How to get started with a bathroom renovation?

[TeeCat]

My bathroom needs urgent repair/renovation - the shower walls have deteriorated, and my basin taps no longer work.

The trouble is I have no experience with renovations, and need someone to help me, I got a quote from a builder who said it would be $25, 000 for them to do it

so I've decided to just try & get someone with experience in my community to help.

If anyone can help me know where to start I would be grateful, thanks 

(I live in Melbourne) 

I will upload some photos shortly

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @TeeCat. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about bathroom renovations.

Starting a bathroom renovation can feel daunting, especially without previous experience, but you can definitely tackle it step by step. Here's a helpful guide you might like to read through: How to plan a bathroom renovation. You might also like to check out this Best Advice article: Can you D.I.Y. a bathroom renovation yourself?

Since your shower walls and basin taps are the main concerns, focusing on those will be a good starting point. First, I’d recommend checking the condition of the walls to determine if it’s a structural issue or if it’s mainly the tiles and waterproofing that need replacing. If the walls have moisture damage, you’ll likely need to remove and replace any damaged materials, then re-waterproof before re-tiling.

For the basin taps, replacing these can be relatively straightforward if you’re comfortable with basic plumbing. You might only need a set of new taps and a few basic tools, which Bunnings can help you with. However, if the plumbing is old, a licensed plumber could be necessary to ensure everything’s properly fitted and up to code.

Getting local help can be a fantastic idea, especially if someone has experience with tiling, waterproofing, or plumbing. You could start by reaching out through services like Airtasker or Hipages to assist with the larger more specialised tasks like waterproofing and tiling while you focus on learning and handling simpler parts of the project.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[TeeCat]

Thankyou Mitchell,

That advice is very helpful - the whole bathroom is basically very old and in need of replacing, the tiles around the bath are smashed and like I said in my previous post my shower is virtually unusable. 

Finding a reasonably priced local handyperson is not easy, I prefer word-of-mouth than just general internet recommendations, especially as I have had bad experiences through this method. 

Though I have since found a plumber through trial and error.

Behind the bath taps there is asbestos, so I need to find someone to do that as well - I know this project won't be quick or easy on a tight budget

(I'm on a Carer's Pension)

But I'm hoping to find the right people to help (including volunteers in my local community) so wish me luck!

Do you know if Bunnings has a community noticeboard?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @TeeCat,

Bunnings doesn't have a community noticeboard, but we'll certainly take that idea onboard. 

Good luck with your search.

Mitchell