How Much Does A Bathroom Renovation Cost?

Contents

• How Much Do Bathroom Renovators Charge per Hour?
• What Is The Average Cost of Renovating A Bathroom per Square Metre?
• How Much Do Common Bathroom Renovation Jobs Cost?
• What Is The Cost of Bathroom Fixtures Supply & Installation?
• What Determines The Cost of A Bathroom Renovation?
• What Other Factors Influence Bathroom Renovation Costs?
• How to Renovate A Bathroom on a Tight Budget?
• Bathroom Renovation Prices from Real Customers
• What Tradespeople Do I Need for A Complete Bathroom Renovation?
• How Much Does It Cost to Renovate A Bathroom in Australia?
• What Does Recently Published Houzz Study Say About The Latest Bathroom Trends?
• Related Bathroom Renovation Articles

According to the latest data, average bathroom renovation costs in Australia range from $5,000 to even far more than $35,000 depending on the:

• scope of the job,
• size of the bathroom,
• materials used,
• tradespeople hired and various other factors.

Your options can range from engaging a professional bathroom renovation company to design and project manage your full bathroom renovation for you to coordinating different trades such as tilers and plumbers yourself.

The latter option will usually save you on average 20% versus using a professional bathroom renovation company.

How Much Do Bathroom Renovators Charge per Hour?

Expect bathroom renovators to charge an hourly rate of $65/hr on average. This rate can still go up or down depending on specific factors, so the highest cost that your bathroom renovation could go is approximately $80/hr. The lowest rate, on the other hand, is about $50/hr.

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

What Is The Average Cost of Renovating A Bathroom per Square Metre?

In Australia, according to the latest data, the average bathroom renovations cost $1600 per square metre.

A basic renovation job costs approximately $1,400/m2 for a mid-size bathroom, whereas the costs go up to around $2,400/m2 for premium bathrooms depending on how much you want to spend on the inclusions, trades, the cost of tiling services and materials per square metre, and many other factors.

In short, a standard renovation will cost you only around $2,000 – $3,000 more than a basic renovation, which is $14,000 on average.

Your costs can be even lower if you don’t need or want to move the vanity, shower enclosure or bathtub.

How Much Do Common Bathroom Renovation Jobs Cost?

Check out our full cost breakdown table to help you figure out the cost of the most common bathroom renovation jobs.

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

What Is The Cost of Bathroom Fixtures Supply & Installation?

The following table lists the price ranges of mid-level bathroom materials i.e. fixtures and fittings to help you get the full picture of what other costs to count in while preparing for the big project.

So, here’s how much bathroom installations cost in detail.

Photo courtesy of Burst Shopify Images by Matthew Henry

What Determines The Cost of A Bathroom Renovation?

One particular bathroom renovation might cost from $2,000 to $5,000 while another bathroom renovation might cost $15,000 – $20,000 or far more.

How is the exact price determined and what affects it?

The pricing factors include:

• Where you live – builders will take advantage if you live in a wealthy postcode
• Whether you need to undertake structural work or not
• The cost of fittings and fixtures that you select
• The floor plan and size of area
• Whether you’re moving existing fittings and fixtures
• Whether it is a new bathroom entirely – that will drive up the price
• Installing luxury features like floor heating.

Generally speaking, when divided into rough categories, bathroom renovations costs may range widely:

• A budget renovation costs between $5,000 and $15,000
• A standard renovation costs between $15,000 and $25,000
• A premium or luxury renovation costs mostly between $25,000 and $35,000+ sometimes even over $60,000

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

What Other Factors Influence Bathroom Renovation Costs?

When it comes to bathroom renovation costs, the difference lies in the details.

What extra features drive up the cost?

• Budget tiles cost anywhere from $30 to $55 per square metre while premium tiles can cost $165m2 or more.
• A budget bathtub costs around $300 to $500 and is usually acrylic. A premium bathtub can cost as much as $3000 – $8000 and a mid-range tub might cost $1000 – $3000. Keep in mind that you will be paying extra for installation.
• While a basic toilet costs around $250 including installation, a nicer toilet might cost about $400. A premium toilet costs up to $1200.
• Be prepared to pay from $120 to $200 for a budget vanity, $700 – $850 for a standard vanity and $1500 or more for a premium vanity.

