OUR 12-STAGE BATHROOM RENOVATION PROCESS
A bathroom renovation is a run of trades working in a small room, one after another. When the order slips, work gets pulled apart and redone. Bathroom Renovation Murrumbeena runs every job from the same board, from the first conversation to the final walk-through, for homes in Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Hughesdale, Oakleigh, Malvern East and nearby suburbs. This page shows what happens at each stage and what you decide along the way.
01 Consultation · 02 Assessment · 03 Design · 04 Quote · 05 Materials · 06 Demolition · 07 Plumbing/Electrical · 08 Waterproofing · 09 Tiling · 10 Fixtures · 11 Finishing · 12 Handover
WHAT TO HAVE READY
Photos of the existing room, including cracked tiles, stains or mould
A list of what frustrates you about the bathroom now
Must-haves: bath or no bath, shower type, basins, storage
A budget range you are comfortable discussing
Which toilet and shower the household will use during works
Parking and access for trades and materials
The full list is in the Bathroom Renovation Checklist.
AGREE THE ROOM BEFORE IT COMES APART
The first four stages happen in conversation, on site with a tape measure and on paper. Nothing is pulled out until the layout, selections and scope are agreed, and that is what keeps the later trades running in order.
Consultation
We talk through how the bathroom is used now, what isn’t working and what the finished room needs to do, whether that’s a second basin, a walk-in shower, more storage or easier cleaning.
You prepare: must-haves, deal-breakers and photos of bathrooms you like.
Starting from scratch? See Full Bathroom Renovations.
Assessment
On site we check the room itself: wall and floor condition, where the waste and water lines run, ventilation, window position, access for materials and any signs of water damage.
You decide: whether the toilet, shower and vanity stay put or move, which shapes the plumbing scope.
Stained skirting or loose tiles? See Leaking Shower Repairs.
Design
The layout is drawn up with fixture positions, the shower zone, storage, lighting and tile set-out. Materials are then shortlisted to suit the room and the budget.
You decide: the layout, tiles, tapware finish, vanity style and any built-in storage.
How we plan the room: Bathroom Design.
Quote
The quote is written from the agreed design, so the scope matches what will actually be built, stage by stage, from strip-out to handover.
You decide: whether to go ahead, or to adjust the scope and selections before anything is ordered.
What moves the number: Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide.
CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE TRADES
Once materials are locked in, the room is stripped back and the services are set up for the new layout. What happens here decides where every tap, drain and light ends up.
Materials
Tiles, tapware, vanity, screen, toilet and accessories are confirmed and ordered before the room is stripped, so the trades aren’t left waiting on stock in a bathroom with no walls.
You decide: final selections, including a back-up choice if an item isn’t available. Built-in storage is covered under Custom Cabinetry.
Demolition
Old tiles, fixtures, linings and floor bed come out, debris is removed and the exposed frame and floor are checked before anything new goes in. What turns up behind old tiles can change the pace of the job. See How Long Does a Bathroom Renovation Take?
You prepare: clear the room and the access path, and protect belongings in nearby rooms.
Plumbing/Electrical
Waste and water pipes are roughed in to the new layout, and wiring is run for downlights, the exhaust fan, vanity power and any heated towel rail.
You decide: mixer and shower head heights, niche position, and where power points and switches sit. Drain placement matters most for Walk-In Showers.
THE MEMBRANE, THEN THE TILES
These two stages are a handover between trades. The tiler builds directly on the membrane and the falls, so neither is rushed.
Background reading: Bathroom Waterproofing Guide.
Waterproofing
A membrane goes across the wet-area floor and up the walls, with extra detailing at corners, pipe penetrations and the drain. It is then left to cure before any tile goes on.
You prepare: there’s nothing to select, but this is the right moment to ask to see the membrane before it’s covered for good.
More on this stage: Waterproofing.
Tiling
The floor bed is formed with falls to the drain, tiles are set out from agreed centre lines, and walls and floor are laid, grouted and finished with flexible sealant at the joints that move.
You decide: tile and grout colour were chosen at design. On site, confirm niche and feature-tile lines before they are fixed.
See Bathroom Tiling and Bathroom Tile Ideas.
FIT-OFF, FINISH, WALK-THROUGH
Fixtures
The vanity, basin, toilet, tapware, shower screen, mirror and accessories are installed and connected to the services set up at rough-in.
You decide: heights for towel rails, robe hooks and the toilet roll holder. See Vanity Installation.
Finishing
Silicone, trims, ceiling and paint are completed, water flow and drainage are checked at every outlet, and the room is cleaned of dust and grout haze.
You prepare: walk the room and note anything you want looked at before handover. Detailing carries even more weight in Luxury Bathrooms.
Handover
We walk through the finished bathroom together, go over the care of grout, silicone and fittings, and pass on the product information for the fixtures installed. Renovating the main bedroom’s bathroom next? See Ensuite Renovations or browse Bathroom Projects.
PUT YOUR BATHROOM ON THE BOARD
Whether it’s a family bathroom in Murrumbeena, an ensuite in Bentleigh East or a tired shower in Chadstone, a quote request is the first stage on the board. Prefer to ask a question first? Use the contact page.