How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost?

A bathroom renovation is the most requested service we get here at Gympie Carpentry.

Bathroom renovation costs can be scary – particularly if you have a leak or some rot and need to upgrade unexpectantly. Many of our customers call us, absolutely worried sick, wondering how much it will cost.

Most people calculate a ballpark figure in their head before reaching out to a Bathroom Contractor so they know what they can afford. But when you work with your Contractor, you might be surprised at the cost-saving measures they can offer you. After all, we do this every single day! We even give you many hints in this article on how to save money!

So don’t be scared; your bathroom renovation may not cost you as much as you think!

This guide is here to help you know if your bathroom renovation will cost $5000 or $50,000 and is a good guide to calculating a ballpark figure.

More Reading: 2023 Bathroom Innovations to Consider for Your New Bathroom

First of all:

Why Are You Doing a Bathroom Renovation?

First of all, ask yourself why you are doing a bathroom renovation.

• Are you doing up the bathroom to sell the property?
• Are you looking at a bathroom renovation to increase the rental return on your property?
• Is your bathroom leaking or looking tired, and you just can’t put off a renovation any longer?

Renovating a Bathroom to Sell The Property:

When selling a property, the bathroom and the kitchen are the rooms that sell a house. So if you are looking at renovating a bathroom renovation to improve the selling price of your property, you want to improve the look and feel of the bathroom without spending a fortune.

Spend your money on:

• Neutral but light wall tiles
• Either dark or neutral, larger style floor tiles
• New chrome or black tapware
• New beautiful lighting, with a heat lamp
• A glass shower screen (framed or frameless)
• A good neutral paint job

Renovating a Bathroom for a Rental Property:

A bathroom renovation for a rental property means you want hard-wearing products that will last a long time and suit any added decor. You also don’t want to spend a fortune on a rental.

We would recommend:

• White porcelain wall tiles
• Glazed Porcelain dark or neutral-coloured floor tiles (basic)
• White Bath Tub (all rentals should have a bath tub)
• Shower tray and framed glass shower screen
• Basic but hard-wearing chrome tapware

Home Bathroom Renovations:

And if you are doing a bathroom renovation for your home, you can add some personal flair, colour and styling attributes. It is also here that you can spend a bit more on the pieces that mean a lot to you!

Depending on your budget – you could add the following:

• Frameless Glass Shower Screen
• Heated flooring
• Free Standing Bathtub
• Full wet room
• Black or Brushed Brass Tap Fittings

So the reason for a new bathroom is always an important factor in advising your bathroom contractor.

More Reading: 10 Ways to Add Street Appeal to Your Home On a Budget

How Much Does the Average Bathroom Renovation Cost?

The average bathroom renovation cost in Australia has been calculated to cost $22,500.00. But don’t freak out!! That sort of money would include new tiles, a new tub, new fittings, a new shower screen, new vanity, and new electricals.

Of course, you don’t have to spend that much to get a beautiful-looking bathroom – there are many ways to cut down on your budget and spend the money on important items.

This table will give you a guide to a traditional bathroom renovation cost:

Basic Bathroom Renovation: New tiles, new taps, new shower or tub – low-cost replacements.

Standard Bathroom Renovation: Basic Renovation + mid-range tiles and replacement fittings.

Luxury Bathroom Renovation: Moving walls, under-floor heating, rain shower etc.

Trades You Will Need for a Bathroom Renovation

Usually, your carpenter or builder will appoint all the necessary trades when doing a bathroom renovation, but so that you know, the average tradespersons required for a bathroom renovation include:

• Carpenter
• Waterproofer
• Tiler
• Electrician

But a more advanced bathroom renovation could also require:

• Draftsperson
• Architect
• Interior Designer
• Real Estate Agent (if you are renovating to sell)

More Reading: 10 Luxe Bathroom Ideas to Turn a Boring Bathroom into a Resort!

What Sort of Questions Should You Ask Your Carpenter?

