Before anyone picks up a tool
1. Measure and assessment. Room dimensions, floor type (timber or slab), waste positions, window, existing fan and where it vents, signs of leaks, access and parking. For apartments, a look at the by-laws.
2. Selections. Tiles, tapware, vanity, toilet, screen, mirror, fan and lighting chosen and written into the quote with models and allowances.
3. Written quote and contract. Itemised scope, program in working days, variation method. NSW maximum deposit 10 per cent; for work over $20,000, home building compensation cover in place before a deposit is requested.
4. Approvals. Owners corporation approval for strata properties. Council involvement only where work is external, structural or affects a heritage item.
5. Asbestos testing. For homes and units built or altered before about 1990 — sampling before demolition, not during it.
6. Ordering. Materials on site, or confirmed for delivery, before strip-out starts.
On site
| Stage | Typical working days | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Protection and strip-out | 1–2 | Floors and access protected; tiles, fixtures and linings removed; waste out |
| Asbestos removal (if needed) | 1–2 | Licensed removalist; area made safe before work continues |
| Structural repairs | 0–2 | Rotten studs, joists or bearers replaced |
| Rough-in | 2–3 | Plumbing, drainage, electrical, exhaust ducting to outside |
| Sheeting and screed | 2–3 | Wet-area board; floor screed laid to falls; screed drying |
| Waterproofing | 2–4 | Primer, bond breakers, flanges, membrane coats and curing |
| Tiling | 3–5 | Floors, walls, niches, trims; grouting and sealing |
| Fit-off | 2–3 | Vanity, toilet, tapware, screen, mirror, accessories, electrical fit-off |
| Final clean and handover | 1 | Silicone, clean, walkthrough, care notes |
Timeframes are indicative and depend on the room, the building and the weather.
Coastal realities
Humidity slows drying. Screed and membranes cure more slowly on damp coastal days. The program allows for it rather than pretending otherwise.
Salt and sand on site. Materials are stored dry and covered; tile adhesive and grout are protected from contamination.
Walk-up stairs. Strip-out waste and new materials move by hand in many Dee Why, Manly and Collaroy blocks. Glass panels are sized to fit stairwells.
Strata hours. Noisy work such as removing tile beds from a slab is scheduled inside permitted hours.
Parking. Manly and beachfront streets need delivery windows and sometimes permits for skips.
What you will be asked to decide early
- Bath or no bath
- Shower screen style — fixed panel, hinged door or none
- Wall-hung or floor-standing vanity and toilet
- Tiling height — shower to ceiling, or whole room
- Tapware finish, chosen with salt air in mind
- Fan location and outlet route
- Niche size and position
Every one of these affects the rough-in, so they cannot wait until tiling.
Progress payments
Payments should follow completed stages — for example after rough-in, after waterproofing, after tiling and at completion — not calendar dates.
After handover
- Leave new silicone and grout to cure before heavy use, as advised
- Run the fan during and after every shower
- Rinse salt off tapware and screen hardware periodically
- Keep the membrane documentation with the property records
See waterproofing, the 2026 cost bands and the FAQ.
Call 02 4705 5289 or send the bathroom details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
How long does a bathroom renovation take on the Northern Beaches?
Typically fifteen to twenty working days on site for a main bathroom that keeps its layout, or about three to four calendar weeks. Ensuites are a little shorter and powder rooms often under two weeks. Asbestos removal, timber repairs and strata restrictions on working hours add time.
Can I stay in the house during the renovation?
Usually, if there is another toilet and shower, or a neighbour, gym or beach shower you can use for a few weeks. In a one-bathroom unit, many owners arrange to stay elsewhere for the noisiest and wettest stages.
Why does the waterproofing stage take several days?
Membranes are applied in coats and must cure between coats and before tiling. Cool or humid weather — common on the coast — slows curing. The manufacturer's instructions set the minimum times, and rushing them is a leading cause of failures.
What causes delays?
Selections not finalised before demolition, tiles or fittings on back order, strata approval arriving late, asbestos found without prior testing, rotten framing, and wet weather affecting deliveries or external work. Most of these are prevented by planning.