How Long do Bathroom Renovations Take?

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Remodelling a bathroom can often be a great way to both update the look and feel of your home and increase the value of your overall property. If you are looking to remodel for resale, or if you simply want to make your current bathroom look better or become more functional; you may be wondering just how long these types of jobs can take.

One thing that can make a difference to the length of an upgrade is how many tradesmen are hired for the task and how many times they’re needed to come and work on the project. Tradesmen you may need for this kind of renovation include:

  • Cabinet maker
  • Carpenter
  • Electrician
  • Painter
  • Plasterer
  • Plumber
  • Tiler
  • Waterproofer

The Renovation Process

Plumbers and Electricians

In most cases, these types of tradesmen get involved early on in the remodelling process – however, they tend to undertake work one after the other (instead of at the same time). Depending on the structural considerations of your bathroom, their necessary responsibilities can take around 4 to 6 weeks to complete.

Who to hire?

If you need something done that you cannot do alone, you may want to get the help of an experienced individual. Here are a few reasons why you might want to hire an expert:

  • If you are unable to disconnect old and install new wiring
  • If you can’t disconnect old pipes and fit new ones into designated areas
  • If you need, but are unable, to make any structural changes

Roles of different tradesmen

There are a number of different people who you could hire to help you with your remodelling project.

Carpenters:

These tradesmen can often install wooden flooring, add new walls, or make alterations to doors and windows – as well as prepare the room for a plasterer, build wooden accessories and more. Generally, their work can take a couple of days.

Plasterers:

An expert will generally seal rooms and plaster walls and ceilings (with materials such as gyprock, sand and cement) – and this can often take a few days.

Waterproofing experts:

Waterproofing is often an important feature to prevent water damage and an expert can take around 2 to 3 days to properly seal a property.

Tilers:

Tiles are often crucial for the aesthetics of a bathroom space and an experienced professional should be able to help with both the design and the installation to create a beautiful, yet functional, space.

What needs to be done after this?

Generally, when all of these tradesmen have their work out of the way, you’ll need to have cabinetry installed (which can be done before or after tiling). If you are using stone bench-tops, you may need the help of a stonemason to take the correct measurements, too.

A shower screen is usually the next thing to install – and after that, plumbers, electricians and carpenters should tie up any loose ends. Finally, a painter will come in (or you could instead paint the room yourself).

While the above may not be the case in every remodel, it can be important to keep in mind that the less complex a renovation is, the cheaper and quicker it’s likely to be.

How Much Does a Bathroom Add to Home Value?

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When it comes to renovation, one of the most popular rooms in a house to remodel is the bathroom; but why do so many people choose this part of their home? While there may be a number of reasons for wanting to upgrade, one example is that doing so can often offer a return as high as 70% on resale – which could add thousands to a property’s overall value.

Another benefit of renovation in terms of sale is that most buyers tend to focus on the more integral parts of a potential home, so having an attractive and fully functional bathroom is often an appealing feature to have.

While the middle-range prices of bathroom remodels typically come to around $15,000, the overall cost of these kinds of renovations can often vary depending on several factors; such as the prices of fixtures being installed, the costs of hiring experts to take care of the job and even the bathroom itself.

What to consider for a bathroom renovation

Unfortunately, remodelling any room can often be a challenging and costly task, which is why taking the time to consider your options can generally be a wise idea. For one, you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be able to get a return on your investment, whether you plan to sell your home in the future or not.

If you do want to renovate this part of your house, it may be a good idea to take a look at the bathrooms in other homes in the area to see what they have to offer and what you might want to add or change in your own.

Another way to help make your home more attractive to potential buyers is to consider what they may want or need. For example, families tend to need bath tubs, whilst adults on their own may prefer walk-in showers. So, if you’re selling a family home, fitting a bath may be the ideal solution.

One last thing to consider is that these types of remodelling projects (especially the larger ones) can often take quite a while to complete, with major projects often taking from three to six weeks.

How to make the most of your budget

When tackling a project like this, most will have an idea of costs in mind – but this doesn’t mean that it’s always a simple task to create a budget and stick to it. Fortunately, there are a few things that could help you to avoid over-spending on your renovation.

Often, one of the best ways to keep to a price-plan is to make small improvements that will add to your home’s value. For example, using all the space that’s available to you can change the functionality of a bathroom – and making useful upgrades like installing shelving could be a worthwhile (and cost-effective) choice.