When your bathroom contractor comes to have a look at the job, there are a few questions you should ask them! They include:

• May I see examples of bathrooms you have completed?
• What type of warranties do you offer?
• Are you licensed?
• Are you insured?
• Do you provide a quote or an estimate?
• How long will a bathroom renovation take?
• Do you offer a hire shower or hire toilet during the build?

How Can I Save Money on a Bathroom Renovation?

Work with your Tradie on what you are trying to achieve. For example, a client with a rental property needed a new bathroom. As the client didn’t want to spend much money on the bathroom, they chose the cheapest floor tiles they could find.

But those tiles cost the client $2000 more in laying fees as the tiles weren’t all ‘square’ and broke easily – so they took an inordinate amount of time to lay.

If the client had spent an extra couple of hundred dollars on better quality tiles, they would have saved money now during the renovation – and in the long run. A good contractor understands that clients are on a budget – but they are also the person to go to for advice on the best products to buy to save money during the building process.

Other tips on saving money on a bathroom renovation include:

• Choose larger-sized tiles. Small tiles look great – but take a long time to lay.
• Chrome fixings may seem boring, but they are hard-wearing, inexpensive, and look great for years.
• Don’t change the structural layout of your bathroom; just replace what is there. Moving plumbing and electrical is expensive and will add at least $5k.
• Do any demolition work yourself.
• Keep the style of the bathroom nice and simple.
• Don’t tile to the ceiling. You have additional tile costs and laying costs that can add as much as 20% to the end cost.
• Choose a floor waste over a channeled waste. Cheaper and easier to install.
• See if you carpenter can also do the tiling and waterproofing in house.
• Choose a simple vanity that goes all the way to the floor. The current trend for wall-hung vanities is beautiful but takes a lot longer to install (plus kids love to ‘hang’ off them).
• Paint the bathroom yourself.

Determining Factors on the Cost of a Bathroom Renovation:

• Does your bathroom need any structural work done (ie walls removed or installed)? If so – expect to add $5k – $15k to the renovation costs.
• How large is your bathroom? A larger bathroom requires more tiles which costs more money.
• Are the tiles, vanity, and fittings for your new bathroom budget or luxury? The cost of tiles can be anywhere from $30m2 to $150m2.
• Does the plumbing need to be moved from the current location? If so – expect to add $4 – $8K.
• Are you on a concrete slab or timber flooring with underfloor access? A concrete slab bathroom renovation usually costs more as it’s more difficult to move plumbing or electrical – as timber flooring with underfloor access makes the job much easier – and therefore costs less.

Where to Shop for Inexpensive Bathroom Tiles

Try avoiding the larger hardware stores and try the more boutique tile stores that have a sale section. Quite often they have ‘runout’ tiles that are the end of the stock in smaller quantities. These are often excellent quality tiles provided they have enough of them to cover your project. Remember to always grab 1m2 more than you need in case of tike breakage and to allow for ‘cuts’.

The best type of tile for a bathroom is porcelain tiles. They are waterproof, stylish, and dense. They feel lovely under the foot and are relatively inexpensive.

Choose a neutral-colored tile to make the bathroom look larger than it is – and don’t be scared to choose a large floor tile for a small bathroom – they are easier to clean, and with fewer joints, they are cheaper to lay.

What Adds the Most Value to a Bathroom Renovation?

If you are doing a bathroom renovation to sell your property, you want the best bang for your buck. Real Estate Agents always say that it is the kitchen and bathroom that sell a property – and we totally agree.

So you want to add a bit of ‘Wow’ Factor to get prospective buyers to open their wallets. Wow factor bathroom fixtures that sell include:

• A Freestanding Bathtub
• Frameless Glass Shower Screens
• A Walk-in Shower with No Steps
• Rain Shower Heads
• Excellent lighting
• Heated Towel Rail
• Black tapware and fittings

What’s the Best Way to Renovate Your Bathroom if You Aren’t Sure What To Do?

Have your Gympie Carpentry representative come and have a look at your current bathroom – we can give you some great bathroom renovation ideas that fit your budget!

We could come up with ideas you have never even dreamed of!