A bathroom renovation is more than tiles and colours

When you picture a new bathroom, you probably start with tiles, tapware and colour. Those choices matter, but they’re the last layer. I’m Ivan Bodnar, an independent home renovation specialist in Melbourne. After about 15 years of hands-on residential work, I’ve learned that the result depends on what sits behind and beneath the finishes.

~15 years hands-on · Free on-site assessment · 9am–6pm, 7 days

THE SHORT VERSION

Finishes are the last layer, not the first decision.

New tiles laid over a tired substrate can look good on handover day and still let you down later. So can a vanity squeezed into an awkward layout, or a fresh surface over signs of moisture.

Before we talk about the look, I want to understand the bathroom you already have. That means its condition, its practical limits and what has to happen before anything new goes on. It’s the part of the job that decides whether the renovation lasts.

FIVE THINGS BEHIND THE FINISH

What a good renovation actually depends on

These are the things I look at during a free on-site assessment, before we choose any finishes.

01 · EXISTING CONDITION

Outdated finishes are easy to spot. Damaged surfaces, worn materials and what’s happening under old tiles are harder to see. On site I explain what I can reasonably assess, and what stays uncertain until demolition begins.

02 · PREPARATION

This covers demolition, making good the walls and floor, and setting out before tiling. It’s the least photogenic part of the job, and it’s where much of the quality is decided. It’s also why timeframes depend on the room, not on a fixed figure.

03 · PRACTICAL LAYOUT

A bathroom has to work every morning. Where the shower, vanity and storage sit, how the door swings and how easy the room is to clean matter as much as the colour palette. Some layout changes are simple. Others depend on the existing services.

04 · SIGNS OF MOISTURE

Lifting tiles, crumbling grout, staining or a musty smell can point to problems that need attention before any new surface goes on. Covering them up rarely solves anything.

05 · LICENSED TRADES

Most renovations involve some plumbing or electrical work. I don’t personally provide licensed plumbing or electrical services. That regulated work is done by appropriately licensed specialists, and I may coordinate their involvement so the work happens in a sensible order. How licensed trades fit in.

Tiling goes well when the surface beneath it has been properly prepared.

WHERE THE TILES COME IN

Choosing finishes once the groundwork is clear

Tiling and surface work make up a large part of what I do, and I’m glad to help you choose finishes that suit the room. The difference is timing. Once the condition, layout and preparation are understood, you can choose tiles, fittings and colours with fewer surprises. The written quotation can then reflect the agreed scope.

Work outside that quotation isn’t automatically included, so it pays to settle the groundwork first. Any pricing we discuss before then is general guidance only. What affects renovation cost and timeframe.

CHECKLIST

Before you pick a single tile

A few minutes with your own bathroom makes the first conversation far more useful.

□ Note what bothers you most: cracked tiles, worn grout, an awkward layout or surfaces that are hard to keep clean.

□ Look for signs of moisture, such as lifting tiles, staining, mould that keeps coming back or a persistent musty smell.

□ Take a few photos of the whole room and any problem areas. They help when you first get in touch.

□ Think about how your household uses the room now, and how that might change over the next few years.

□ Keep an open mind about scope. If the room is sound, a repair or cosmetic update may be enough. Do you need a full renovation?