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Bathroom Renovation Process

01

Onsite Bathroom Consultation

As a first step, our licensed builder Paul will visit you in person, in your home, to meet you and understand your needs. He will take photographs and measurements as necessary, offer detailed advice and may even offer a ballpark investment range where possible.

This meeting is an opportunity for us to answer any questions you may have, and to allow us to offer suggestions and improvements to your ideas from our wealth of industry experience. Before Paul attends, we usually suggest reading our company brochure, and jotting down any questions you can think of upfront.

02

Design Process

After the initial consultation, we will work through a design process between you and our design team. This is the exciting time when your ideas become a floor plan!

We will ask you to share any images you have collected or design ideas you may have, so we can take these into consideration. It is often also a great idea to discuss your budget and preferences in terms of finishes (be it high end, budget or somewhere in the middle) at this time, so that the quote you end up with is in line with what you can realistically invest.

03

Project Research

Before a proposal is prepared, a detailed scope of work will be mapped out.

We will spend time assessing your job and ensuring that not only the quote, but the construction plan, cover all bases. This is because we know from experience that a well thought out and planned renovation is one that ensures a great experience for our clients.

04

Pricing Proposal (Quote)

In preparing your price, our professional trades may be organised to attend your home or review the documentation for their own site assessment. This ensures accurate job specifications and reliable pricing with no hidden surprises.

Our builder Paul will personally finalise and review your quote before presenting it to you either in person or virtually. This allows us to ensure that you understand everything we have included as a full turn-key service.

05

Contract

As a professional reputable builder in SA, we provide every client with an official HIA construction contract backed by law.

Once again, we will walk you through this and how it protects you by working with a registered builder.

06

Selections

Using our Client Welcome Pack as a guide, we will work with you to select items for your project that are specifically personalised to your exact needs and tastes.

In addition to the APR team, each of our suppliers will offer a huge amount of advice for you on the myriad of appliances, finishes and options you have to choose from.

It is worth spending time to choose slowly and carefully at this point, to keep things moving throughout construction and prevent any delays once work starts.

07

Construction

In general, we will confirm a specific start date with you when your design and selections are signed off. At this time, we will be guiding you through our Welcome process, and you will know everything that is happening at each stage ahead.

Once the onsite work is started, an average size bathroom renovation done “our way” typically takes four weeks from start to finish. We are unapologetically slightly slower than some companies – this is because we exceed the Australian standards in several areas (such as waterproofing) as policy, to ensure our clients can enjoy their bathroom for many years to come.

08

Quality Control

At several stages throughout the renovation, our process includes pre-booked inspections by our registered builder Paul. These quality inspections are to ensure that each and every thing done in your home is to our expectations and standards.

The final quality inspection will be prior to handing the work over to you to enjoy.

09

Handover

Handover is a building term that simply means – it is time for the client to enjoy the result of all of the planning and hard work!

After a final thorough inspection of the renovated space, we will conduct a walkthrough with you before providing you with any relevant certificates and instruction manuals.

We will be keen to hear your feedback about your experience with us and whether you have found it as rewarding as we have.

10

Warranty

As a long-standing building company in Adelaide (we have been in the industry for over 30 years), we promise to be around for a long time to come, should you ever need us.

However, you also have a formal guarantee on our workmanship for the next 5 years, thanks to our residential builder’s registration. Appliances, fixtures and fittings are covered separately by the supplier’s warranty.

FAQ'S

In South Australia, all building renovations must be done by a licensed residential builder, and any work over $12,000 should come with an approved building contract. Working with a licensed builder protects you by law. In addition, you will have peace of mind knowing that all licensed builders must go through a vigorous application process to show they are financially sound, qualified, knowledgeable, and of good character just to be granted a licence.

Be wary of tradespeople suggesting work or materials be separated into multiple payments and always ask for a builder’s licence number if you cannot see one.

Does a company need to be licensed to renovate our bathroom?

What you invest in your new space will be largely determined by your choice of fittings and finishes. As a guide, done well with the correct materials, a bathroom will generally start from $30,000 for a full renovation, which includes waterproofing, plumbing, electrical, and your selected bathroom fixtures and fittings such as tiles, vanities, toilets and showers.

Cheaply priced building work should be approached with caution, as the main variables are the materials used and the amount paid to the tradespeople doing work such as electrical and waterproofing.Keep in mind that a bathroom done correctly by responsible tradespeople could potentially save you a lot of money down the track.

How much should we plan to invest?

Absolutely. This is a wise decision if you want to get the best possible value while you renovate. Adelaide Property Renovations provides a full turn-key service meaning you can save money on returning trades and optimise the renovation period by getting everything done at once.

In particular, secondary bathrooms, ensuites, and powder rooms should be done to match the main bathroom. Kitchens and laundries can also add huge amounts of value to your home and can make a big difference to the ease and convenience of your daily life.

Many reputable renovation companies will not be able to assist you with smaller works as stand alone projects, but can easily accommodate them while already at your home. Often, having storage cabinets or small improvements done professionally at the same time as your renovation can be significantly cheaper and longer lasting than DIY options.

