18 years on the tools
Certified AS 3740 waterproofing, done in-house
One trade, one accountability
Free fixed written quote
18 years on the tools
Certified AS 3740 waterproofing, done in-house
One trade, one accountability
Free fixed written quote
It is the first question every homeowner asks, and the honest answer is that it depends. A bathroom renovation in Melbourne can range widely, because no two bathrooms, and no two scopes of work, are the same. What matters more than a headline number is understanding what drives the cost, so you can read a quote properly and avoid the price that blows out halfway through.
This guide explains what actually moves the cost of a bathroom renovation, why quotes vary so much between trades, and how a fixed written quote protects you from surprises.
You can get three quotes for the same bathroom and see three very different numbers. That is not always about one trade overcharging and another being a bargain. It is usually because they are quoting different scopes of work.
One quote might assume the existing waterproofing is fine and just re-tile over it. Another might price a full strip-back, new substrate, new membrane and new tiling. On paper they are both “a bathroom renovation”. In reality they are different jobs with very different lifespans. The lowest quote is often the one cutting the work you cannot see.
A larger bathroom has more floor and wall area to prepare, waterproof and tile. Moving plumbing or walls adds trades and time. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest saving available.
Old substrates, water damage and timber floors that move all add preparation work. In Melbourne's period and mid-century homes, what is behind the wall often costs more than what goes on it.
A wet area must be waterproofed to AS 3740:2021. This is non-negotiable and it is not the place to save money. A membrane done properly, in-house, is a small share of the budget and the part that decides whether the bathroom lasts.
Large-format tiles and natural stone cost more to buy and more to lay, because the preparation and cutting are more demanding. Standard ceramic is more forgiving on both counts.
Tapware, vanities, screens and toilets span a huge price range. This is where personal choice moves the budget most, and where you have the most control.
Labour is a large share of any bathroom budget, and trade rates in Victoria have risen in recent years. A trade that owns the substrate, waterproofing and tiling in-house removes the margins that stack up when work is subbed between trades.
The most common nasty surprise is the variation. Work starts, the tiles come off, and suddenly there is a list of extras that were not in the original price. Some of that is genuine. Old bathrooms hide problems. But too often it is a low quote that was never going to hold.
The fix is to insist on a fixed written quote with a clear scope before any work starts. Genuine changes should be re-quoted and agreed in writing, not sprung on you at the end. That is how the Zia Tiling team quotes one price, fixed before work begins, with changes agreed before they happen.
A bathroom is one of the few rooms where cutting cost can cost you the whole room. Save money on the membrane or the substrate, and the bathroom fails in a couple of years, and you pay for the repair on top of the original job. The Australian Consumer Law gives you guarantees on workmanship, but the lowest quote often comes from operators who are hardest to hold to them. You can read about your rights through Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Spending sensibly does not mean spending the most. It means spending on the work that lasts, the preparation and the certified waterproofing, and choosing finishes to suit your budget.
Usually because they cover different scopes. One may re-tile over old waterproofing while another rebuilds the wet area properly. Compare what is included, not just the number.
The substrate and the waterproofing. They are hidden, so they are tempting to cut, but they decide whether the bathroom lasts.