Trade guides
How to Compare Bathroom Renovation Quotes
Updated 11 June 2026 · 5 min read · Written for Australian homeowners and builders
Bathroom quotes range from $15k to $45k+ for similar-looking rooms. The variance is almost always in waterproofing, tiling allowance, and PC sums. Here's how to see it clearly.
Where bathroom quotes go sideways
- Waterproofing — must be done by a licensed waterproofer to AS 3740. Demand a certificate.
- Tile allowance — $35/m² and $90/m² look the same on paper, you'll see one at the showroom.
- PC sums for tapware, toilet, vanity — easily understated to make a quote look cheap.
- Plumbing rough-in & re-routing — moving fixtures is expensive; new locations should be priced separately.
- Removal & disposal — old fixtures, tiles, screed.
| Item | Reno A | Reno B |
|---|---|---|
| Strip out & disposal | $2,400 | Excluded |
| Waterproofing (cert.) | $1,800 | $1,200 |
| Tiling supply allowance | $60/m² | $35/m² |
| Tapware PC | $1,800 | $900 |
| Vanity PC | $1,400 | $700 |
| Apparent price | $24,500 | $19,800 |
| Like-for-like | $24,500 | $24,100 |
- ☐Waterproofing certificate at completion
- ☐Tiler's licence (required in QLD; recommended elsewhere)
- ☐Itemised PC sums with named brands as a baseline
- ☐Make-good of adjoining walls/ceiling included
- ☐Allowance for unexpected substrate repairs
Frequently asked questions
- Should I supply my own tapware to save money?
- Sometimes — but it transfers warranty risk to you. If anything fails, the plumber will charge to refit.
- How long should a bathroom reno take?
- Three to five weeks is normal for a full strip-out. Anything 'two weeks' is usually skipping waterproofing cure time.
- What's a fair deposit?
- 10–15% on signing, then progress payments at rough-in, tiling and completion. Avoid front-loaded payment schedules.
Stop guessing whether a quote is fair
QuoteSift reads up to five quotes at once and produces a plain-English report: what's missing, what's inflated, what the best-value option actually is.
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