Top 10 Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Looking to upgrade, remodel or renovate your existing bathroom or ensuite and want to know where to start?

Budget, scope, and time and the team you choose to work with are all determining factors of the quality of your bathroom renovation.

Before you take a sledgehammer to anything in your old bathroom (as fun as that may seem), you need to allow up to four weeks to research your options, design your bathroom, scope the project and assess your tradespeople before construction begins.

Bathroom renovations require input across multiple professional services. To ensure you know what you are signing up for, our project manager created this bathroom top ten checklist.

1. Budget
2. Research & Planning
3. Design Consultation
4. Council Consent
5. Bathroom Product Selection
6. Project Management
7. Trade Staff Selection
8. Renovation Work
9. Finishing Touches
10. Get Started

Once you have ticked off the ten steps in this checklist, you will be well on the way to a successful bathroom renovation.

Let’s get started.

1. Set Renovation Budget

Your renovation budget is a determining factor of what you can realistically achieve. Even if you are in the enviable position of renovating with an unlimited budget, setting a budget will help you make good decisions.

If you are not working to a budget, you will spend more than you expect, as there are usually unforeseen costs. Any quote offered should come in at least 10% below your total budget to account for this well-known fact.

To minimise planning expense, look for renovation specialists that offer a free design and quote service. This process will help you develop, if not rapport, then at least an understanding of the team and the process that they work to.

2. Research & Planning

Expect to devote up to four weeks to research, design, select and plan your project. If you are a homeowner wanting to renovate between tenancies, you will need to begin project planning well before your tenants vacate the residence. Depending on the size of your bathroom renovation project, you will need to allow anywhere from between one to four weeks to complete the work.

3. In-House Design Consultation

Working with a professional designer will provide the level of detail you need to help scope a project within your budget. They should visit your home and develop a design and quote for your consideration.

Design is a collaborative process, so whether you choose to work with an architect, interior design, or bathroom design specialist, you should expect them to seek your input and incorporate your ideas and requirements into the design process.

Your input informs the form and function of your next bathroom to ensure that it matches your lifestyle and needs. Design presentation should include a range of options for fittings and fixtures within your budget. You will work with your designer to refine the final design before signing off on the quote.

4. Council Consent Requirements

The design process should also identify if you require council or strata management consent for your renovation. As a guide, when planning structural changes or increasing the number of plumbing fixtures, the project will require council consent. Simply upgrading plumbing fixtures does not require council consent. When consents are required, your team’s experience and industry knowledge will pay dividends in terms of helping you navigate any legal requirements.

5. Bathroom Fixtures & Fittings, Cabinetry or Joinery

Your designer will accompany you to offer options and advice and provide a sounding board for decision-making regarding your bathroom product selection. Although a design team can take care of this for you, involvement at this stage will help to create a space that reflects your style.

• Basin: Your basin is usually integrated into your bathroom counter but can also sit on a purpose-built stand, shelf, or countertop. In small spaces wall mounted basins can be installed without cabinetry.
• Bath: At the top end of the price range, you will find beautiful freestanding bathtubs. Just as effective are above the floor or sunken tubs integrated with the floor and wall structure. Traditional baths include porcelain, acrylic, and enamelled steel but stone composites or concrete options are also available.
• Shower: Semi-frameless or frameless shower design have a modern look and are easier to clean.
• Toilet: If you are replacing your toilet, look to match the S pan or P pan type or expect additional costs to modify the fit. We highly recommend options that reduce water use.
• Tapware: Again, water efficiency is probably the primary functional design element for modern tapware. Matching design across your basin/bath/shower will ensure a cohesive finished look.
• Bathroom cabinetry covers your vanity plus storage. You can select from a wide range of off the shelf cabinets. Look for water-resistant, well-built cabinetry. Skimping here can lead to cabinets that deteriorate quickly and devalue your renovation investment.
• You also have the option of working with a joiner to custom fit designs to your space. Custom joinery will cost more, yet when working in a small area or wanting a specific aesthetic, joinery will provide tailored design options.

6. Project Management, Quote & Signoff

You may prefer to manage the renovation project yourself and select and manage your team of trade professionals.

You may select a builder and have them manage the project (and subcontractors) on your behalf. Or you can work with a full-service team that will cover all the bases from design to finish.

