MATERIALS SCHEDULE — BRIGHTON, VIC
SELECTIONS BY APPOINTMENT
Home / Bathroom advice / Bathroom Renovation Costs
COST NOTES — REV A
what changes
BATHROOM RENOVATION COSTS
Most Brighton homeowners open with a number and work backwards. It is more useful to start with the decisions. Room size, the position of the existing plumbing, what sits under the old floor and the surfaces you select all set the cost of a bathroom long before a quote is written.
SELECTION MOVES THE NUMBER FURTHER THAN FLOOR AREA DOES
the four
WHAT ACTUALLY MOVES A BATHROOM QUOTE
Four variables carry most of the difference between one Brighton bathroom and the next. Everything else is detail.
SCOPE
LAYOUT / PLUMBING / WALLS
Holding the toilet, basin and shower close to where they already sit keeps the plumbing and drainage work contained. Moving a wet area, widening a doorway or opening up a wall brings in drainage falls, framing and often a plasterer, and that is a different project. Design and planning is where this gets settled.
SUBSTRATE
FLOORS / FALLS / FRAMING
Older Brighton and Bayside homes hide their surprises under the floor: tired timber, previous patch repairs, or a fall that never worked. Sound substrate and correct waterproofing are not optional, so allow for what demolition may reveal.
SURFACE
FORMAT / FINISH / JOINT
Tile format changes labour as much as material. Large-format sheets need flatter walls and careful setting out; mosaics and terrazzo add joints and time. Stone adds fabrication. See bathroom tiling for how the choice plays out on site.
REV B — SEQUENCE
where it goes
THE ORDER OF SPEND
Costs land in stages, not in one lump. Knowing the order helps you see where a change is cheap and where it is expensive.
01 — Demolition and make-good. Stripping back, removing waste and repairing what is found. Modest on its own, unpredictable in older homes.
02 — Rough-in. Plumbing and electrical set to the new plan. Every fixture you relocate is paid for here, which is why layout decisions belong at the drawing stage.
03 — Waterproofing and screed. Falls formed to the waste, membrane applied and cured. Time-bound work that cannot be compressed.
04 — Tiling. Usually the longest trade on site and the one most affected by your selections, from setting out to grout colour.
05 — Joinery and glass. Vanities and cabinetry and frameless screens are made to measure after tiling, so lead times matter. See shower renovations.
06 — Fit-off. Tapware, mirrors, lighting and final adjustments. Small items, visible finish, and the easiest place for a budget to drift upward.
keeping
CONTROL WITHOUT STRIPPING THE ROOM BACK
Hold the layout where the plumbing already works and spend the difference on what you touch and see. Choose one hero surface — a stone benchtop, a feature wall, a terrazzo floor — and let the rest sit quietly around it. Lock your selections before demolition begins so nothing is being decided while trades are waiting. Then leave room in your thinking for what the floor reveals, particularly in a period home.
A compact room does not automatically cost less: the same trades, membrane and fit-off apply in a smaller footprint. Small bathroom renovations and ensuite renovations often carry a similar sequence to a main bathroom, while luxury bathroom renovations move further on fabrication, joinery and tapware than on floor area.
COST QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED BEFORE QUOTING
Why do two quotes differ so much?
Usually because they describe different work. One may assume the existing floor is sound, another may allow to rebuild it. Compare inclusions line by line before comparing totals.
When should selections be made?
Before demolition. Tile format, waste position, basin type and glass thickness all influence the build, so late changes cost more than early ones. Our planning checklist covers the order.
Does a longer build cost more?
Not directly, though curing, lead times and trade sequencing all shape the program. Read more on bathroom renovation timelines.
Should I allow a contingency?
It is sensible in an older Bayside home, where framing, drainage or previous repairs may only appear once the room is stripped. We flag anything found and discuss it before proceeding — see our process and the FAQ.
talk it
THROUGH
Tell us the room, the surfaces you are drawn to and when you would like to start, and we can talk through the scope realistically. Our enquiry form asks for your name, email, phone, suburb, renovation type, budget range, timeframe and project details.