FAQ's

Look carefully for signs of deterioration and the possible causes. Ask yourself- Do you need to improve on the moisture management of the bathroom. Reflecting on your project will also help you to decide whether you need the services of a professional or just a tradesperson. If you are unsure of what needs to be done, recognising that the job is very complicated or that you don’t have the time or energy to do the work these are good reasons why you need a professional renovator.

If the company does all types of contracting then you may not get as good job as a company that specialises in bathrooms. It may be better to hire a specialist who works in bathroom (or any particular) renovations continually. Just as you would go to a medical "specialist" when you have a particular type of heath problem (i.e. a heart surgeon when you need heart surgery and not a general surgeon). The bathroom specialists are more familiar with the problems associated with bathroom reno that can and often do crop up while the renovation is under way. With bathroom renovations there can be many different types of plumbing depending on the age of the home and they require different approaches to modifying to accept/accommodate modern materials.

2)    Does the renovation company have the proper sub trades that are licensed/ necessary for a proper/safe bathroom renovation, (i.e. the plumber and the electrician to name two important ones) and properly insured?

If the contractor is using sub trades which are the norm they (the sub trade contractors) are required to carry their own insurance and warranties. If not and there is a flood or fire or jobsite injury you the homeowner could be held liable. As well does the contractor himself carry the proper liability insurance coverage for his own company, you the homeowner should not be afraid to ask the contractor to show you the Certificate of Currency. Some bathroom renovation companies use their subcontracted general labour/renovators to do both plumbing and electrical in your bathroom renovations and often this work is not done to proper building code and can be potentially dangerous for the homeowner, beware of this type of firms as you may have problems and/or damages down the road with potentially no recourse at that time. Compliances must be issued for plumbing and electrical works.

 3) In the company’s written quotation to you (which is essential when you are     spending thousands of dollars for a bathroom renovation) does it specify clearly the   "scope" of the renovation (i.e. what is being done in the bathroom) written in clear  and concise layman’s language?

The building trades are notorious for having their own individual jargons that are often indecipherable to the average homeowner. Any company that is unwilling to provide a written detailed quotation is not reputable and the homeowner should be immediately be wary, verbal quotations today for a substantial renovation like a bathroom are simply not acceptable in today’s market.

4) What questions should you ask from the references given?

Questions such as "was the contractor neat and tidy when working in your home", did they show up each day? Were there any big gaps in the work (i.e. did they start and then go away and come back days or weeks later)? Was everything done according to the job description as outlined? If there were brand names of plumbing fixtures specified or agreed to do they install these. Remember if the contractor supplies the products they are responsible to make sure they are for your intended use if you supply them then it is your responsibility.

5) How would you compare guarantees and how do you calculate the value of them?

Establish a realistic budget/timeline for your bathroom renovation. Do not expect a bathroom renovator to be able to begin your project within a week. Custom made cabinetry normally used/specified in a good renovation generally takes 4-6 weeks to produce from time of order so your contractor will need that much advance time before beginning your renovation. Typically today a complete small bathroom renovation where everything is stripped and rebuilt (including, floor and ceiling) with good quality fixtures will cost 20-25k; this will include design, all fixtures including good quality ventilation, insurances, compliances (electrical & plumbing), rubbish removal and inspected by an independent ......Archicentre. Medium sized bathrooms often with separate stand-alone showers will cost around 25-35K and larger bathrooms around 35K+.Remember you can spend as little as $200 for a good basic tap in chrome finish or you can spend up to $2000 dollars for a designer European faucet. The same goes for shower valves, showerheads and tile choices there is a huge variance in prices depending on your tastes and budget. You as the homeowner have to invest a certain amount of trust in your designer, builder to guide you. Another reason to choose a bathroom renovation specialist is regulations are constantly changing and new products are evolving.

There are 3 general contract types: 

a)   Cost plus contacts- Usually used by architects. Whereby you pay the cost trades, materials, products and pay the architect designer fee and manage the project (usually a percentage of overall cost).

b)   Fixed price all inclusive contract- All products, designs, plans, materials are pre-decided before the contract is signed. These are usually end up with lots of variations as it is not easyto decide all things up front. So the price is usually attractive but the final cost if you change anything can often blow-out.

c)  Fixed price contract for construction & established or fixed cost for fixtures and  fittings. If the company/ retailer has a showroom they will be inclined to recommend the products/ brands they have on display. However, a company or designer who is independent will often give you unbiased advice.

You can find out more information of Bathroom Planning from  Caroma  Bathroom Planning guide and Industry jargon.