What changes in a full renovation
The shower. Framed screens, shower trays and hobs out; walk-in showers with frameless glass, linear drains and niches in.
The bath. Kept, replaced with a freestanding tub, or removed to widen the shower.
The vanity. Floor-standing cabinets out; wall-hung vanities with drawers in.
The tiles. Small, busy, dated tiles out; larger formats, full-height tiling in wet zones.
The light and air. Better lighting at the mirror and a properly vented exhaust fan.
The sequence
- Measure and design — layout, fixtures, tiles and fittings.
- Selections locked — so nothing holds up the program.
- Asbestos test where the home predates about 1990.
- Demolition back to frame or slab.
- Rough-in — plumbing and electrical.
- Sheeting and waterproofing — cured and certified.
- Tiling — floor falls, walls, niches.
- Fit-off — vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, lighting.
- Clean and handover.
See how it works.
Shire homes, specifically
Post-war fibro and weatherboard — Caringbah, Gymea, Kirrawee. Timber floors, asbestos checks, sometimes framing repairs.
1960s–70s brick veneer — Miranda, Sylvania, Jannali. Often a separate toilet next to the bathroom that can be combined.
1980s–90s two-storey — Menai, Illawong, Engadine. Upstairs bathrooms where waterproofing protects the ceiling below.
Waterproofing
The step you never see and the one that matters most. Done by a licensed waterproofer to the relevant standard, cured properly, and certified. See waterproofing and tiling.
Costs
Main bathrooms typically $22,000–$36,000. See the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 4307 5309 or send the room details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
What is included in a full bathroom renovation?
Typically demolition back to frame or slab, any required framing repairs, plumbing and electrical rough-in, sheeting, certified waterproofing, screeding and falls, wall and floor tiling, and fit-off of vanity, toilet, tapware, shower screen, mirror, lighting, exhaust fan and accessories.
Can the bath be removed?
Yes, and many Shire families choose a bigger walk-in shower instead. If the house has no other bath and you have young children or plan to sell to families, keeping a bath — perhaps a freestanding one — is worth considering.
Can the layout change?
Often. Moving the shower, vanity or toilet depends on where the drainage can run. Many Shire homes are on suspended timber floors, which can make changes easier; homes on slabs may need concrete cutting.
Do I need council approval?
A bathroom renovation inside an existing house is generally exempt development if it does not change the structure or building footprint. Structural changes, extensions or heritage-listed properties can require approval.