Bathroom renovation tips from a local Wollongong renovator.
A bathroom renovation is one of the biggest single-room investments you'll make in your home. After more than a decade renovating bathrooms across Wollongong and the Illawarra, here's the honest advice we share with every client before they spend a dollar.
10 things to know before you renovate.
- 01
Plan the layout before you fall in love with tiles
Tiles, tapware and vanities are the fun part — but the most important decision is where everything sits. A small layout tweak (moving a shower wall 200mm, swapping a hinged door for a sliding cavity, relocating the toilet to a quieter wall) makes a bigger difference to how the room feels than any finish you pick.
- 02
Set a real budget — and add 10–15% for contingency
Most bathroom renovations in Wollongong land between $15,000 and $35,000. Hidden surprises behind the wall (rotten studs, old galvanised pipes, leaking waste) are common in older Illawarra homes. A contingency buffer means you make decisions calmly, not under pressure.
- 03
Never skimp on waterproofing
Waterproofing is invisible once it's tiled over — which is exactly why it's the first place a bad operator cuts corners. Insist on a licensed waterproofer, a certificate to AS 3740, and an inspection before any tiles are laid. A failed membrane in three years is a full strip-out.
- 04
Choose large format floor tiles for small bathrooms
Counter-intuitive but true: bigger tiles make small bathrooms look larger. Fewer grout lines = less visual noise. 600x600 or 600x1200 on the floor with a matching or contrasting wall tile gives a clean, calm result that small mosaics can't match.
- 05
Invest in the tapware
Tapware is touched every single day for 15+ years. Cheap mixers leak, wear, and tarnish — quality mixers stay sharp. Brands like Phoenix, Caroma and Methven sit at a sweet spot of quality and price for Wollongong homes.
- 06
Include a shower niche
A recessed niche removes the need for caddies and shelves cluttering the shower. Sized properly, lined with the same or a feature tile, it costs very little extra during the build and is impossible to retrofit cleanly later.
- 07
Specify the exhaust fan properly
An underpowered exhaust fan is the #1 cause of mould in Illawarra bathrooms. Look for a ducted fan rated at 250 m³/h or more, vented to the roof or outside — not just into the ceiling cavity. Run it for 20 minutes after every shower.
- 08
Floor waste in the right place
A linear drain along the shower wall, or a tile-insert grate, looks sharper than the standard centred chrome puck. Either way, fall to waste must be set correctly so water actually drains — get this wrong and you'll have puddles forever.
- 09
Lock in your selections before demo day
Tiles, vanity, tapware, screen, mirror, lighting — every single one should be selected and ideally on order before demolition starts. The fastest way to blow out a timeline is waiting on a backordered vanity halfway through the build.
- 10
Don't move the toilet unless you have to
Relocating the toilet usually means re-routing the soil pipe under the slab or through the joists — expensive and disruptive. If the existing toilet position is workable, keep it. Spend that money on tiles, tapware or a freestanding bath instead.
Common mistakes we see on Illawarra bathroom renos.
If you avoid these six, you're already ahead of most first-time renovators.
- Going with the cheapest quote without checking what's actually included.
- Picking tiles before settling on the layout.
- Forgetting to plan for storage — vanities with drawers beat hinged doors every time.
- Skipping a tiled shower niche to save $300.
- Choosing a vanity that's too big for the room — leave at least 600mm clear in front.
- Underestimating the lead time on bespoke joinery, screens and stone tops.
Got a specific question about your bathroom?
Ammar is happy to talk through your project on the phone — no obligation, no sales pitch. Just honest advice from a local who's done it hundreds of times.
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