Replacing old taps, shower heads and other accessories can often be a good way to update the look of a bathroom without too much effort too; just remember that any fixtures you choose can benefit from being properly installed.

Most find that re-painting a utility room and adding new tiling can help the space to feel fresher and more modern, as can new flooring options. Additionally, lighting can also be crucial – so upgrading or checking your current fixtures may also be a good idea.

Finally, fixing any issues and getting recommendations from experts can often be ideal during renovations. Considering the help of a building inspector to look for structural problems and hiring a plumber or electrician to undertake important or difficult tasks is often a great way to make sure that your bathroom is completed to a safe standard – and that it will remain fully functional well into the future.

How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost?

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There are quite a few reasons why you may want to upgrade your bathroom – and because of this, you might be planning a renovation for this part of your house. If this is the case, it’s often best to learn more about the costs involved with this type of project before rushing into things.

What Variables Have to Be Considered for a Bathroom Renovation Cost?

Often, there are quite a few things that can determine how much you may be looking to spend on your bathroom’s renovation. This is one of the main reasons why one remodel may cost $25,000, while another may only come in at $5,000. For your project, do you plan to:

  • Buy entirely new fittings, or just a few?
  • Make small changes, or install a brand new bathroom?
  • Hire professionals to handle the renovation, or take care of the remodel yourself?
  • Add new windows or make electrical changes (or any other types of structural changes?)

In most cases, these are the main things to consider when trying to figure out how expensive your renovation is likely to be. So how much does a bathroom renovation cost?

  • For a budget upgrade; within a price range of $5,000 to $15,000
  • For an ordinary renovation; anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000
  • For a luxury remodel; generally more than $35,000

Despite this, a report from the HIA found that in 2018, the average cost of a bathroom installation (as part of a renovation) is around $17,500, while the price of a brand new bathroom (namely those installed in newly built homes) can often come to around $16,500.

How the Bathroom’s Style and New Fittings Can Influence the Renovation’s Price

For most bathroom remodels, the fittings you purchase can have a large impact on the final cost of the renovation. Because of this, it can often be important to consider what you need and what you want from your new bathroom. A few examples of how much budget and luxury items can cost are:

  • Toilets – A budget toilet can often be bought for around $400, while more expensive options can cost more than $1,000
  • Bathtubs – Often, less expensive bathtubs can be purchased for around $200 to $600, while premium ones can cost from $2,000 to $9,000
  • Vanities – While budget options for vanities will often be priced from $500 to $1,000, more expensive ones tend to have a much larger price tag, often varying from $2,000 to $5,000
  • Showers – Often, an inexpensive shower can come for as little as $30, while luxury ones can sometimes have prices as high as $1,000

Often, for other accessories (such as basins, shower screens, etc.), the price ranges can vary from one fitting to the next. Because of this, it’s often best to do a bit of research before deciding on one particular product.

Who to Hire for a Bathroom Remodel?

While some may be able to handle a renovation project on their own, others may need the help of an expert (or experts) for their renovation. While new fittings on their own are likely to cost quite a bit of cash, the prices of hiring experts will often add extra to the remodel’s overall cost. While a DIY job may not come with these additional fees, there are times where it’s crucial to have a professional’s help.

Even for a DIY task, you may need the assistance of a specialist. In some cases, this can be a legal requirement, so you may need to hire:

  • A plumber
  • An electrician – if you plan to install anything electrical, such as new lights or hot water heaters
  • A tiler to install floor and wall tiles, as well as waterproofing

How to Find the Right Expert for Your Renovation

Those who need the help of a specialist are likely to want to find the most relevant tradespeople. Often, doing so can be as simple as comparing costs (often found with free quotes), reading testimonials and recommendations, and doing some general research online.

How to Remodel a Bathroom on a Budget

If you’re planning to spend as little on your remodel as possible, you may be wondering how you could save cash. It can be a good idea to only change the things that need to be changed – and to make do where possible.

For example, if you can’t afford to buy a new bathtub, you may be able to resurface it instead. This could be done without the help of a specialist to save even more cash, too.

What if you’re Renovating to Sell?

