Bathroom renovations often come down to one thing: cost. Your budget will determine how much of your space you can renovate, the quality of materials you can afford and how much professional help you can enlist. Renovating your bathroom can be especially tricky as it combines many different fixtures, such as the toilet, shower and sink, and requires the use of special materials that can resist moisture and mould growth.
The price of renovating your bathroom in 2024 will depend on what exactly you want to do. A quick freshening up of the paint versus the installation of a new bath will both lead to differing cost amounts, so let’s dive into how much different types of average bathroom renovations will cost and what you can and cannot do on your own.
If you’re looking to quickly refresh your bathroom or have a tight budget, then a minor renovation is a good way to go. Minor renovations you can do include:
A fresh coat of colour can go a long way to brightening and modernising any bathroom and is a mainstay of any bathroom renovation process. Make sure to choose a paint suitable for the bathroom that can resist water and mould growth.
Paints suitable for the bathroom can cost anywhere between $60 and $200 for a 4L bucket, depending on the brand, colour and finish you want. How much you need to buy will depend on your bathroom size and how many coats you wish to paint—always do at least two layers for a smooth and professional finish.
Fresh handles and a tap are easy to install yourself, and new ones are a good idea if your old taps have become discoloured over time from water damage and corrosion.
Depending on the tap material, the price range for new taps includes $60 for a basic stainless steel tap, $200 for matte black or chrome taps or even $500 for designer or brass taps. Price will also differ if you want separate hot and cold taps or a mixer tap that combines both into one.
Bathrooms need to be bright spaces, so a new cool white light bulb can go a long way to freshening up the room. Downlights are a common sight in bathrooms, or you can add protruding lights from the walls and ceiling for a more elegant feel.
Downlights are the cheapest option and tend to cost around $10-$50 a bulb to buy. More eye-catching light fixtures, such as pendant lights and wall lights, can cost over $100 depending on their design. Paying an electrician to install these will also incur a fee, but is a much safer option if you aren’t experienced in wiring.
Easy access to all your towels is vital to a well-organised bathroom. It also helps them dry better, which is helpful in winter when colder temperatures won’t help your towels dry during the day. You can create a sense of cohesion in your bathroom by matching the material of your towel racks to others in the space, like those in the shower or the sink.
A simple towel ring, such as one for a hand towel, may only cost $12 to purchase. Quality single towel racks can cost around $150 each, or you can splurge for a heated, multi-bar towel rail for $1500! Keep in mind that heated rails will need to be connected to a power source, so you may require the help of an electrician.
Overall, a minor bathroom project should cost around $5000 to $10,000, depending on what fixtures you buy and how much they cost to install.
Do you need an affordable bathroom renovation in Glen Iris, Richmond or Hawthorn? The team at DPV Construction can help!
If your bathroom needs a more serious makeover but you don’t want to shell out for a complete renovation, then you can try for a moderately-sized refresh instead. Larger bathroom remodel ideas you can try include:
Bathroom mirrors tend to become silvered over time and accumulate stains from water, toothpaste and facial care products. New mirrors can make your bathroom feel bigger and brighter and are also a great way to modernise a space.
A quality bathroom mirror, depending on its size, will cost around $500. Smaller mirrors might only cost around $30, while deluxe mirrors with extras such as backlighting or even heating may cost over $1000.
Your shower doors will eventually become scummy unless you constantly clean them, so installing a new pair is a great way to make your bathroom look brand new again. Choosing frameless shower screens is a smart way to modernise a bathroom, but these are also harder to install and more delicate.
A sturdy, framed shower screen will cost around $300-$500, while frameless screens are more pricey at $800-$1500, with the higher prices denoting larger screens and the need for help to install them.
Grout is vital to protecting your home from leaking water and soap from your bathroom, and regrouting an old shower or bathroom is a fantastic way to make it look shiny and new again. However, grout costs can vary widely depending on how wide the area is to be regrouted, what kinds of grout you are using and any additional labour costs.
