BATHROOM RENOVATION CHECKLIST
A good renovation is mostly decided before the first tile comes off the wall. This checklist runs in the same order as the work itself, so each box you tick hands the next trade a clear decision instead of a question. Print it, work through it at your own pace, and bring it to your first consultation.
The stage numbers match our 12-stage bathroom renovation process.
Tick the planning boxes and every trade can work in the right order
Print this page or copy the lists into your notes. Cross out what does not apply to your room.
BEFORE ANYONE QUOTES
These four lists turn a vague idea into a brief. They make the consultation and assessment faster, and they give Bathroom Design something real to work from.
Gather inspiration and photos
Save images of bathrooms you like and note what you like in each one.
Photograph your current bathroom from the doorway and each corner, including the ceiling.
Note existing problems: drummy tiles, cracked grout, slow drains, marks on the other side of a wall.
Set a budget range
Decide on a comfortable range rather than one fixed number.
Rank where you would rather spend more and where you are happy to save.
Hold a contingency for what demolition uncovers. The cost guide explains what moves the price.
Take measurements
Room length, width and ceiling height.
Door width and swing, window position and sill height.
Where the toilet, shower waste and vanity sit today. See layout ideas before moving any of them.
List your must-haves
Bath, shower or both, and one basin or two.
Who uses the room, and when the morning rush happens.
Access needs now and in years to come, such as a hobless shower or grab rail blocking.
QUESTIONS TO ASK AT QUOTE STAGE
01What exactly is included, from strip-out to final clean?
02Which fixtures and tiles are allowed for, and which am I choosing myself?
03How is waterproofing done, and when is it checked before tiling?
04Who coordinates the plumber, electrician and tiler?
05What happens if rot or old leaks turn up behind the walls?
06How will I be kept informed as each stage finishes?
Compare scope, not totals
Keep the answers with each quote. When two numbers differ, the reason is usually a line one quote includes and the other leaves out, such as waterproofing detail, niche framing or disposal. Reading them side by side, line by line, shows you what you are really buying.
YOUR SELECTIONS LIST
Every item here needs a decision before demolition, because plumbing and electrical rough-in set the positions for all of them. A late change to a mixer or niche can mean reopening a wall.
Tile choices get their own detail in Bathroom Tiling.
Tiles and surfaces
Floor tile with a slip rating suited to wet feet
Wall tile, height and laying pattern
Grout colour and trim finish
Tapware and fixtures
Shower rose, rail and mixer
Basin mixer, toilet and bath
One finish across all metalware
Vanity and storage
Light, air and glass
Ceiling lights and mirror lighting
Exhaust fan and any heating
Shower screen style and hardware
PLAN A BATHROOM FOR THE MEANTIME
Once demolition starts, the room is out of action until fixtures go back in. If it is your only bathroom, sort the alternative now rather than in week one. The timeline guide explains where the time goes.
Arrange another shower and toilet: an ensuite, family nearby or a gym close to home.
Clear the room, the hallway and a path to the street for materials and waste.
Agree on site access, parking and where deliveries can be stored.
Let neighbours know about noise during demolition.
Ask to see the membrane before tiling covers it. Waterproofing is stage 08.
HANDOVER CHECKS
Run the shower and watch water fall to the waste with no pooling.
Check hot and cold at every tap, and the toilet flush and refill.
Look along tiles in side light for lippage, gaps and even grout.
Open every drawer and door, and swing the screen door fully.
Test lights, fan and power points.
Collect product manuals and care instructions for tiles, glass and tapware.
With the first lists ticked, you are ready for a proper conversation about your bathroom in Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Hughesdale or nearby. Have a question first? Use the contact page.