Budget bathroom renovations: Three hidden costs

The key to any successful bathroom renovation is to be organised. That way, there won’t be any surprises.

To get you started, here are some common scenarios that could increase your costs when renovating a bathroom.

Hidden costs when renovating a bathroom

Being unprepared

Being organised and having a good understanding of the budget required for your bathroom renovation is important.

"Nothing is hidden if you have an honest team behind you and you’re completely informed on the what exactly you’re paying for and why," says Reece Bathroom marketing lead Daniela Santilli.

Different tradies are booked in the order they are required. "If unprepared, some people may get caught out in the early stages of a renovation, and this can cause a bit of a domino effect throughout the rest of the process," Daniela explains. 

If one stage falls behind, the rest of the process will be held up and "you may end up paying for extra call out fees or even paying one tradie to wait for the other."

Additionally, Daniella says, "Different trades will also have different ways of billing, such as per job or per hour, which can affect your budget if you don’t plan accordingly."

Water damage

From the toilet to the tub, there are a number of places water damage can occur in the bathroom - potentially unnoticed.  

Director at Watara Home, Mitch Curtis says water damage can go unrecognised until demolition has begun. If this happens, it will need to be repaired before the work can continue. 

Echoing this, Kia Howat, interior designer at GIA Bathrooms and Kitchens says, "Existing water damage to the subfloor can also be quite common and is essential that it's rectified before continuing."

Termite damage

Termites, according to Mitch, have a special talent, making it easy for them to go "unnoticed". "Termites (better known in QLD as the structural engineers) only eat enough of your timber frame to go unnoticed, which is why this is a common hidden cost," he explains.

"The main entry point for termites into a home is a wet area, i.e. the bathroom. Confirm with your builder if they recognise any immediate signs of termite damage at your initial site visit. This will ensure you are aware of any possible time delays or added costs." 

This article first appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.