Full Bathroom Renovations Maitland
- 8 listed service areas
- Referral service
- ABN 47 632 426 549
What a full renovation involves
A full renovation removes the old fittings, linings and tiles and rebuilds the room: new plumbing and wiring, wall sheeting, a waterproof membrane, tiles, fixtures and a screen. Because the walls and floor are opened up, a full job brings in several trades and often reveals problems that a cosmetic refresh would never meet.
The tiers in a published guide
A design website sets five tiers for Australia. A budget full renovation runs $12,000 to $20,000 and a mid-range one $20,000 to $45,000. A premium renovation is $45,000 to $90,000, and luxury work starts at $90,000. It puts the national average near $26,000. These figures come from a website that also lists designers, and they are not Maitland quotes.
Where the money goes
The same guide's worked example is a $24,000 mid-range renovation of 6 m². Demolition is $1,500, plumbing $5,000, electrical $2,000, waterproofing to AS 3740 $1,200, tiling $6,500, fixtures $6,800 and painting $1,000. Compare each quote with a list like this, and ask about any line you cannot find.
The licence threshold
The NSW Government says residential building work above $5,000, including GST, needs a licensed contractor, and it names bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovations among that work. A full renovation will be well above that line. Ask for the licence details and check it in the NSW online licence check before you sign.
Specialist trades
NSW also says specialist work must be done by the holder of the specialist licence unless the builder holds that category too. Plumbing, drainage and electrical work are the obvious examples in a bathroom. Ask who will do each part and ask for each licence details, not only the builder's.
The contract
Above $5,000 the contract must be written and carry the licence details and holder's name, and that name must match the business doing the work. The deposit is limited to 10 percent, variations must be written and signed, and you should receive a copy within five business days.
When the job passes $20,000
A contract over $20,000 needs a progress payment schedule, a five-clear-business-day cooling-off period, and home building compensation cover with a certificate before any deposit is taken. Service NSW's HBC Check lets you look the certificate up by address or contractor.
Contingency
The guide recommends a contingency of 10 to 15 percent for houses more than 20 years old. In practice that means finding out what the quote says about rot, damaged framing and rusted pipes before the walls are opened, and how any extra would be priced.
Asbestos in older houses
The NSW asbestos page estimates that one in three houses built or renovated between 1945 and 1990 contains asbestos, including behind tiles. If your house is of that age, tell every business before it quotes and ask who would arrange a licensed assessor.
Ventilation in a humid climate
Wikipedia says Maitland has a humid subtropical climate with a summer rainfall peak. Ask how the exhaust fan will be fitted, where it discharges and whether it is ducted outside, so steam does not collect in the roof space.
Warranty
The NSW contracts page says statutory warranties run six years for major defects and two years for others. Ask the business to put its own warranty and what it covers in writing as well, and keep the paperwork.
Progress inspections
The NSW contracts page says an independent consultant can inspect progress for about $250 to $500 per visit. On a full renovation, a single inspection before waterproofing is covered, and another before fit-off, may be worth asking about. Ask whether the business will allow access.
Reading the quote line by line
Look for demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures, painting and rubbish removal as separate lines. A single lump sum is harder to compare, and a missing line may mean you are expected to pay for it separately later. Ask which items are allowances and which are fixed.
Before you decide
Collect at least three quotes written to the same scope, check each licence, and read the contract at your own pace. The NSW page lists warning signs such as pressure to sign quickly and an extremely low quote. Only then choose, and we are not a party to that choice.
What is the cost of a full renovation?
One national design-website guide gives $12,000 to $20,000 for a budget job and $20,000 to $45,000 mid-range. It is not a Maitland quote.
Do I need a licensed contractor?
The NSW Government says residential building work over $5,000 needs one and lists bathroom renovations. Ask for the licence details.
Is HBC cover needed?
It is required before a deposit or start for work of $20,000 or more, according to the Service NSW HBC Check page.
What should a quote show?
The NSW contracts page says the licence details, the licence holder's name and a progress payment schedule where required. Ask for the scope room by room.