Bathroom Renovation Checklist
A simple, practical checklist to help Gold Coast homeowners plan their bathroom renovation, compare quotes and avoid common mistakes.
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Your bathroom renovations Gold Coast checklist
Work through these items before you sign a contract. They will help you stay on budget, choose a licensed renovator and make sure nothing important is missed.
- 1 Set a realistic budget and add a 10 to 15% contingency for surprises found during strip-out.
- 2 Measure the room and note where the existing toilet, shower, basin and floor waste sit.
- 3 Decide whether you will keep the current layout or move fixtures, as relocating plumbing adds cost.
- 4 Settle on a style and shortlist tiles, vanity, tapware and shower screen before requesting quotes.
- 5 Confirm the renovator holds a current QBCC licence for the scope of work (search the QBCC licence register).
- 6 Check that waterproofing will be carried out to Australian Standard AS 3740 by a licensed waterproofer.
- 7 Ask for a written DBC (Domestic Building Contract) for any work over $3,300, as Queensland law requires.
- 8 Confirm QBCC Home Warranty Insurance is included for eligible work over $3,300 (the contractor pays the premium).
- 9 Make sure plumbing and electrical work is done by separately licensed trades who provide compliance paperwork.
- 10 Get an itemised quote covering demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures, fit-off and rubbish removal.
- 11 Agree a realistic timeline (a full renovation is usually three to five weeks on site, plus selection lead times).
- 12 Plan alternative bathing arrangements while the bathroom is out of action.
- 13 Specify an adequately sized exhaust fan and ducting to manage Gold Coast humidity and prevent mould.
- 14 Protect adjacent flooring and furniture before demolition begins.
- 15 Book a pre-handover walkthrough, list any defects, and keep all warranties, receipts and compliance certificates together.
Method and source
Use this checklist before you request quotes so you can compare scope, waterproofing detail and licensing on a like-for-like basis. Each renovator is then quoting against the same brief, which makes their prices easier to compare.
Why this checklist matters
Bathroom renovations involve several trades, regulatory requirements and waterproofing details that are easy to overlook. In Queensland, residential building work over $3,300 (including labour and materials) must be carried out by a QBCC-licensed contractor under a written DBC (Domestic Building Contract, the formal agreement setting out scope, price and terms), and wet-area waterproofing must be done to Australian Standard AS 3740. The checklist helps you verify these details before committing.
Bath Renovation Gold Coast works with a network of independent QBCC-licensed bathroom renovators. The renovator you choose carries out the building work and holds the QBCC licence; this website does not.