Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Why a checklist helps

A bathroom renovation involves more decisions than most people expect. Between the first idea and the first shower in the finished room, you will choose a layout, a shower style, tiles, grout, tapware, a vanity, a toilet, lighting, heating, ventilation, mirrors, accessories and paint. Behind the scenes, the structure has to be checked and repaired, plumbing and electrical work planned, the room waterproofed to AS 3740 and every trade scheduled in the right order. A checklist keeps those decisions in sequence, so nothing is left until the last minute and nothing has to be undone.

This guide is written for households in Morwell, Traralgon, Churchill, Moe, Newborough and the surrounding Latrobe Valley towns. It follows the order we use with our own clients, from the first walk around the room to the care of the finished bathroom.

Stage one: understand what you have

Before thinking about tiles or tapware, take stock of the existing room.

• Measure the room, including the ceiling height, window position and sill height, door width and swing.
• Note where the toilet, shower, bath, basin and floor waste sit now.
• Look for signs of water damage: loose or drummy tiles, cracked grout, stained skirting, a musty smell, or soft floorboards near the shower.
• If the house is on stumps, look underneath the bathroom with a torch for dark, stained or crumbling timber.
• Check the age of the house. Homes built before about 1990 may contain asbestos in wall linings, eaves or floor coverings.
• Find your hot water system and note its type and age.
• Note how the room is ventilated now: a window only, a ceiling fan, or a fan that vents into the roof space.

These observations help at the design consultation and often explain problems that have been bothering you for years.

Stage two: decide how the room should work

Think about who uses the bathroom and when. A family bathroom that four people use between seven and eight in the morning needs different features from an ensuite used by two adults or a guest bathroom used a few times a month.

• Who uses the room, and at what times?
• Does anyone bathe young children, and is a bath essential?
• Does anyone have reduced mobility, or might they in future?
• What storage is needed, and for what items?
• Do you want a separate toilet, or is the toilet in the bathroom acceptable?
• Is there a linen cupboard nearby, or does the bathroom need to hold towels?
• What frustrates you most about the current room?

Write the answers down. They become the brief for the design.

Stage three: the design consultation

At the consultation we visit your home, measure the room, look at the structure and services, and talk through your brief. We then prepare a design and a written scope. Questions worth asking at this stage include:

• Can the layout change, and what is involved in moving the toilet or shower?
• Will the floor need repair or replacement?
• How will the room be ventilated?
• How will the room be heated?
• Where will power points, lights and switches go?
• What is the waterproofing system, and how will it be inspected?
• What documentation will be provided at handover?

A good design consultation should leave you clear about what will be done, in what order and why.

Stage four: selections

Selections are the finishes and fixtures that make up the room. It helps to make them in a set order, because some choices limit others.

Layout and shower

Decide whether you want a bath, a shower, or both, and whether the shower will be level-entry or have a step. This affects the floor work and waterproofing.

Tiles

Choose floor tiles first, checking their slip rating for wet areas. Then choose wall tiles, deciding whether to tile full height or to a set height. Consider the size of the tiles, because large tiles need flatter walls and floors, and small tiles mean more grout lines.

Grout and silicone

Pick a grout colour that suits the tiles and is practical to keep clean. Mid-tone greys hide marks better than white. Silicone colours should match the grout.

Tapware

Choose a finish, such as chrome, brushed nickel, matte black or brushed brass, and keep it consistent across the room. Choose between wall-mounted and bench-mounted basin taps. Decide on a shower rail, a fixed head, or both.

Vanity and basin

Select the vanity size, style and material, and the basin type. Check that the tap suits the basin.

Toilet

Choose between a close-coupled toilet, a back-to-wall toilet with a concealed cistern, or a wall-hung toilet.

Shower screen

Choose between a fixed panel, a hinged door or a sliding door, and between framed, semi-frameless and frameless glass.

Lighting, heating and ventilation

Decide on ceiling lights, mirror lighting, any feature lighting, a heated towel rail, in-floor heating and the exhaust fan.

Accessories

Choose towel rails, robe hooks, toilet roll holders and any shelving, in the same finish as the tapware.

Keep a list of every selection with the product name, code, finish and supplier. This becomes part of your records.

Stage five: before work begins

• Confirm the start date and the expected timeline.
• Plan where the household will shower while the bathroom is out of action.
• Clear the bathroom and any hallway or rooms the trades will pass through.
• Arrange access for vehicles and a place for the skip bin or rubbish trailer.
• Tell neighbours about the work, particularly if you share a driveway.
• Confirm that all selections are ordered and will arrive on time.

