Stage zero — approval
In a house, a bathroom renovation starts with the measure. In an apartment, it starts with the owners corporation.
1. Check the by-laws. Working hours, lift and loading dock rules, acoustic requirements for floors, whether a bond is needed, and any by-law about bathroom waterproofing responsibility.
2. Measure and quote. We visit, check the building's access and constraints, and prepare an itemised quote.
3. Prepare the application. Renovation work involving waterproofing is generally a major renovation under NSW strata law, needing a special resolution at a general meeting. We prepare the technical documents: scope, waterproofing system and specification, builder's licence and insurance, program, and protection of common property.
4. General meeting. The owners corporation considers the application. If the annual general meeting is not close, a separate general meeting may be called.
5. Approval received. Sometimes with conditions — working hours, a bond, a dilapidation report of common areas, or a copy of the waterproofing certificate on completion.
6. Selections locked and materials ordered. Tiles, vanity, tapware, screen and fan confirmed and delivered before a start date is booked.
7. Building manager notified. Lift and loading dock bookings, trade access, and neighbour notification of demolition days.
Start this stage first. It is the part that sets the date.
Week one — protection and strip-out
Protection. Lift pads, corridor or stair protection, and door-jamb guards installed before anything is removed.
Strip-out. Tiles, screed, fixtures and old membrane removed. This is the loudest stage — two to three days on a concrete slab, within permitted hours. Waste bagged and removed the same day through the service lift or down the stairs.
Asbestos, if confirmed. A licensed removalist handles it first, with air monitoring and a clearance certificate before the renovation continues.
Inspection. The slab and penetrations are checked, and any cracks or damaged puddle flanges noted.
Rough-in. Plumbing adjusted within existing waste positions. Electrical work for lighting, exhaust fan and heated towel rail.
Week two — waterproofing
Preparation. Slab cleaned, primed and repaired. Bond breakers at internal corners and floor junctions.
Puddle flanges. Bonded into the membrane at each waste.
Membrane. Applied in coats over the whole floor and up the walls to required heights. Each coat cured before the next.
Flood test where appropriate, before any tile is laid.
Certificate. A compliance certificate from the licensed applicator — for you and, often as a condition of approval, for the owners corporation.
Weeks two and three — screed and tiling
Screed forms the falls to the waste. Where an acoustic underlay is required, it goes in at this stage.
Tiling — floor first, then walls, full height in wet zones. Flexible sealant at the internal corners and floor junction.
Weeks three and four — fit-off
The plumber fits the vanity, toilet, tapware and shower. The electrician fits lights, the exhaust fan and the heated towel rail. The shower screen is measured after tiling and installed last, followed by mirror and accessories.
Protection removed, common areas checked against the dilapidation record, and the building manager notified of completion.
Handover. A walkthrough, any minor items listed and attended to, and the documentation: waterproofing certificate, warranties and any records the owners corporation requires.
Houses
A house renovation skips stage zero and runs a similar sequence, with a skip in the driveway and more flexibility on hours.
Costs and where we work
The cost page has the 2026 bands. We work across Parramatta, Harris Park, Westmead, North Parramatta and Granville.
Call 02 4601 3371 or send the room details through.
Read these before you commit
| Bathroom Renovation Cost Parramatta | Dated 2026 Parramatta price bands by room size and scope, in AUD. |
| Bathroom Renovation FAQ | Direct answers on strata approval, slab constraints, cost and timing. |
Questions people ask before they commit
How long does strata approval take?
It depends on when the owners corporation can hold a general meeting. If an annual general meeting is coming up, the application can be added to its agenda. Otherwise a separate general meeting is needed, with notice given in advance. Allow from several weeks to a few months.
How long is the work on site?
Three to four weeks for an apartment main bathroom, three for an ensuite. Restricted noisy-work hours and lift bookings can add a few days compared with a house.
Can we live in the apartment during the renovation?
If it has a second bathroom, yes, though strip-out days are noisy and dusty. If it is the only bathroom, you will need to stay elsewhere for most of the program.
What causes delays?
Approval taking longer than expected, selections not finalised before the start, and materials not on site. The first is managed by applying early; the others are avoided by locking selections and ordering before booking a start date.