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

Cost differences will vary for other fittings such as:

• shower screens,
• basins,
• taps,
• exhaust fans,
• bathroom lighting,
• towel rails,
• tapware and many others.

While some fittings might be out of your budget, with enough digging around you should be able to find something at a reasonable price point. So, always remember to dedicate enough time to shopping around.

Photo courtesy of Pexels Images by Pixabay

A complete bathroom renovation usually includes adding or replacing plumbing fixtures and laying of floor and wall tiles. But apart from these, bathroom renovators also assess the cost by considering the materials used for the following:

• cabinetry,
• countertops,
• light fixtures.

The types of materials used can affect the amount of labour required, and some materials are also more complicated to install. Their prices may vary as well. Some are naturally more expensive — for instance, countertops made of luxurious materials and tiles with intricate patterns.

Now you may wonder if it’s possible to renovate a standard mid-size bathroom under $5,000 or at least under $10,000 nowadays.

Fortunately, it is especially with a little help from a directory such as Service Seeking! Although it might not be a full renovation, it’s still bound to make a huge difference and wow you.

We’re about to show you how to achieve this.

How to Renovate A Bathroom on A Tight Budget?

As you’ve already realised, a standard bathroom renovation will cost you at least $10,000 or more, including materials and labour.

Still, if you get a bit creative and are ready to do some work yourself, it’s possible to revamp your old bathroom and give it a modern look on a small budget of $5,000 or even less.

It depends on what changes you need and want to make. You’ll be able to give your bathroom a facelift with even a smaller amount of money (perhaps around $2,5000) if you just start thinking outside of the box.

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

So, here are some practical steps to renovate and restyle your bathroom for $5,000 or less with a few simple upgrades.

Step #1 – Mask blemished walls with water-resistant wallpaper instead of tiles.

Step #2 – If tiles are a must-have for you, then you could consider regrouting the existing tiles instead of re-tiling the whole bathroom. If you really need new tiles, perhaps you could limit their amount to the most critical areas such as floor and walls inside the shower and paint the rest of the walls.

Step #3 – Replace the old shower screen with a new one or with a shower curtain, which is even cheaper.

Step #4 – Instead of replacing the whole old but decent bathtub or sink, you could opt for modernising them with a new set of trendy faucets.

Step #5 – freshen up your bathroom look by replacing the old toothbrush holders, soap dispensers, towels, bathmats and other more stylish accessories.

Step #6 – Update the towel racks and other fixtures. You may buy those on discount, find some used ones online or get creative and use e.g. old plumbing instead to get the rustical look for example.

Step #7 – Maybe you don’t need to get rid of that old tub. Just hire a professional or refinish it yourself. Reglazing it yourself is an even cheaper option.

Step #8 – To save the money, do not move the major plumbing but leave it where it is if possible.

Step #9 – Buy a low-cost bathroom vanity and install it yourself. They already come assembled so it’s a no-brainer.

Step #10 – Install a new mirror to create an illusion of a bigger space if your bathroom is small. What’s more, choose an interesting shape. That can dramatically influence the look of your bathroom.

Step #11 – Upgrade the lighting to change the mood of the space. Make sure it’s designed to handle moisture and get a qualified electrician to install it for you.

You see? It’s not always necessary to knock down the walls or move the bathtub. Sometimes, simple upgrades such as these are more than enough to give a tired, old bathroom a fresh, new look.

Image source: Homedit

Bathroom Renovation Prices from Real Customers

Photo from: J Noble Plumbing

What Tradespeople Do I Need for A Complete Bathroom Renovation?

Some of the professional tradies are absolutely necessary for a bathroom renovation project, while others are optional. We won’t list all of them because the list can get quite long.

