Stripped back. Rebuilt to an agreed scope.

A complete renovation takes an existing bathroom back to its structure and rebuilds it, with new surfaces, new finishes and a layout that suits the way your household uses the room. I’m Ivan Bodnar, an independent home renovation specialist in Melbourne. I assess your bathroom myself before any scope is written down, and I stay responsible for the work through to completion.

SCOPE

Depending on your bathroom and the agreed scope, a complete renovation may cover:

Initial discussion and on-site assessment
Review of the existing condition and practical limitations
Removal of existing finishes and fittings
Preparation of walls and floors
Tiling, flooring and surface work
Coordination of licensed plumbing and electrical specialists where needed

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

Reference photo: surfaces being prepared in a partially renovated bathroom.

CONDITION → SCOPE

Five things that shape a complete renovation

No two complete renovations follow the same path. These factors decide what the work involves, and they are what I look at during the assessment.

01 · Extent of demolition
How much comes out: tiles only, or the substrate, fixtures and floor as well. Removing more shows more, and it changes the preparation that follows.

02 · Required preparation
Walls and floors need to be sound, flat and ready for new finishes. Once the old tiles are off, older bathrooms often need more preparation than first expected.

03 · Selected materials
Tile size, format and type affect the layout, the preparation and the installation. Large formats and detailed patterns need more from the surface underneath.

04 · Trade coordination
Licensed specialists carry out the plumbing and electrical work. When they attend affects the overall order of the renovation.

05 · Issues found during the work
Some conditions, such as moisture damage behind the tiles, can’t be seen until the bathroom is opened up. At the assessment I explain what I can see and what remains uncertain.

That’s why I don’t publish fixed prices or durations. Costs and timeframes depend on your property, the materials you choose and the agreed scope. Any figure is general guidance until it’s set out in a written quotation. Read what affects renovation cost and timeframe.

SURFACE WORK

Finished tiles are only as good as what's beneath them

Most people judge a renovated bathroom by its surfaces: straight grout lines, level floors and clean edges where the tiles meet. I have about 15 years of hands-on residential renovation experience, much of it in bathroom renovations, tiling, flooring and surface work.

I first learned renovation work alongside my father. I then built my skills working with tradespeople and renovation teams before going independent. That background is why I put so much weight on preparation. When the substrate is right, the finishes go down properly and last.

You deal directly with me, the person who assesses the bathroom and does the work, and I take responsibility for the quality of what I do. More about Ivan Bodnar.

LICENSED TRADES

Regulated work, done by licensed specialists

A complete renovation often involves plumbing or electrical changes. I don’t personally provide licensed plumbing or electrical services. Where your renovation needs that work, appropriately licensed specialists complete it, and I may coordinate their involvement so it fits the order of demolition, preparation and finishing.

How licensed trades fit into a renovation →

IS IT NECESSARY?

A complete renovation isn't always the answer

If your bathroom is in sound condition and only needs a minor repair or a cosmetic update, stripping it back may not be worth it. A full renovation makes more sense when the problems go deeper: outdated finishes throughout, damaged surfaces, an impractical layout, worn materials or signs of moisture.

I’ll tell you what I think the bathroom actually needs. Read: Do You Need a Full Renovation?

BEFORE YOU GET IN TOUCH

A few photos of the bathroom from different angles
Your suburb
What’s bothering you: finishes, layout, damage or moisture
What you’d like to change

Send these by text, phone or email. Next comes a free on-site assessment, followed by a written quotation for the agreed scope.