Why are bathrooms always so bloody expensive
I’m often asked, “How much does a bathroom renovation cost?” and then, “Why are they so expensive?” The thing about bathrooms, no matter their size, is that they’re always around fifty thousand dollars or more – but why? Let’s break it down.
The main reason bathrooms, and other wet areas, are the most expensive spaces in your house is that so many trades are required during a renovation, each with multiple steps. To do things properly, you can’t cut any of them out. At Ballast Point, we apply two layers of waterproofing: one underneath the tile bed and one above, just under the tiles. This creates a backup plan if one membrane fails and helps prevent efflorescence. Yes, it adds time to the program, but we aim for flawless and durable results.
During any bathroom renovation, there will be multiple visits from your plumber and your electrician. You typically have to adjust the gyprock ceiling as well. Individually, none of these steps may seem like a big deal, but all the little pieces add up. It’s kind of like when you go to Woolies and think, “How did that add up to $100? I only bought bread, milk, mayonnaise, and some dishwasher tablets.” But then you realize, all those small items accumulate.
Apart from the work itself, there’s also the cost of coordinating all those trades. You’ll truly appreciate the planning and attention to detail when your bathroom is finished. Or maybe when you visit a friend’s house and wonder, “What’s wrong with their bathroom?” The tiles are slightly misaligned, and water pools in odd spots. These small mistakes become daily frustrations. I have friends who’ve cut corners on their bathroom renovations, and now they’re constantly annoyed by minor issues every single day.
As much as it’s expensive, the bathroom is an important space. You spend more time in it than you might think. That’s why we put in extra effort. We love small projects like bathroom renovations. They balance out the larger projects that have long council approval processes and lead times, helping even out production for both our architecture and build teams.
If you need a bathroom renovator, don’t hesitate to contact us. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll refer you to someone who is. We handle quite a few small projects and bathroom renovations, and we’re happy to help. Here’s where you start.