If you plan to sell your property and want to update your bathroom to increase the price, try to consider what your potential buyers will want. While there’s no need to overspend on unnecessary items, try to make sure that the room is clean and functional. Just a small selection of things that can often come to around $5,000 or less include:

  • Cleaning and grouting tiles (if necessary)
  • Painting the walls
  • Resurfacing the bathtub
  • Installing new and more modern fittings

Tips for Remodelling a Bathroom

In most cases, it’s a wise idea to have a plan in place and to do your research if you want to make the most of your renovation. A final piece of advice is to choose non-slip flooring, or flooring that’s easy to maintain – as this can work to ensure the safety of the space.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Brand New Bathroom?

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Bathroom renovations are considered to be one of the best home improvement projects when it comes to ROI (return on investment). However, this doesn’t mean that they’re the cheapest of projects. In general, to renovate a small bathroom, you’ll be looking to pay from around $5,000 to $15,000.

In most cases, these types of tasks can become expensive quite fast – and while an average ROI of 60% can be appealing, some may not be able to pay for the (often) high costs; especially when saving substantial amounts of cash is generally considered to be difficult. One thing you could do to try and save when trying to find a good tradesmen is to get free quotes and compare the costs and services of different experts (three is considered to be the magic number).

Baths and Showers

In general, baths and showers are some of the most important features in a bathroom – and, while you could install both, this can often be costly. Here are a few things to consider when trying to decide whether or not you need a shower, a tub, or both in your home:

  • Often, baths are better suited to young children, whilst older people tend to prefer showers
  • For a showerhead, consider whether you want a modern one, or perhaps instead a massaging showerhead
  • The costs of the showerhead installation will often vary depending on the item’s features. Also, while a basic showerhead could be purchased for as little as $15, more expensive ones can cost up to $600
  • For a bath, you may want to consider where it’ll be installed, how much room you have to work with, the style and any modern extras you may want; as well as how much weight the floor can hold

Average cost of a bathtub installation: $1,000 to $2,000 (not including the fees of a plumber, who is likely to offer their services for around an average of $95 an hour).

Tiles

While tiles can often come in a range of colours and sizes, the main thing to consider when choosing tiling for your bathroom is the material that they’re made of. Generally, they can be ceramic, glass, stone and linoleum – as well as other materials. Here are a few tips for choosing the right type of tile for your bathroom:

  • Slate (as well as other types of natural stone tiles) tends to be popular, although it can often be important to check how porous it is, as some types may not be suitable for a shower and others may need a lot of maintenance. In general, you might want to consider ceramic, marble, porcelain, or granite
  • For your shower floor, it can often be a good idea to have tiling that is no bigger than 6 inches – regardless of what shape or material you choose
  • It’s often wise to have the tiles slightly angled towards the drain
  • Consider the type of tile and how it will affect the feeling of the space in your bathroom.
  • Generally, light coloured tiles work best with a small tub or shower, as this can often help to give it a more open feel

Average costs of bathroom tiling: While this can vary depending on a range of factors, an average tradesman will often charge around $65 an hour for their tiling services.

Toilets, Sinks and Vanities

For a brand new bathroom, installing a toilet, sink and vanity can often be a necessity – which is why it’s usually important to choose carefully when buying the fixtures for your new room. A few things to keep in mind are:

  • Sleek and modern fittings tend to be more popular
  • The fixtures you purchase should all have a uniform look when together
  • While they can often cost more, high-efficiency plumbing and electrical features tend to be well worth the extra price
  • Often, toilets and sinks can come in several different heights, shapes and styles – and taking this into consideration can often be crucial. For example, a low toilet may not be ideal for tall individuals, while high sinks may not be ideal for smaller children
  • Consider the different finishes available – such as brushed brass, copper, gold-plate and stainless steel
  • For some, having a vanity over the sink is the most convenient option
  • For a working couple, a “His and Her” vanity might be the best option
  • If you don’t have much wall space, you might want to install your vanity in a corner

Average costs for toilets, sinks and vanities: While the costs of toilets and sinks can vary greatly depending on style and features, basic vanities (and related hardware) can cost as little as a few hundred dollars for budget options, but can reach into the thousands for designer brands.

Plumbing and Electrical Systems

In some cases, you may have to update existing plumbing or electrical systems, but if there’s really no need to; you may not want to pay out the extra cash that upgrades can cost. In most cases, these types of tasks will require the help of a specialist tradesperson. Moving plumbing around shouldn’t pose too much of a difficult task for those with a basement or decent amount of crawlspace.

Average costs of plumbing and electrical services: $110 per hour for electrical systems, $95 per hour for plumbing.

