1.       Good planning means just that. Before you even decide to plan out and design the refit of your bathroom makeover ensure that there will not be any structural alterations, which may require Council approval. It is best to consult the enquiry officer at your local Council or obtain their current booklet on the provisions for approvals for bathroom renovation.

2.       When considering that the average bathroom makeover costs in excess of several thousand dollars the preferable option would be to have your subfloor tested for both fungus and mould, wet rot and long-term durability and protection against both dampness and termite infestation. The Australian Standard 3660.1 provides for your contractor to ensure that proper subfloor maintenance can be maintained after the bathroom renovation is complete. This may require ventilation and the eradication of existing mould and damp problems to the subfloor.

3.       When designing your bathroom it is best to obtain at least two client briefs and then check the intended design with the fittings that you wish to use within the bathroom makeover to ensure compatibility of all products intended to be used both in the construction stage and the final fit-out. Consulting the interior design section of your local supplier or hardware outlet is an advantage at the early stage of the planning process.

4.       When considering the structural integrity of your walls as to their durability for new tiling and the compatibility of the tiles for long-term waterproofing to the bathroom makeover it would be beneficial to consult a local waterproofing expert to ensure that the provisions of the Australian Standard Waterproofing Code will meet compliance within your renovating contract.

5.       The most difficult phase in all renovation work is not only selecting the contractor but also knowing the best contract to use. The Department of Fair Trading has the “plain English” Building Contract and most contractors have approved industry agreements tailored to suit the particular needs of their business. In any event you should always be aware that the Home Owner Warranty Insurance Scheme requires that all renovation contracts over the value of $12,000 be the subject of an Insurance Certificate. A common problem associated with contracts is that the contract is split, being an amount higher than $12,000 to facilitate supply of materials against the actual labour rates for the project. You should enquire with the DFT as to whether contract splitting for your particular project falls within the law and compliance of the Home Building Act of 1989.

6.       Most bathroom makeovers usually include for a large amount of re-tiling of the room. The Australian Standard for ceramic wall tiles (Australian Standard 3598) not only gives an indication of the regulations for the laying of wall tiles but also includes for product manufacturer specifications to be complied with for both the floor tiling, the adhesives, control joints, and the necessity for compatibility between the products used for the installation of the tiles against that of the water proofing material and tiling backgrounds. An independent expert consultant’s advice is often the most satisfactory way of ensuring that the contract includes the correct procedures for your wall tiling operation. When using natural stones, always try to have the manufacturers product specification available, as these types of materials are not covered within the Australian Standard. Again, some form of expert’s advice would be appropriate to assist you with making your decisions in that regard. A happy bathroom makeover or renovation being in the final presentation, one of good quality workmanship, durability and correctly assessed and fitted final fixtures is what good home living is all about.

7.       At the end of the bathroom makeover, often the remaining works are the final painting and curtain hanging but do not over look the need for proper ventilation. An unwanted scenario at the end of your bathroom makeover would be to have mould and damp problems occurring within the room. Specialist’s advice is available for all types of ventilation, be it from sky tubes to ceiling vents, extractors and the like. Specialist ventilation consultants are available to assist you in that selection process. They will often visit the property during the construction phase and design the best ventilation system suitable for your particular application.