Can you renovate other rooms in our home at the same time?

Very often, it is not so much the space but the fittings, fixtures, and materials inside that will determine your overall investment. A larger but simply designed room with a budget vanity and shower will be less than a smaller one with designer items or more complex design features.

This is why working with someone knowledgeable about the various components is invaluable – we can guide you through the moreclever and cost-saving ideas that still look amazing, or ensure that your feature piece or design can be worked into your budget.

Does a smaller bathroom cost less than a large one?

We do. We have worked very hard over the past 30 years to develop relationships with local Adelaide suppliers who will look after our clients as if they were their own, and we happily recommend them as part of our Client Welcome Pack.

These businesses will provide you with design ideas and guidance on the best choices for your aesthetic and budget while knowing our minimum quality standards and keeping within those.

Working with our suppliers for your renovation means you have the service and quality backing of both companies. It means a smooth building process as items are checked and triple-checked and deliveries are coordinated with an often moving schedule. We will be fully responsible for fixtures and fittings, sparing you with any hassle or costly delays, and ensuring that items are in stock, the correct colour and model, high quality, and will stand the test of time.

Do you have particular suppliers you recommend?

This is a great question. A renovation is a full overhaul of your existing bathroom, starting with demolition and a blank slate before altering the layout, adjusting the plumbing and electrical locations, installing all new linings and waterproof membrane, and bringing everything up to current Australian standards.

Bathroom furniture items (often called fixtures and fittings) are replaced with newly selected models that are specifically chosen by you, which look better while also saving water and energy by running more efficiently. Your new bathroom will look amazing but will also have been redesigned to maximise space and be perfectly suited to your needs.

A makeover, conversely, is making improvements to the existing space such as fixtures and fittings already in the bathroom. This will typically include things like changing baths and sinks, painting and replacing grout. It is usually not a fix for waterproofing issues, non-compliance with plumbing and electrical standards, or a non-functional design.

We often say that a makeover is like simply repainting a 1970s car (complete with its older standards and wear and tear) and calling it new.

Many licensed builders, including ourselves, will only work with full renovations as this means we can ensure that the finished space is functional, waterproof, high quality and built to last many years. Thus, being worthy of our name.

What is the difference between a renovation & makeover?

For several reasons. The overall price for your project is made up of many components, lots of which are individual to you and your design and preferences. Others may have different budgets or tastes or place a higher value on particular items.

The largest components by far are the materials and labour, materials being the items within your bathroom such as toilet, vanity, shower, tiles and windows, and labour including the builder and carpentry, electrical, plumbing and waterproofing. For which it is self-evident that you do not always want the cheapest tradesperson.

In addition, many reputable renovators have good supplier and trade relationships and can get high quality products and services for their clients. Others may reduce prices by using less favourable suppliers, discontinued items or a lesser quality of materials.

On costs that add a small amount (a few hundred dollars) to your project but are invaluable include qualifications, licences and registrations.

In general, if there is a small difference in price between your quote and that of others, ask us to go through it and compare ‘apples for apples’ so that you are well informed before making a decision. If, however, you are presented with a surprisingly low proposal for any building works, approach with caution and do your research.

Why have I heard such a big range of prices for bathrooms from other people?

This can depend on the back and forth during the design phase, as it is important that you end up with exactly what you want. Something that moves quickly through design and choosing fixtures and finishes may be ready to start in just a few weeks, whereas projects with plenty of thought and the occasional change of mind will take much longer.

In general, we will confirm a specific start date with you when your design and selections are signed off. This ensures that anything you have chosen can be secured and available for your home and that you can plan ahead to be without amenities for a short period. At this time, we will be guiding you through our Welcome process and you will know everything that is happening at each stage ahead.

Once the onsite work is started, an average sized bathroom renovation done “our way” typically takes four weeks from start to finish. We are unapologetically slightly slower than some companies – this is because we exceed the Australian standards in several areas (such as waterproofing) as policy, to ensure our clients can enjoy their bathroom for many years to come.

How long will my bathroom renovation take?

Ideas are all you need! As a first step, our licensed builder Paul will visit you in person, in your home, to meet you and understand your needs. He will take photographs and measurements as necessary, offer detailed advice and may even offer a ballpark investment range where possible.

This meeting is an opportunity for us to answer any questions you may have, and to allow us to offer suggestions and improvements to your ideas from our wealth of industry experience. Before he attends, we usually suggest reading our company brochure, and jot down any questions you can think of upfront.

After the initial consultation, we will work through a design process between you and our design team. This is the exciting time when your ideas become a floor plan!

Before a proposal is prepared, a detailed scope of work will be mapped out and professional trades may be organised to attend your home for their own site assessment. This ensures accurate job specifications and reliable pricing with no hidden surprises.

As you can see, a huge amount of time and communication is spent with us before you even receive a quote! This is because we know from experience that a well thought out and planned renovation is one that ensures a great experience for our clients.

I have ideas. Where do I start?