Permits and Legal Requirements

Often, it’s crucial to leave any changes to electric and plumbing systems to a licensed professional, as well as any structural elements. Making sure that the structure will be able to hold any additional weight can be worth considering, too.

Getting Started on Your Bathroom Renovation

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Specialist Trades

A bathroom renovation requires more specialist tradespeople than any other room renovation in your house. Organising the correct sequence of the trades is vital to the smooth completion and quality of the renovation. Plumbing and electrical work must be completed by a licensed tradie. Waterproofing needs to meet Australian Standards and is also best completed by a qualified specialist.

Cost of Bathroom Renovation

A standard bathroom renovation, including all trades work and mid-range fittings and fixtures starts from around $18 000 – $20 000. An ensuite or small bathroom renovation can cost a little less, however, it requires the same trades work and fittings and fixtures. Beware of cheaper quotes which may not have the same inclusions or guarantees. When receiving quotations always compare ‘apples with apples’.

Timeline and Disruption

A bathroom renovation from demolition to fit out will take 4-5 weeks to complete. You need to plan for the disruption. If you have only one bathroom you will need to make alternative arrangements whilst your bathroom is out of action.

Hidden Costs

When receiving a quotation, look at what is included. Does your quotation include all demolition and trades work? Are there allowances for items such a tiles and tiling? These should be listed as Prime Cost (PC) allowances. Are the cost of fittings and fixtures included in the quotation? Look for any hidden costs.

Guarantees

Builders and tradespeople must honour the implied warranties in the Domestic Building Contracts Act, which require that they:

  • carry out the work in a proper and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract
  • ensure all materials supplied are good and suitable for the purpose and are new, unless otherwise stated in the contract
  • carry out the work in accordance with all laws and legal requirements
  • carry out the work with reasonable care and skill and complete works by the date (or within the period) specified by the contract
  • ensure new homes, extensions, renovations, repairs and kit homes (or similar) are suitable for occupation when completed
  • ensure other types of work and the material used are reasonably fit for the intended purpose.

Registered builders and tradespeople must have domestic building insurance for all work over $16,000 (to cover you if they die, become insolvent or disappear) – this is in addition to the builder’s contractual obligations and warranties.

Fittings and Fixtures

The choice for your bathroom fixtures is huge and it helps to have a specialist to guide you in this area. All products installed in a bathroom need to be covered by Australian Standards. Buying from specialist bathroom stores and choosing reputable brands will give you the assurance that you have the expertise to help you with decision making and the back up support if a problem arises.

Bathroom Renovation: Why Choose a Specialist?

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A bathroom renovation is one of the toughest renovations and involves significant financial outlay. When you contract an experienced and reputable bathroom builder, you can bring your bathroom dream to life. You have the assurance that all work is guaranteed and completed to a high standard.

Why Not Manage the Project Yourself?

Choosing to manage a bathroom renovation yourself can be extremely stressful, overwhelming and potentially costly. There are no guarantees if things go wrong.

Detailed Quotation, Plan and Contract

A specialist bathroom builder, provides a detailed quotation and plan for your consideration and comparison. If you proceed with the quotation, the contract outlines all aspects included in the renovation. We oversee all aspects of your project from demolition through to the final fit out.

A bathroom renovation requires all trades work to be completed in a set order. Trades include carpentry, electrical, tiling, waterproofing, plumbing, cabinetry and shower screen manufacture and installation. Electrical, plumbing and waterproofing require compliance with Australian and legal standards. Our Project Manager is on site, overseeing all stages of the renovation and ensuring that all facets of the renovation proceed smoothly.

Registered Builders

As registered builders, we issue a Certificate of Insurance at the start of the contracted work. Structural and trades work is guaranteed for 6 years, with waterproofing completed to Australian Standard (AS 3740-10).

A quality bathroom renovation is an excellent investment in your home. Decide to sell and potential buyers will readily identify your quality bathroom renovation.

Partner with Regular Suppliers

BRM Bathrooms has a team of skilled, friendly and reliable tradespeople who bring your new bathroom to life. We partner with regular suppliers to ensure quality of product, advice, support and excellent warranty back up.

BRM Bathrooms can order and supply all fittings and fixtures from our regular trade suppliers. This streamlines the ordering and delivery process, ensuring that the fittings and fixtures comply with Australian standards and are suitable for the application.