This is a sample so you can see the format. Your plan is built around your own rooms, sizes and finishes.
01 · Project summary and budget reality-check
Is your budget realistic?
You're planning a full renovation of a single main bathroom in an older double-brick home: strip it back to the frame and refit completely, with a freestanding bath, walk-in shower, wall-hung vanity and full floor-to-ceiling tiling.
For a Perth mid-range bathroom of this size and scope in 2026, a realistic all-in figure sits in the range below. If your number is well under this, the quote is probably missing something. If it's well over, you may be paying for finishes above mid-range, or for access and structural issues specific to your home.
$26,000 to $32,000
Realistic all-in range, including trades, materials, waterproofing and contingency. Indicative only.
For context, mid-range full bathroom renovations in Perth typically run $20,000 to $35,000 in 2026, so this scope sits mid-range.
02 · Itemised budget
Where the money goes
| Item | Indicative |
|---|
| Demolition and strip-out | $1,500 |
| Skip bin and rubbish removal | $600 |
| Plumbing (rough-in, fit-off, relocations) | $3,800 |
| Electrical (downlights, exhaust, heated towel rail) | $1,800 |
| Waterproofing to AS 3740 | $1,300 |
| Screed and floor prep | $700 |
| Wall and floor tiling (supply and lay) | $5,200 |
| Plaster, patching and cornice | $800 |
| Vanity and cabinetry | $2,000 |
| Benchtop (porcelain or natural stone) | $900 |
| Tapware, mixers and wastes | $1,000 |
| Freestanding bath | $1,200 |
| Semi-frameless shower screen | $1,000 |
| Toilet suite and basin | $900 |
| Painting | $700 |
| Mirror, niche, rails and accessories | $700 |
| Subtotal | $24,100 |
| Contingency (15%, for the older home) | $3,615 |
| Indicative total | $27,715 |
Contingency is set at 15% rather than the usual 10% because pre-1990 homes routinely hide surprises once the walls are open. More on that below.
03 · Build sequence
The right order, so nothing gets redone
- Asbestos check first. In a 1970s home, test before any demolition. This gates everything else.
- Strip-out and disposal. Remove fixtures, tiles and old waterproofing back to a sound substrate.
- Rough-in trades. Plumber and electrician set pipes and cabling for the new layout while walls are open.
- Plaster and make good. Patch and prepare wall surfaces.
- Screed and set falls. Floor graded to the drain before waterproofing.
- Waterproofing and cure. Applied to AS 3740, then left to cure fully. Do not rush this.
- Tiling. Floor and walls, only once waterproofing has cured.
- Cabinetry and benchtop. Vanity installed, benchtop templated and fitted after.
- Fit-off trades. Tapware, toilet, shower screen, lights, exhaust and heated rail.
- Paint, seal and clean. Final coats, silicone, detail and handover.
Order these early (long lead times): freestanding bath, tapware set, vanity and any special-order tiles. A late tile order is the most common cause of a stalled bathroom.
04 · Compliance, permits and licensed trades
What has to be done by the book
WaterproofingMust comply with AS 3740. This is the single most common failure point and the most expensive to fix later. Keep the certificate.
Licensed onlyPlumbing and electrical must be done by licensed trades in WA, with certificates of compliance. Do not accept cash-only unlicensed work here.
AsbestosPre-1990 homes may contain asbestos in wall sheeting or flooring. Testing and, if needed, licensed removal is a legal and safety requirement.
VentilationA compliant exhaust fan ducted to outside is required to meet the NCC and to prevent mould.
ApprovalsA like-for-like bathroom refit usually needs no planning approval, but confirm with your local council if you move walls or windows.
05 · Hidden-cost risks for this home
What tends to appear once the walls are open
- Old copper or galvanised pipework that needs replacing once exposed, common in 1970s homes.
- Rotten or damaged subfloor / substrate under the old waterproofing.
- Out-of-square walls and floors that slow tiling and add labour.
- Undersized or non-compliant wiring for modern heated rails and downlights.
- Asbestos in sheeting, which changes the demolition method and cost.
Each of these is why the 15% contingency is not optional on a home of this age.
06 · Commonly forgotten costs
The line items that blow budgets
Skip bin hire and disposal fees, temporary access to a second bathroom during the works, delivery charges on bath and tiles, protection of hallways and flooring, final builder's clean, and the price of tapware and tiles you fall in love with that sit above the allowance in a quote. Budget for these now, not as a nasty surprise later.
07 · What you can DIY vs must hire
You can do yourself
- Demolition of non-structural fittings
- Rubbish runs to the tip
- Painting
- Sourcing and buying fixtures
- Final clean
Must be a licensed trade
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Waterproofing (for warranty and compliance)
- Structural changes
- Asbestos removal
08 · How to compare builder quotes
Is one quote actually cheaper, or just missing things?
- Is waterproofing listed as a separate, certified line, or buried and vague?
- Are tiles and tapware a real allowance, or a low placeholder you'll blow past?
- Is rubbish removal and skip hire included, or extra?
- Does it name the licensed plumber and electrician?
- Is there a contingency, or does the quote pretend nothing will go wrong?
- Are start and finish dates, and a payment schedule, written down?
A quote that is $3,000 cheaper but silent on three of these is usually not cheaper. It's incomplete.
This plan is indicative planning guidance to help you brief licensed trades and designers. It is an estimate, not a quote or fixed price, and not construction documentation, engineering, financial or legal advice. Costs and requirements vary, so always confirm scope, pricing, permits and compliance with appropriately licensed and registered professionals before committing money or starting work. © Renova Industries Pty Ltd.