Update or full renovation? Working out the right scope

“The grout is falling apart.” “The layout has never worked for us.” Both are good reasons to look at your bathroom again, but they don’t always lead to the same scope of work. This guide explains how to weigh up updating an existing bathroom against a more extensive renovation.

By Ivan Bodnar, Independent Home Renovation Specialist

STARTING POINT

Why a bathroom stops working

Most homeowners come to this decision for one of two reasons. Either the room no longer suits how the household uses it, or it is showing signs of wear.

— Cracked tiles and failing grout. These can be surface wear, or they can point to movement or moisture in the wall or floor behind them.

— Stains, mould or flaking paint on walls and ceilings, especially near the shower.

— A layout that doesn’t suit you. The shower, vanity or storage is in the wrong place for how the room is actually used.

— Dated surfaces in a room that otherwise works well.

02 — TWO KINDS OF SCOPE

Updating the surface or going back to the substrate

We take on bathroom renovations at both ends of the scale. The useful question isn’t which option sounds better. It’s which one suits the room you actually have.

USUALLY AN UPDATE

The layout stays, the surfaces change

This can suit a room whose walls and floor are sound and whose layout still works. The work focuses on new tiling, plaster repairs and finishes, with fixtures staying where they are.

WHAT TIPS THE BALANCE

Questions that decide the scope

Is the substrate behind the tiles sound? Are the problems cosmetic, or signs of something underneath? Does the layout still suit you? Would a partial update leave old and new surfaces side by side?

USUALLY A MORE EXTENSIVE RENOVATION

Stripped back and rebuilt

This can involve removing old linings, preparing the surfaces, putting up new plasterboard, and new wall and floor tiling. Moving fixtures involves plumbing or electrical work, which is done by appropriately licensed specialists.

LAYER 1 — EXISTING CONDITIONS

What an on-site assessment helps clarify

A photo shows you the finish. Standing in the room shows you much more. During an on-site assessment, Ivan looks at the condition of the tiles, grout, walls, ceiling and floor, and at how the layout works for you.

He also explains what can’t be known yet. Existing conditions and concealed issues can affect the scope after work begins, particularly once old tiles come off. It’s better to understand that before you choose between an update and a full renovation.

Reference photo: plasterboard being cut during an interior renovation.

MATCHING SCOPE TO THE PROPERTY

The right scope suits the room and the way you use it

Our aim is practical renovation work that suits each property’s existing condition and the homeowner’s needs. Sometimes that means a careful update. Sometimes it means admitting that new tiles over a doubtful wall would only hide the problem. The visible finish is only one part of a successful renovation. What it sits on matters just as much, which is why preparation before tile is part of every scope discussion.

Cost naturally depends on that scope. Our guide to bathroom renovation costs explains the factors involved, without quoting figures that would not apply to your room.

Not sure which side your bathroom falls on?

Tell us what’s happening in the room. You’ll deal directly with Ivan, the person who assesses the bathroom and carries out the renovation work.