How to choose a bathroom renovator in Sydney

Start with experience that matches your room

A useful shortlist starts with the kind of bathroom you own: an apartment ensuite, a terrace bathroom, a family bathroom or a room being adapted for accessibility.

Ask each business for recent examples with a similar layout, access arrangement and scope, then ask who managed those projects from demolition through to handover.

A polished gallery helps you understand a renovator's style, while a conversation about deliveries, waterproofing, changes and communication helps you understand how the job will run.

Give every business the same brief, including room dimensions, photos, your suburb, property type, preferred timing and the features you want to keep.

For workplace or customer facilities, prepare a brief around the building's use and business operations with the commercial bathroom planning guide.

Check the licence against the actual work

NSW requires a contractor licence for residential building work above $5,000 including labour, materials and GST, and for specialist work such as plumbing and electrical work regardless of value.

Use the official licence checker to match the quoted business name, licence category, status and conditions to the proposed work.

Keep a dated record of your check and ask the contractor to identify the licensed trades responsible for plumbing and electrical work.

Official guidance: NSW Government: checking a contractor's qualifications.

12 questions to put in your enquiry

• Who will hold the building contract and supervise the renovation?
• Which comparable bathrooms can I see?
• What's included in demolition and waste removal?
• How will the existing floor and wall condition be assessed?
• Which waterproofing system is proposed, and what records will I receive?
• Which fixtures and tile allowances are included?
• Who handles approvals and building access?
• What's the order of work and the expected bathroom downtime?
• What temporary facilities should I arrange?
• How are variations priced and approved?
• Who provides progress updates and how often?
• Which documents and warranties will be handed over?

Match the provider to the scope

Describe tasks precisely when deciding between a handyman, an individual trade and a renovation contractor.

Replacing an accessory, changing a tap and rebuilding a wet room involve different work, licensing and coordination needs.

A full strip-out generally benefits from a clearly named contractor who coordinates the licensed trades and accepts responsibility for the agreed scope.

Decide who coordinates the job

Ask whether project coordination is included before hiring a separate project manager.

A separate appointment may suit a renovation with several rooms, design consultants or complicated approvals, while a bathroom contractor may already provide the coordination a straightforward room needs.

Write down who orders products, checks deliveries, approves variations and confirms each stage is ready for the next trade.