Short answer: a cosmetic refresh (vanity, tapware, re-grout) costs a fraction of a full strip-out rebuild with new waterproofing, tiling, plumbing and electrical. Main bathrooms cost more than ensuites. The three things that move the price most are layout changes, waterproofing scope and finish level — and the cheapest quote is usually the one that skipped the waterproofing properly.
Refresh vs full strip-out
| Scope | What's involved |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | New vanity, mirror, tapware, shower screen, re-grout or re-silicone. No tile removal, no waterproofing changes. Days, not weeks. |
| Shower rebuild | Shower area stripped to substrate, re-waterproofed, re-tiled with new screens and drainage. Fixes leaks properly. |
| Full strip-out | Everything out: demolition, plumbing rough-in, waterproofing to AS 3740, wall and floor tiling, electrical, fit-off. Two to three weeks. |
A refresh over a failing waterproof membrane is lipstick on a leak. If the shower leaks, grout is stained through, or there's a musty smell that won't leave, you're in rebuild territory whether the budget likes it or not.
The three price movers
1. Layout and plumbing moves
Keeping the toilet, shower and vanity where they are saves real money. Every metre you move waste and water is licensed plumbing time, concrete cutting or restumping considerations in Queenslanders, and new waterproofing junctions. Open up the floor plan and the price follows.
2. Waterproofing scope
Compliant wet-area waterproofing to AS 3740, with cure times respected. It's the single most important line in the quote and the one most often done badly. Ask every quoter: what waterproofing system do you use, and who certifies it?
3. Finish level and tile choice
Large-format porcelain, mitred edges, niches, linear drains, stone tops and brushed-brass tapware all add labour and material cost. Budget, mid-range and premium bathrooms can sit bands apart for the same floor plan.
Why the electrical matters (our home turf)
Every bathroom needs lighting, an exhaust fan, power points and usually a heated towel rail — all electrical work under the Wiring Rules. Most renovators subcontract this and you wait on a sparky mid-job. We hold the licence ourselves: the person who quotes your bathroom wires it too. IP-rated fittings, correct zones, safety switches, certified on handover.
Related reading: our bathroom renovation service page and recent rebuilds.
A cosmetic refresh (new vanity, tapware, re-grout) costs a fraction of a full strip-out rebuild with new waterproofing, tiling, plumbing and electrical. Main bathrooms cost more than ensuites, and moving plumbing or the layout adds the most. Ask for a fixed quote that lists waterproofing, tiling, electrical and fit-off separately.
A full strip-out rebuild typically runs two to three weeks including waterproofing cure times, tiling and fit-off. Cosmetic refreshes can be days. Waterproofing and tile curing can't be rushed — anyone promising a full rebuild in a few days is skipping steps.
Yes. Bathroom lighting, exhaust fans, heated towel rails, power points and safety switches are all electrical work that must meet the Wiring Rules. Most renovators subcontract this out; Lotus holds the licence in-house, so the electrical is quoted, wired and certified by our own team.
Waterproofing, to AS 3740. It's hidden, it's the step most often done badly, and it's the cause of most bathroom failures — leaking showers, swollen walls, mould. Tiles are fashion; waterproofing is structure. Never accept a quote that glosses over it.