Grout can cost as little as $1.50 a kilo for sanded grout to $22 a kilo for epoxy or polymer grout. The higher price indicates that these types of grout don’t need to be sealed after application.
You can completely change the look and feel of your bathroom with new wall or floor tiles, but their cost can vary depending on the size and type of your new tiles and the labour costs to install them if you’re not doing it yourself.
Bathroom tiles themselves can cost anywhere from $30 per square metre to $150 per square metre for premium tiles. Materials like ceramic are a more affordable option, while porcelain and stone are down the pricier end, especially if you need to waterproof any porous stone floor or wall tiles as well.
Overall, the average cost of a moderate bathroom renovation is between $10,000 and $25,000 to complete. DIYing any labour can dramatically reduce costs, but if anything is installed incorrectly, it may also lead to more costly troubles down the road.
DPV Construction conducts bathroom renovations in Balwyn, Prahran and Surrey Hills. Get in touch to start the process now!
If you want to pour a lot of money into your bathroom renovation, you can get really creative with your ideas! Premium materials, plenty of storage and a spacious design are all hallmarks of a complete bathroom renovation. Here are some of the pricier components of a complete overhaul of your bathroom:
Replacing the cabinetry and storage in your bathroom can not only make it cleaner (with the extra storage space) but also more visually appealing.
Tailored bathroom cabinets can cost over $1000, but luckily, most are easy to install if you have the proper knowledge and tools. Installation costs for a professional also won’t be too much if you require their services.
The transition between your warm shower and bath and the cold tiles is never pleasant, but you can mitigate this with heated flooring or a heated towel rack. This is especially enjoyable in winter when the journey from hot water to cold air is downright horrible!
Heated flooring is a luxury, and its cost will depend on how large your bathroom is and what kind of flooring you have. Most of the time, underfloor heating will cost you between $20-$40 per square metre, but a custom design may run you between $120-$185 per square metre.
An entirely new toilet or bathtub can take your bathroom to the next level, but as expected, these are some of the most expensive units to install. If you are moving their position and need new plumbing underneath, it can cost you several thousand dollars extra. Keep in mind removing old fixtures can also incur an additional fee from professionals.
Toilets come in many different types, such as the classic two-piece toilet with the bowl and tank combined ($250-$1000) or more modern toilets with just the bowl visible and the tank concealed behind the wall ($250-$5000). Smart toilets offer features like a heated seat, self-flushing and bidet options, but they can cost up to $7000 to buy!
Bathtubs come in many shapes and sizes, with a basic tub costing around $300, while premium ones may cost you over $4000. Installation costs will vary greatly depending on if you need to move the existing pipes, which will incur plumbing costs from an expert.
Whether you want some extra storage or a double vanity for you and your partner to use, refreshing the vanity is an unmissable step in any bathroom renovation. Both plain and tailored vanities can include cabinets, sinks and even mirrors, so the cost will vary depending on what type you want to install.
A new bathroom vanity made from quality materials can cost between $2000 to over $3000. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars if you need to get a licensed plumber to install it as well.
Overall, you can expect to spend between $25,000 and $50,000 on a premium bathroom renovation. You may also want to enlist the services of a designer or architect to help you design your entire bathroom, so make sure you factor this into your budget!
No matter what level of bathroom renovation you wish to undertake, make sure to set aside 10-20% of your renovation budget for emergencies and unexpected costs.
For a premium renovation experience, contact DPV Construction. We do bathroom renovations in Canterbury, Mont Albert and Armadale.
You can expect a professional and high-quality bathroom renovation when you leave the hard work to the team at DPV Construction. Our team of bathroom renovators is passionate about providing quality bathroom renovations in Burwood, Camberwell, Malvern and other areas across southeast Melbourne.
Start your bathroom renovation project by contacting us today. Call us or fill out our online order form, and our team will work with you to plan and design your dream bathroom makeover. And for more information on bathroom renovations, make sure to read our other blogs on 10 Mistakes To Avoid During Your Bathroom Renovation and Budget-Friendly Home Renovation Tips.
