The Complete Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Why a checklist helps

A bathroom renovation involves dozens of decisions and several trades working in a precise order inside a small room. Most of the stress people associate with renovating comes from decisions made late, products that arrive after they are needed and surprises that could have been spotted earlier. A clear checklist keeps the project calm. It helps you think through what you want before the design consultation, keeps selections on track and gives you a way to confirm that each stage has been completed properly.

This checklist is written for homeowners in Drouin and the surrounding West Gippsland towns. It covers homes on slabs and on stumps, town water and tank water, sewer and septic. Use it as a guide, and bring your notes to the consultation.

Stage one: before you call anyone

Decide what is not working

Start by noticing how the room is used now. Write down the frustrations. Is the shower too small? Is there never enough bench space? Does the room stay damp for hours? Do you step over a bath to shower? Is storage overflowing onto the floor? Are there signs of leaks, such as loose tiles, cracked grout, stained skirting boards or a musty smell? This list becomes the brief for your new bathroom.

Think about who uses the room

A bathroom for a couple looks different from one shared by three children, and different again from one designed for someone with limited mobility. Consider who will use the room now and in ten years. Ageing parents, teenagers who will want more privacy, grandchildren who visit and your own future needs all matter. A bathroom renovation is a long-term investment, so plan for how life is likely to change.

Gather ideas

Collect photographs of bathrooms you like, from magazines, display homes, showrooms or friends’ houses. Look for patterns. You may find you are drawn to warm timber and matt black, or to crisp white and brushed nickel, or to natural stone and soft greys. Note what you dislike as well. Bring these images to the consultation, because pictures communicate style more clearly than words.

Understand your services

Find out whether your home is on town water and sewer, or tank water and septic. In Drouin’s town area most homes are connected to mains services, while rural properties around Jindivick, Drouin South and Labertouche often rely on tanks and on-site wastewater systems. Note where your hot water system is and roughly how old it is. If you are unsure, the consultation will confirm these details.

Note the age and construction of the home

Is the house on a concrete slab or on stumps with timber floors? Roughly when was it built, and when was the bathroom last renovated? Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos in wall sheeting, floor coverings or eaves. This information shapes the scope of work.

Stage two: the design consultation

What happens at the visit

At a design consultation, we visit your home, measure the room and inspect its structure, plumbing, drainage, ventilation and electrical layout. We look for signs of water damage, test for movement in the floor and check where pipes and wastes can run. Most importantly, we talk with you about how the room should work and look.

Questions to raise

• Can the layout change, for example moving the toilet or replacing the bath with a walk-in shower?
• Can the shower have a flush or near-flush entry?
• Is there room for a double vanity or a separate toilet?
• How will ventilation be improved?
• What happens if hidden damage is found during demolition?
• Is asbestos likely, and how is it managed?
• How long will the work take, and how long will we be without a bathroom?

After the visit

You should receive a written scope and quotation that clearly describes what is included: demolition, structural repairs, plumbing and electrical work, waterproofing to AS 3740, tiling, fixtures, fit-off and cleaning. Read it carefully, ask questions and make sure you understand any allowances or exclusions.

Stage three: design and selections

Layout

Confirm the final layout first, because it drives plumbing positions, waterproofing extents and tile quantities. Consider door swing, clearances around the toilet and vanity, shower size and the position of niches, shelves and towel rails.

Selections list

Work through a complete selections list. Missing items late in the project are a common cause of delays.

• Floor and wall tiles: size, finish, slip resistance, colour and quantity including spares
• Grout and silicone colours
• Shower: screen type, glass thickness, hardware finish, waste type and position
• Shower fittings: mixer, rail or fixed head, hand shower
• Bath: type, size and filler
• Vanity: size, material, drawers or doors, benchtop, basin and waste
• Tapware for the basin and bath, all in one finish
• Toilet: wall-faced, back-to-wall or in-wall cistern, and seat type
• Mirror or shaving cabinet
• Lighting: ceiling, mirror and feature
• Heating: towel rail, in-floor heating or ceiling heat
• Exhaust fan: size and ducting route
• Accessories: robe hooks, toilet roll holder, towel rails, shelves, grab rails
• Paint colours for the ceiling and any painted walls
• Door and door hardware, if replacing

Lead times

Some products take weeks to arrive, particularly custom vanities, special-order tiles and frameless glass, which is measured after tiling. Confirm lead times early and order key items so they are on site before they are needed.

Stage four: preparing for the works

Living arrangements

If this is your only bathroom, plan where the household will shower and use the toilet. Options include using a laundry or second toilet, staying with family, arranging a temporary facility or using facilities at a gym. Ask your renovator for an honest estimate of how many days the toilet will be unavailable.

