Reno Review
Main bathroom, inner-west Sydney
Three quotes · 2.4 × 3.0 m · full strip-out and refit
1. The quotes, like for like
Builder A
$38,400
- Waterproofing not itemised
- Tile allowance $45/m²
- No home warranty certificate supplied
Builder B
$46,900
- Most complete scope
- Licence and warranty insurance verified
- Allowances realistic
Builder C
$29,800
- Tile allowance $25/m² (expect $60+)
- Excludes electrical and making good
- Likely $9–12k in variations
Verdict: Builder C looks cheapest but is likely to end up the most expensive once variations come in. Builder B’s price is fair for a complete scope. We recommend B, with the design changes below.
2. The design
| What we found | What we’d do |
|---|---|
| Hinged door swings into the vanity | Cavity slider. It frees about 0.8 m² and the vanity grows to 1200 mm with double drawers. |
| Shower niche on the wet wall at knee height | Move to the side wall at 1100 mm, out of the spray and easy to reach. |
| Single downlight over the vanity | Add wall lights either side of the mirror. No shadows, and better for shaving and make-up. |
| Large-format gloss floor tile | Matt, slip-rated tile in the same look. Safer, and it hides water marks. |
3. Next steps
- Ask Builder B to re-price with the cavity slider and the revised niche (expect +$650)
- Confirm the waterproofing membrane brand and certificate in writing
- Hold the tile selection until you’ve seen samples in daylight