It is a good idea to get multiple quotes so that you can compare service and price options. Once you have signed off on a quote, the work can be scheduled to begin at a time that works for you and your renovation team.

7. Trade Staff Selection

Check that the people on your trade team hold licences for the state they operate in, in addition to specific skill qualifications. They should also be insured. While you can expect to pay more for licenced, insured professionals, this is not the place to cut costs. Selecting the right team is essential for specific insurance and legal compliance reasons.

Demolition & Salvage

If you are planning to renovate floor to ceiling, then it is recommended you hire professionals to demolish, gut or strip out your existing bathroom. Work is likely to require at least two days.

A professional builder or demolition team are more likely to salvage what they can from your bathroom, which may help to reduce cost, as many can repurpose or sell salvaged goods.

You will also need to account for the removal of waste using a skip bin. Skip bins may require a council permit depending on the skip bin size. Seek professional advice on this.

Qualified Builders

On the big jobs, when expanding or relocating your bathroom, you will require the services of a qualified builder to make structural changes as per your council permit.

Professional builders can often provide project management services or labour-hire (sub-contractors) services to assist in project coordination. If you are undertaking a significant renovation, it is good to speak to your builder before selecting other trade staff.

Licenced Plumber & Gas Fitters

A licenced and insured plumber and gas fitter is mission-critical to a bathroom renovation. They have specialist tools for connecting water services and drainage throughout the bathroom, including toilets, baths, and shower.

They also have the skills and experience to move or add pipework and drainage if your renovation requires relocating your new bathroom.

Many Plumbers are also licenced gas fitters, which serves the double purpose if you use gas hot water heating. A certified gas fitter is needed to certify compliance required for gas mains service to your home.

Licenced & Insured Electrician

Licenced insured electricians are needed to certify the electric components of your new bathroom, including underfloor heating, heat lamps, extractor fans or power points, lighting, and heated towel racks.

Plaster & Waterproofing

A plasterer will make your walls look new after the plumbing and electrical are rough-in. They are most likely the person that will apply waterproofing to walls and floors to prevent moisture escaping and causing structural damage.

Tiler

A professional tiler will ensure that your floor moves water towards the drains. Creating the right drop to ensure water drains away without pooling is a critical feature of a safe bathroom.

8. What to Expect When Renovating Your Bathroom

On the big jobs, your timeframe can require a sizeable team of trade staff to be at work in your home, and your choice of a team may also be the difference between a 15-day vs 20-day turnaround.

One of the advantages of working with a full-service provider is that you can expect a well-coordinated and consistent level of professional service from everyone on the team.

If you take on project managing the renovation yourself, be prepared for schedule clashes, possible delays, and variation – between contractors and sub-contractors – as to what professional service entails.

On a complete bathroom remodel, you can expect the following series of trade work.

1. Demolition & Salvage
2. Structural Alterations
3. Services Alterations
4. Plumbing rough-in
5. Electrical rough-in
6. Nib walls & plaster
7. Waterproofing
8. Screed & Tiling
9. Plumbing Finishing
10. Electrical Finishing
11. Cabinetry & Joinery Fitted
12. Shower Screens Fitted
13. Silicone Joints
14. Test & Handover

9. Finishing Touches

The construction process can be very messy; however, no professional service provider worth hiring would consider your bathroom renovation complete until cleaned to the highest professional standard. A professional cleaner should be a standard service offer. Once cleaned, your project manager or designer will take care of the finishing touches to ensure your bathroom is 100% relaxation ready.

10. Get Started: Free Design Consultation & Quote

The team here at Precise have been in the business of renovating Adelaide bathrooms for more than 20 years. We take pride in delivering high-quality renovations and ensuring the process from concept to completion is enjoyable and stress-free for our clients.

Whether you want to upgrade your shower fittings, remodel an ensuite or completely refurbish your bathroom, our expert team of trade staff can get the job done, on time, within budget. We work closely with you to manage the detail at every stage of your renovation project. Customer service is a priority for us here at Precise, and our process includes.

1. Bathroom Design Consultation
2. Design Presentation & Signoff
3. Consent Process (if required)
4. Product Selection
5. Renovation, 15 Day Turnaround on standard bathroom remodels
6. Your Showroom Ready Bathroom

For further advice and obligation-free design consultation and quote call the team at Precise Services today.