Bathroom Renovation Plumber Melbourne

A bathroom renovation is the highest-risk plumbing job in a house. Everything is concealed behind tile and waterproofing, and if the fall is wrong or a connection leaks, you find out months later when the ceiling below starts staining. Sedcon Plumbing handles bathroom renovation plumbing across Melbourne metro — rough-in, fit-off and compliance certificates — for homeowners, builders and property managers.

What bathroom renovation plumbing covers

Rough-in — hot and cold supply, waste and vent set out to the new layout before sheeting and waterproofing.
Floor waste and fall — setting the waste position and screed fall so the floor actually drains. This is the detail that causes the most callbacks when it is done badly.
Shower mixers and rails — including thermostatic and wall-mounted mixers set at the right depth for the finished tile.
Bath installation — freestanding, inset and back-to-wall, including floor-mounted bath fillers.
Vanity and basin — including wall-hung units where supply and waste must land inside a narrow tolerance.
Toilet installation — close-coupled, back-to-wall and in-wall cistern systems.
Relocating fixtures — moving a toilet, shower or bath to a new position, including new soil pipe runs.
Laundry work — where the laundry shares the same wet area or wall.

Waterproofing is not optional

Waterproofing of internal wet areas in Australia is governed by AS 3740, and in Victoria it is licensed work that must be carried out by a registered practitioner. It is also the single most common defect in bathroom renovations, and the most expensive to put right once tiles are down.

The plumbing and the waterproofing have to be sequenced correctly — penetrations set and sealed before the membrane goes on, and the membrane cured before tiling. If a renovation quote does not make clear who is doing the waterproofing and when, that is worth resolving before work starts rather than after.

Decisions to make before demolition

Moving the toilet. The soil pipe needs fall to the existing stack. On a slab this can mean cutting concrete. It is the most expensive fixture to relocate, so decide early.
Wall-hung vanity or in-wall cistern. Both need framing and pipework set precisely before sheeting, and both are very hard to adjust afterwards.
Shower type. A hobless or level-entry shower changes the floor build-up and the fall, and needs to be planned at rough-in, not chosen at tiling.
Tile thickness. Mixer and outlet depths are set to the finished surface. Change the tile after rough-in and the fittings sit proud or recessed.
Old pipework. In a pre-1970s home the wall is open — the cheapest time you will ever have to replace failing galvanised supply.
Water pressure. Some mixers and thermostatic valves need a minimum pressure to work properly. Worth checking before the fittings are bought.

How the job runs

Plans and fixture schedule. Send us the layout and the fixtures. Fittings determine rough-in positions, so we need both.
Disconnection and strip-out. We isolate and remove the old fixtures safely.
Rough-in. Supply, waste, vent and floor waste set out and pressure tested while walls and floor are open.
Waterproofing and tiling. We coordinate with the waterproofer and tiler so nothing gets sealed over before it is tested.
Fit-off. Mixers, outlets, toilet, vanity and bath installed and tested.

For builders and property managers

Bathrooms are the trade-sequencing bottleneck on most renovations. We commit to rough-in and fit-off dates and tell you well in advance if anything changes — see our builders and renovations page.

For property managers, a bathroom upgrade between tenancies runs against a vacancy window. We schedule to it, and where a bathroom is being renovated because of a recurring leak, we identify the cause first rather than tiling over it. Our property managers page covers how we work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move the toilet in a bathroom renovation?

Often yes, but the soil pipe needs adequate fall to the existing stack. With subfloor access it is straightforward. On a concrete slab it may require cutting and re-pouring, which is a significant cost. It is the most expensive fixture to relocate, so price it before committing to the layout.

Who is responsible for waterproofing?

Waterproofing of internal wet areas is licensed work in Victoria and must be done by a registered practitioner to AS 3740. The plumbing and waterproofing have to be sequenced correctly. Make sure any renovation quote states clearly who is doing it.

How long does bathroom plumbing take?

Our part is usually two or three visits across the renovation — strip-out, rough-in, then fit-off after tiling. The overall bathroom timeline is driven by waterproofing cure times and tiling, not by the plumbing.

What does bathroom renovation plumbing cost in Melbourne?

It depends almost entirely on whether fixtures stay in place or move. A like-for-like replacement is at the low end. Relocating the toilet and shower, adding a floor waste and installing an in-wall cistern is a much larger scope. We quote from the plans and fixture schedule — see our Melbourne plumber cost guide for indicative ranges on individual items.

Do I need to buy fixtures before rough-in?

Yes, or at least have them specified. Rough-in positions and depths are set to the actual fittings and the finished tile thickness. Choosing fixtures after rough-in is one of the most common causes of rework.

Planning a bathroom renovation in Melbourne? Send us the plans or call 0413 647 557. VBA Licence 120392, fully insured, servicing Melbourne metro.

Bathroom Renovation Plumbing by Suburb