Clearing the room and access path

Remove everything from the bathroom, including cabinets and contents. Clear the hallway path, protect valuables and agree where trades can park, store materials and place a skip or waste trailer. On rural properties, agree on gate rules and keep pets and children away from the work area.

Neighbours

In town, let neighbours know about the work, the likely noise and the skip location. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Stage five: during construction

Demolition and discovery

Once the room is stripped, hidden problems may appear: rotten floor framing, damaged wall studs, corroded pipes or old wiring. Your renovator should show you any issues and explain options before continuing. A good scope anticipates these possibilities.

Rough-in

Plumbing and electrical rough-in sets the positions of every outlet, waste, switch and light. Walk through the room at this stage, ideally with your renovator, and confirm everything is where you expect. Changes are simple now and difficult later.

Substrates and waterproofing

New wall linings and floor substrates are installed, then waterproofing is applied to AS 3740. Ask about:

• Bond breakers at wall and floor junctions
• Puddle flanges at floor wastes
• Membrane heights in the shower and around the bath
• The waterproof upturn at the doorway
• The membrane’s cure time

Ask for photographs of the completed membrane, because it will soon be hidden beneath tiles.

Tiling

Tiling begins only after the membrane has fully cured. Check that tile layout, grout colour and niche positions match your selections. Movement joints should be included at corners and changes of plane, filled with flexible sealant rather than grout.

Fit-off

The vanity, toilet, tapware, mirror, accessories, lighting, fan and heating are installed. The shower screen is measured after tiling and installed when ready.

Stage six: handover

Walkthrough

Before signing off, walk through the finished bathroom with your renovator. Check that:

• Floors fall towards the wastes, with no ponding
• The shower screen seals properly and doors swing smoothly
• Taps run hot and cold correctly and drains flow freely
• The exhaust fan runs and vents outside
• The heating, lights and power points work
• Silicone joints are neat and complete
• Tiles are clean and grout is consistent

Documentation

Keep a folder with:

• Compliance certificates for plumbing, electrical and waterproofing work
• Product warranties and care instructions
• Membrane photographs
• Spare tiles and grout colour details

You may need these for future maintenance, insurance or sale of the home.

Stage seven: caring for your new bathroom

• Run the exhaust fan during and after every shower.
• Squeegee glass and tiles to reduce water spots and soap scum.
• Use pH-neutral cleaners on tiles and grout, and avoid harsh acids or bleach on stone.
• Inspect silicone joints annually and replace any that crack or lift.
• Report any signs of leaks early, before damage spreads.

A note on standards

In Australia, waterproofing in wet areas must comply with AS 3740. This standard sets out where waterproofing is required, minimum heights and how penetrations and junctions are treated. Plumbing and electrical work must be carried out by appropriately licensed trades. Working with a licensed and insured renovator gives you confidence that these requirements are met and documented.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing tiles before the layout is fixed. Quantities, cuts and feature positions depend on the final layout.
• Forgetting storage. Plan for towels, toiletries and cleaning products from the start.
• Undersized ventilation. A small fan in a large bathroom will not clear steam, and mould follows.
• Late selections. Missing items stall trades and stretch the timeline.
• No allowance for hidden damage. Older rooms often hide problems behind the tiles.
• Skipping the rough-in check. Taps and lights in the wrong place are expensive to move after tiling.

Before the trades arrive

• Clear the bathroom and nearby hallway of personal items.
• Confirm where the skip, trailer or material storage will go.
• Arrange access for trades, including keys or codes if you will be out.
• Plan how pets will be kept away from the work area.
• Identify another bathroom or arrangement for the days the room is out of use.
• Photograph the existing room for your records.
• Keep copies of your selections, scope and schedule somewhere handy.

A little preparation makes the first days of work smoother and avoids last-minute delays.

After handover

Keep a folder with your scope, selections, warranties, waterproofing photos and compliance certificates. Note the product names and colours of tiles, grout and paint so repairs or future touch-ups can be matched easily.

Make the checklist your own

Every bathroom is different. Print this checklist, add your own notes and bring it to your design consultation. The more clearly you describe how you want the room to work, the easier it is to design a bathroom that suits your home in Drouin or the surrounding district for many years.

Our bathroom services

• Accessible Bathrooms
• Bathroom Design
• Bathroom Renovations
• Bathroom Tiling
• Ensuite Renovations
• Freestanding Baths
• Laundry Renovations
• Leaking Shower Repairs
• Shower Conversions
• Small Bathroom Renovations
• Vanities and Storage
• Waterproofing