?

Yes, if you have a second bathroom. If it is your only bathroom, most homeowners choose to stay elsewhere for at least part of the job. There will be several days with no working toilet or shower in that room. We will tell you at the planning stage exactly which days those are so you can arrange accordingly, and we work to keep the disruption window as short as the trade sequence allows.

Q5. What is involved in waterproofing, and how do I know it was done correctly?

Waterproofing in Australia is governed by AS 3740. The shower membrane must run 1800mm up the walls and extend 150mm beyond the screen on all sides, the full bathroom floor must be waterproofed with a 150mm upstand at every wall and 40mm past the doorway, and every internal corner needs bond breaker tape. We flood test before tiling. You should receive a plumbing compliance certificate at handover. Keep it. It is your evidence if anything is ever questioned, and it is the first thing an insurer will ask for.

Q6. Can you renovate a small bathroom or an ensuite?

Yes, and it is a large share of what we do. Melbourne's period homes and apartments are full of small bathrooms. The gains come from layout and specification rather than square metres: wall hung vanities, large format tiles to reduce grout lines, recessed niches, frameless screens and removing a bath that never gets used. A well planned small bathroom renovation often costs less and delivers a bigger visible change than a large one.

Q7. Can you renovate a bathroom in an apartment?

Yes, though there is an extra step. In Victoria, waterproofing a bathroom floor in an apartment usually touches common property, so you will need written approval from the owners corporation before work starts. They have 30 days to respond unless the rules say otherwise. We will tell you what documentation to submit and can supply the scope, drawings and trade details they will ask for. Build the approval time into your planning, not your build program.

Q8. What warranty applies to a bathroom renovation in Victoria?

Structural work and non structural work each carry statutory warranty periods under Victorian law. Since 1 July 2026, eligible domestic building work valued over $20,000 is covered by the Building and Plumbing Commission's Home Warranty scheme, which replaced Domestic Building Insurance and covers work that is incomplete, defective or non compliant where the builder cannot or will not fix it. Waterproofing failures caused by workmanship are a warranty matter. We arrange the required cover and hand over all certificates at completion.