Stage six: during the work

The work generally follows a set sequence:

1. Demolition, including removal of any asbestos by a licensed removalist where needed.

2. Inspection of the structure and repair of any damaged framing or floor.

3. Rough-in of plumbing and electrical services.

4. Wall and floor linings, including any noggings or blocking for rails, vanities and toilets.

5. Floor screeding to set the falls to the waste.

6. Waterproofing to AS 3740, with curing time as the manufacturer requires.

7. Tiling and grouting.

8. Fit-off of tapware, vanity, toilet, screen, lighting and accessories.

9. Silicone, painting and final clean.

During the work, it helps to have one point of contact and a regular update. We photograph each stage, particularly the waterproofing before it is covered by tiles.

Stage seven: handover

At handover, walk through the room carefully.

• Run every tap and the shower, checking temperature and pressure.
• Check that water drains quickly from the shower floor with no pooling.
• Open and close every drawer and door.
• Check the screen for smooth operation and a good seal.
• Turn on every light, the fan and any heating.
• Look along the tiles for lippage and at the grout for gaps.
• Collect warranties, care instructions, the waterproofing certificate and the photographs of each stage.

Stage eight: caring for the finished room

• Run the exhaust fan during every shower and for at least fifteen minutes afterwards.
• Squeegee the screen and walls after showering to reduce soap scum and mould.
• Clean with pH-neutral products rather than harsh acids or bleach, which can damage grout and finishes.
• Inspect silicone every year or two and replace it if it splits or discolours.
• Clean the floor waste regularly so water drains freely.
• Keep the warranty documents and selections list somewhere you can find them.

A note for older Morwell homes

Many bathrooms in Morwell, Moe and Newborough were built in the post-war years for the State Electricity Commission workforce. They are often small, sit on timber floors over stumps, and have had decades of slow leaks around the shower. In these homes, stage two and stage six deserve extra attention. Expect the structure to need some repair once the floor is opened up, and plan the design to make the most of a compact footprint. Removing the bath in favour of a generous shower, using a wall-hung vanity and choosing light, simple finishes can make a small room feel very different.

A note for newer Traralgon and Churchill homes

In homes built from the 1980s onward, especially brick veneer homes on slabs, the main challenges are usually dated finishes, poor ventilation and leaking showers rather than structural repairs. Moving drainage in a slab is more involved, so it is worth deciding early whether the layout needs to change.

Using this checklist with us

Bring your notes to the design consultation. The more we know about how your household uses the room, the better the design will suit you. We will work through each stage with you, explain the options in plain English and give you a written scope before any work begins.

Common mistakes the checklist avoids

Choosing tiles before the layout

Falling in love with a tile before the layout is settled can lead to problems. A large-format tile may not suit a small floor with several falls, and a feature tile may end up hidden behind a screen. Settle the layout first.

Forgetting the ceiling

Ceilings in older bathrooms are often stained, sagging or mouldy. Replacing or repairing the ceiling during the renovation, with moisture-resistant plasterboard and a good exhaust fan, finishes the room properly.

Underestimating storage

People often underestimate how much they keep in the bathroom. List what you store now, then add a little more.

Leaving power points until late

Power for a shaver, hair dryer, heated towel rail, mirror demister or in-floor heating needs to be planned before the walls are lined. Moving it afterwards means cutting tiles.

Ignoring the door

A door that swings into the vanity or toilet makes a small room harder to use. Changing the swing, fitting a cavity sliding door or moving the opening can transform the room.

Keep the checklist handy

Print this checklist or save it on your phone, and tick off each stage as you go.

After the renovation

• File your warranty documents and waterproofing photos.
• Note product names and codes for tiles, grout and tapware.
• Keep a few spare tiles in case of future repairs.
• Set a yearly reminder to check silicone joints and clean the fan.

Before demolition day

• Clear the bathroom of personal items and toiletries.
• Set up a temporary washing area elsewhere in the house.
• Agree where the skip and materials will go.
• Arrange pets and children away from the work area.

Book a design consultation

If you are planning a bathroom renovation in Morwell, Traralgon, Churchill or a nearby town, book a design consultation. We will work through this checklist with you at your home and give you a clear written scope.

Our bathroom services

• Accessible Bathrooms
• Bathroom Design
• Bathroom Renovations
• Bathroom Tiling
• Ensuite Renovations
• Laundry Renovations
• Leaking Shower Repairs
• Powder Room Renovations
• Shower Conversions
• Small Bathroom Renovations
• Vanity and Storage
• Waterproofing