Bathroom Renovations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast: Costs, Timelines and How It Works

• Most full bathroom renovations across Brisbane and the Gold Coast land between $25,000 and $40,000.
• A typical bathroom takes around 20 business days of construction work, with check-in periods built in, so allow roughly five weeks start to finish.
• Waterproofing must meet Australian Standard AS 3740 and be certified. In Queensland this is not optional.
• Any building work valued over $3,300 must be done by a QBCC licensed contractor.
• The biggest cost surprises come from problems hidden behind walls, found during demolition.
• Moving plumbing, framing new walls, and floor to ceiling tiling all push the price up.
• A clear written scope and a signed variation process protect you from blowouts.

Renovating a bathroom is one of the most valuable things you can do to a home in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Most homeowners we meet have looked at three or four other companies, watched a few videos, and still feel unsure about what a fair price looks like, how long they will be without a bathroom, and what actually happens once the job starts. This guide answers all of that in plain language, the way we explain it on a first site visit.

Based on our own project database, a full bathroom renovation in Brisbane and the Gold Coast usually costs between $25,000 and $40,000. That covers the common scope: demolition, plumbing, carpentry, electrical, waterproofing, tiling, plastering, painting, a new shower screen, and a builder's clean at the end. Where you land in that range comes down to the size of the room, the condition of what is behind the walls, and the finishes you choose.

For context, the Housing Industry Association puts the average Australian bathroom renovation at around $26,000 (reported by Canstar), with full renovations commonly running higher. Our $25,000 to $40,000 range reflects complete renovations done by a licensed team, not a quick cosmetic refresh.

What pushes a quote up

• Moving the toilet, shower, or vanity, which means relocating waste points and water
• Floor to ceiling tiling instead of a standard tile height
• Feature tiles, mosaics, herringbone patterns, and natural stone
• Framing new walls, niches, shelf walls, or a hob
• Electrical extras like heated towel rails, LED niches, in-mirror lighting, and a 3-in-1 heat fan
• A frameless or custom-cut shower screen instead of a standard panel
• Repairing water damage or rotten framing found during demolition

For a full worked example with line-item pricing from a real recent project, see our bathroom renovation cost guide.

Get a fixed quote for your bathroom
Every xBathrooms quote starts with a free site visit and a detailed, itemised scope, so the number you get is real, not a guess. Book yours at xbathrooms.com.au/contact.

The construction work on a typical bathroom is around 20 business days, from the first day of demolition to handover. We also build in check-in periods along the way, so most homeowners should allow roughly five weeks of calendar time from start to finish.

The gap between working days and calendar time exists because some stages have to cure or dry and cannot be rushed. Waterproofing membranes need time to cure before tiling can start (manufacturer guidance such as Dribond allows up to about three days), and sand and cement screeds should be cured and dried before tiles go down (around seven days, per Ardex). Rushing these stages is the most common cause of a bathroom that fails early.

This is the order we work in on almost every job. It is built around one rule: nothing gets covered up until the stage underneath it has been checked.

1. Site visit and scope. Our estimator runs through a detailed consultation checklist on site, room by room, so the quote reflects the real job.
2. Plans and ordering. We finalise the plan, then order tiles, fixtures, and materials so nothing holds up the trades.
3. Skip bin and demolition. The skip arrives, then we strip the bathroom back. This is where hidden problems show up.
4. Make safe. Electrical and plumbing are made safe before any rough-in work begins.
5. Rough-in. Plumbers and electricians run new pipes and wiring while the walls are open.
6. Framing and sheeting. We frame any new walls, then sheet the walls and floor ready for waterproofing.
7. Waterproofing. Applied to Australian Standard AS 3740 and certified. It must cure before tiling.
8. Screed and tiling. The floor is screeded to fall correctly, then floor and wall tiling goes in.
9. Fit-off. Carpentry, plumbing, and electrical trades return to install the vanity, toilet, tapware, lights, and fittings.
10. Plaster and paint. Ceilings and any remaining walls are finished and painted.
11. Shower screen, accessories, and clean. The screen goes in, rails and accessories are fitted, then a full builder's clean.
12. Silicon and handover. Final sealing, a walk-through with you, and the keys to your new bathroom.

Once the walls and ceiling are open, we sometimes find things that could not be seen during the quote. These are the honest reasons a price can change mid-job, and we document every one of them through a written variation before any extra work starts:

• Asbestos or other hazardous material that must be removed safely
• Rotten or structurally unsound framing behind the tiles
• Hidden or non-compliant plumbing and vents that need rerouting
• Water damage from a previous leaking shower or bath
• Drainage or subfloor problems under the old floor

We never proceed with extra work without telling you first, in writing, with the cost. That is the whole point of a clear variation process: no surprises on the final invoice.

A standard xBathrooms renovation includes a package for each trade, plus any extras you choose. The standard scope covers demolition and waste removal, plumbing rough-in and fit-off, carpentry, an electrical package, waterproofing, tiling, plastering, painting, a shower screen, silicon, and a builder's clean. Extras are things like additional niches, a heated towel rail, feature tiling, an in-wall toilet, or a custom shower screen.

You can also supply your own tiles and fixtures if you prefer. We will tell you honestly when a client-supplied product will work well and when it will cause problems on site.

For a straight cosmetic refresh that does not move plumbing or change the structure, you generally do not need building approval. Once you move fixtures, change drainage, or alter walls, the rules change. Here is the plain version. (See the QBCC homeowner's guide and your local council for the detail.)

• Plumbing work, like moving a toilet or adding a shower, must be done by a licensed plumber and usually needs plumbing approval through the council (see Brisbane City Council and City of Gold Coast).
• Structural changes, like moving a wall, need building approval.
• Waterproofing must comply with AS 3740 and be certified, even when council approval is not required. (See the Housing Industry Association guidance on AS 3740.)
• Any building work valued over $3,300 including labour and materials must be carried out by a QBCC licensed contractor.

A $25,000 to $40,000 renovation is well over the licensing threshold, so it must be done by a licensed builder. Always check that your renovator holds a current QBCC licence before you sign anything. For the record, our licence number is 15482767.

The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest job. A low number usually means something has been left out, and it reappears later as a variation. Here is what to check before you hire anyone. (QBCC's guide to finding a contractor and getting quotes is a useful independent checklist.)

• They hold a current QBCC licence. Search the licence number on the QBCC site.
• They give you a detailed written scope, not a one-line price. Our estimator checklist is exactly this.
• They explain how variations work, in writing, before the job starts.
• They handle waterproofing and certification themselves, to AS 3740.
• They can show you real, recent local projects, not stock photos.
• They set clear expectations about the surprises that can come up during demolition.

A look at some of our recent bathroom transformations across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Fineas Pintilie is a co-founder of xBathrooms, a QBCC licensed bathroom renovation company (licence 15482767) and Master Builders member working across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Fineas and the team have completed more than 50 bathroom renovations across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Logan, designing, supplying, and installing each one under one roof.