Small Bathroom Renovations on the Northern Beaches
A basic bathroom renovation with budget fittings costs $11,500 to $23,000 in Sydney, about $17,250 typical, which is where many small and unit bathrooms land. In an apartment, a bathroom renovation also needs approval from the owners corporation before work starts. One licensed, insured local renovator will quote it and help with what your strata manager asks for.
Updated November 2026
Small Bathroom Renovations prices
- Basic renovation (budget fittings)$11,500–$23,000 (about $17,250 typical)
- Waterproofing$805–$4,025 (about $1,600 typical)
- Demolition and disposal$1,150–$3,450
Published Sydney price ranges, not a quote. Your price is confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Get my free quoteSigns it is time for small bathroom renovations
- Shower over a bath that nobody uses
- Tiles cracking or lifting near the shower
- Your strata manager has flagged a leak into the unit below
- Not enough storage for a small room
Renovating a bathroom in a unit
Under NSW strata rules, a bathroom renovation is a major renovation because it involves waterproofing. It needs a special resolution at a general meeting of the owners corporation, so allow time for that before booking a start date.
Strata usually asks for the renovator's licence and insurance, the scope of work, a waterproofing method, and working hours and lift protection. A renovator who does unit bathrooms often will have these ready.
Getting the most out of a small room
Swapping a shower-over-bath for a walk-in shower, a wall-hung vanity with drawers, a recessed shaving cabinet and a niche in the shower all add space without moving walls. Keeping the plumbing where it is keeps the price down.
Access, noise and waste in apartment blocks
Demolition is noisy and the waste has to come down in the lift or stairs. Expect the renovator to protect common areas and work within the building's permitted hours, which affects how long the job takes.
How much does small bathroom renovations cost on the Northern Beaches?
| Job | Typical Sydney price |
|---|---|
| Basic renovation (budget fittings) | $11,500–$23,000 (about $17,250 typical) |
| Waterproofing | $805–$4,025 (about $1,600 typical) |
| Demolition and disposal | $1,150–$3,450 |
Published Sydney price ranges (GST incl.) from whatsthedamage.com.au, not our quote. Strata conditions, access and the finishes you choose decide your price. See every job in the Northern Beaches bathroom renovation cost guide.
The standard we ask of every renovator we refer you to
The renovator does the work, not us. Ask for each of these in your written quote and contract.
- A renovator licensed in NSW for the work, with public liability insurance (certificate on request)
- Waterproofing by a licensed waterproofer to AS 3740, with a certificate you keep
- Plumbing and electrical done by licensed plumbers and electricians
- A written, itemised quote: demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures and labour listed
- A written contract for any job over $5,000, with a deposit of no more than 10%
- Home Building Compensation cover for jobs over $20,000, before any deposit
- Photos of the waterproofing before it is tiled over, and a walk-through at handover
Photos of the waterproofing, and a written scope
Waterproofing is hidden under the tiles once the job is done. You get photos of the membrane before tiling and the waterproofing certificate, plus a written scope before anything starts.
Licensed, insured renovator, public liability certificate on request
A bathroom done properly, by licensed trades
A bathroom that looks good but leaks behind the tiles means paying twice. That's why every job we pass on goes to a licensed, insured Northern Beaches renovator who agrees to this standard before they get the work.
Licensed for the job
In NSW, bathroom renovation and waterproofing work over $5,000 needs a contractor licence, and plumbing and electrical work need a licence at any price. Jobs only go to renovators who hold the right licences and insurance.
Waterproofing done properly
Waterproofing is the cheapest part of a bathroom and the most expensive to get wrong. It is done to AS 3740 by a licensed waterproofer, flood-tested where appropriate, and photographed before it is tiled over.
An itemised price first
You get the scope and price in writing, broken down by stage, before work starts. Under NSW law, any variation to the contract should be agreed in writing.
Contracts and insurance
A written contract for jobs over $5,000 with a deposit capped at 10%, and Home Building Compensation cover over $20,000, as NSW law requires.
Strata handled up front
In a unit, a bathroom renovation needs owners corporation approval. The renovator should help with the paperwork your strata manager asks for.
A realistic timeline
You get a start date and a stage-by-stage timeline, including curing time for waterproofing, so you know how long you'll be without a bathroom.
Left clean
Ask for demolition waste to be taken away, dust controlled, and the house left clean at the end of each day and at handover.