The following are the essential tradies whose help you’ll need to undertake a bathroom renovation:

1. Plumbers will be needed for moving or adding plumbing and can also do bath, shower and toilet installations etc.
2. An electrician may be needed if you are installing new lighting, underfloor heating, exhaust fans, heated towel rails and hot water heaters.
3. A tiler will be needed for walls and floor tiling, grouting, and removing the old tiles if any. You need to keep in mind that it’s currently a legal requirement to have a licensed tiler or somewhere even a plumber besides an expert waterproofer to install waterproofing. So make sure you adhere to the legislation in your region.
4. A waterproofing specialist may be needed to ensure that water from the shower, bath and other wet areas doesn’t cause damage to your home by penetrating through the walls or floor. Remember that waterproofing must conform to Australian Standard AS3740-2010 no matter which of the previously mentioned specialists does the job. Each Australian state has differing requirements for standards on waterproofing. So, follow the link to learn about them and everything you need to know about bathroom renovations in general.
5. A carpenter for installing cabinetry, shelving, or any other wooden elements, moving windows or doors and the like.
6. A house painter for repainting walls (if they’re not tiled), doors, ceilings and other areas not covered in tiles or cabinets.

Before you hire anyone, you’ll probably want to find out how much each of the experts typically charges for their services. Here’s where you can find the necessary information:

• How much do plumbers charge?
• How much do electricians charge?
• How much does a tiler cost?
• How much does waterproofing a bathroom cost?
• How much does a professional carpenter cost?
• What is the cost of hiring a house painter?

Also, bear in mind that many of the tradies will need to be licensed for the job. Make sure you double-check whether they’re all qualified, licensed and insured BEFORE you decide to rely on them.
Want to check the licensed bathroom renovators in your area and get competitive quotes from Australian experts? It’s never been easier! They’re just a few clicks away now.

Still feel a bit overwhelmed by all these numbers and details?

Let’s put them in a nutshell, then!

How Much Does It Cost to Renovate A Bathroom in Australia?

Click the infographic image to expand.

All in all, a budget bathroom renovation in Australia in 2018 starts from $10,000 including labour and low-end materials on average. The median cost of a full bathroom renovation with mid quality fittings and finishes costs around $20,000.

However, layout changes to sewerage and pipework and increase these costs considerably. On the low end, we have seen budget bathroom renovations on ServiceSeeking for between $2k – $5k.

In 2015, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) released the bathroom and kitchens renovation report. Their survey found that the average value for a bathroom renovation was $17,779. This isn’t much more than the cost of a bathroom installation in a brand new home, which according to the HIA comes in at an average of $16,731.

Although the quoted hourly rate for bathroom renovations is $65/hr, costs can vary significantly between different states:

• Bathroom renovation quotes in Victoria average $56/hr
• Bathroom renovation quotes in New South Wales average $60/hr
• Bathroom renovations quotes in Western Australia average $88/hr
• Bathroom renovation quotes in South Australia average $85/hr
• Bathroom renovation quotes in Queensland average $65/hr

Curious about the latest bathroom trends and research? Read on to find out some interesting facts.

Screenshot source: Insta Posts

What Does Recently Published Houzz Study Say About The Latest Bathroom Trends?

The Houzz Australia 2017 Bathroom Trends Study specified the following.

• If you are between 35 and 54 years of age, you’ll spend about $12,700 on a bathroom renovation.
• If you’re under 35, the study indicates you’ll spend about $9,100. Small bathrooms that are less than 5m2 in size cost an average of $9,700 to renovate.
• Renovating a bathroom that’s larger than this will come in at around $13,200.
• If you are over 54, the study indicates that you’ll spend around $11,900 on average.

Image source: Shami

Global comparison study shows that 31% of Australians decide to increase the size of their bathroom when renovating it, whereas 55% of them opt for increasing the shower size only.

No wonder they need more space when 60% of people spend on average over half an hour daily in a bathroom.

When undertaking such a huge renovating project, the fact that 92% of Aussies change their bathroom style is no surprise. Especially when we know that 64% reported that they last updated their bathrooms 16+ years ago and that most of them spent $8,9k on bathroom renovations.

Good news is that 89% of Australians hire professionals to do the job. That is a wise way to avoid possible issues and even double or triple your costs in the years to come.

No one is that rich, right?

So, let us help you find the highest rated expert bathroom renovators near you for your next big renovating project now that you’re ready and you know how much it costs to do a complete bathroom renovation.

In case you’d like to explore the topic a bit more, don’t hesitate to read our other articles on bathroom renovation listed below.

Screenshot source: Houzz photos

Related Bathroom Renovation Articles

• Cost of renovating an ensuite bathroom
• Cost of bathroom renovations: real job examples
• Cost of bathroom renovations – Melbourne
• Bathroom ideas Service Seeking photo gallery

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