Tradies you need for your bathroom renovation
Bathroom reno on the cards?
If your space needs a facelift, refurb or makeover then you will need to start thinking about who is going to do it all for you.
Bathroom reno on the cards?
If your space needs a facelift, refurb or makeover then you will need to start thinking about who is going to do it all for you.
You may not realise it at first but there are actually quite a few elements to a modern bathroom. This means you are likely to need a team of tradies for your job.
A typical bathroom renovation – where you gut the room and start from scratch will need at the minimum a plumber, electrician, tiler and a waterproofer. Depending on your project you may also need to hire a cabinetmaker and a painter.
Let’s first look at bathroom budgeting and costs.
If you are designing your bathroom on a budget then you need to keep a close eye on your budget, and plan it very carefully. A small oversight, like forgetting to budget for labour costs, could land you in the red – or worse, mean you have to stop mid-reno.
The devil is definitely in the detail, something that applies to any reno no matter the size. This means you should start a spreadsheet and itemise everything, down to the last tube of silicone.
In terms of the overall cost – bathroom renos can range anywhere from $5,000 – $30,000+. Your budget will be affected by:
Not sure who you need to hire for your bathroom reno? Here is our list of essential tradies you will need, depending on the scope of your project.
Designing your new bathroom is a real skill, especially if you want to make the most of what are often compact spaces. Here a dedicated bathroom designer (or architect) can help optimise it. They will be able to advise on the location of your bath/shower/toilet so the space is logically laid out.
Budget saver: If you want to save your pennies skip the bathroom designer and DIY. There is tons of inspiration online, like Pinterest or Channel Nine’s The Block.
Alongside tilers and sparkies, plumbers are another tradie which are crucial to any bathroom renovation. Why? First up, only a licensed plumber can carry out this type of work – like connecting all your new fixtures, or moving pipework.
Budget saver: Keep your plumbing in the same place and you will avoid the added expensive of these works.
Tiles are a practical surface, hard wearing and water resistant – so you are very likely going to need the services of a professional tiler. They lay the screed to level a floor before laying tiles, and getting the right drop to the waste is essential to make sure your water drains and doesn’t pool.
Budget saver: If you want to give your bathroom some pizazz without breaking the bank, add an accent tile to highlight a feature and keep the rest simple or plain.
A waterproofer applies a special coating to walls and floors to ensure no moisture leaves your bathroom, and causes structural damage, This needs to meet Australian Standard AS 3940-1994, the regulation which covers bathroom waterproofing.
This applies to all new bathrooms and bathroom renovations in Australia, and your waterproofer should issue a compliance certificate after completing the job.
Budget saver: Don’t try to shortcut this by DIY, it could cost you a lot more to repair than any savings you make in the short term.
Installing lighting, new powerpoints or a heated towel rack? Then you will need a sparkie to wire it all up in compliance with Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3000-2007, which covers bathroom electrical regulations, such as the location and placement of electrical outlets.
Budget saver: Try keep your electrical outlets in the same place and avoid installing too many new electrical items and you should be able to save a fair whack.
If you are looking to streamline things and have someone manage the whole job for you a dedicated bathroom builder is the way to go. Not only do they have all the right tradies for your project, they can help with the design and make sure it all happens according to plan. This includes crucial tasks like stripping out or demolishing your old bathroom, which is tough and time consuming work.
Budget saver: You may be able to save by hiring the tradies individually, but you will need to get quotes before you can make this call.
Other tradies you make have to call on include a cabinetmaker, to install or make custom cabinetry and a plasterer to repair or lay a new coat of plaster on your walls.
You may not realise it but the tradies who work on your bathroom can make or break it. This is why we advise you to hire people or businesses who are licensed and have the right experience for your job.
Save thousands on the things you need to renovate or maintain your dream bathroom.
