Complete Bathroom Renovation in Unley
Renovating a bathroom in an Unley heritage home requires a different mindset than a standard renovation. The homes here — Federation cottages, Edwardian villas, and interwar bungalows — have a charact…
Complete Bathroom Renovation for Unley Homes
Renovating a bathroom in an Unley heritage home requires a different mindset than a standard renovation. The homes here — Federation cottages, Edwardian villas, and interwar bungalows — have a character that shapes everything from the materials you choose to the way you manage plumbing in 100-year-old walls. We've renovated bathrooms in dozens of Unley character homes and understand both the technical challenges and the design sensibility that makes a renovation in this suburb feel right.
Common Challenges in Inner South Homes
- Original bathrooms positioned in rear lean-tos or separate outbuildings that are structurally complex to properly waterproof
- Federation and Edwardian homes with high ceilings in the living areas but low ceilings in bathroom extensions
- Heritage overlay requirements that are stricter in some Unley streets than others
- Original leadlight windows in some bathrooms that must be retained and worked around
Our Process in Unley
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Free On-Site Consultation
Ryan visits your home, takes measurements, discusses your vision and priorities. You get honest advice — not a sales pitch.
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Fixed-Price Quote
You receive a detailed written quote covering every element of the renovation. The price you approve is the price you pay.
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Demolition & Preparation
We strip the bathroom back to the bones, properly waterproof the wet areas, and prepare all substrate surfaces for tiling.
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Fit-Out & Installation
Tiles, fixtures, vanity, shower, toilet, lighting, exhaust fan — installed in the correct sequence by licensed tradespeople.
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Final Handover
A full site clean, a walkthrough with you to confirm everything meets expectations, and your workmanship warranty documentation.
Bathroom Renovation Quote for Unley Homeowners
Fixed price, no surprises. Ryan visits your Unley home, takes measurements, and provides a written quote covering every element of the work.
Scope of Works
- Full demolition and waste removal
- Waterproofing to Australian Standards (AS 3740)
- Custom tiling — floor, walls, and niches
- Fixture and fitting supply and installation
- Electrical and plumbing coordinated under one contract
- Final clean and professional handover
For full details on what's covered, see our Complete Bathroom Renovation service page.
Bathroom Renovation FAQs — Unley
The bathrooms that look best in Unley Federation and Edwardian homes are those that nod to the era without being a literal reproduction. Think: warm tile tones in stone or terracotta-adjacent colours; hexagonal or penny tile floors as a deliberate feature nod; freestanding baths in acrylic or cast iron as a focal point; brushed gold, brass, or unlacquered finishes on tapware; wall-mounted mixers. These elements echo the period without looking like a pastiche, and they'll feel timeless rather than fashion-driven.
This is a question that comes up frequently in Unley, and the answer depends on your budget and long-term plans. A renovation within the existing lean-to footprint is the lowest-cost and lowest-disruption option. A rebuild or extension requires a building permit and architect involvement, adds significant cost, but may deliver a much better outcome — particularly if the existing lean-to is poorly proportioned or in poor structural condition. We can give you an honest assessment of what's worth doing within your budget during consultation.
Most standard bathroom renovations take 2–3 weeks from demolition to final handover. Larger bathrooms or those requiring significant plumbing relocations may take 3–4 weeks. During your consultation we'll give you a realistic timeline specific to your project — and we honour it.
Not usually. If your home has a second bathroom you can use, most people stay put. We contain the work area, lay floor protection, and clean up at the end of each day. If the main bathroom is the only bathroom in the home, we'll discuss timing and phasing options with you during consultation.
Our fixed-price quote covers all labour, waterproofing, tiling, fixture installation (shower, bath, vanity, toilet, tapware), electrical (lighting and exhaust fan), and final clean. Fixtures and tiles are either supplied by us or by you — we'll clarify which items are in-scope at quoting stage. The only exclusions are hidden structural defects that couldn't be identified before demolition.
Yes, absolutely. Many clients enjoy sourcing their own tiles, tapware, and fixtures to get exactly the look they want. We'll give you the exact specifications you need (tile size, fixture rough-in dimensions) and install whatever you supply — as long as it meets Australian Standards. We'll also advise on quantities so you don't over- or under-order.
Our workmanship warranty covers defects in the installation work — including tiling, waterproofing, plumbing connections, and electrical work. It does not cover damage caused by misuse or normal wear and tear. Manufacturer warranties on fixtures and fittings are separate. We'll provide written warranty documentation at handover.
Tile selection depends on three factors: the aesthetic you're after, the size of the room, and whether the tile is for a floor or wall. In smaller bathrooms — common in Adelaide's inner-eastern and inner-southern suburbs — large-format tiles (600×600mm or larger) with minimal grout lines make the space feel bigger. For character homes, warm-toned stone-look tiles in travertine or warm grey complement the heritage feel better than stark whites. We can advise on tile selection during consultation, and we're familiar with what the major Adelaide tile suppliers carry so we can help you shortlist options that suit your budget and brief.
A renovation typically means a complete strip-out and rebuild — new waterproofing, new tiles, new fixtures. A refurbishment might mean resurfacing or repainting existing fixtures, re-grouting, and updating tapware without a full demolition. We do both, but we always recommend renovation over refurbishment when waterproofing is more than 15 years old or when tiles are showing movement. Short-term savings on a refurbishment can cost more in the long run if waterproofing failure follows.
Bathroom Renovation in Nearby Suburbs
We also provide complete bathroom renovation services in the following Adelaide suburbs — same quality, same licensed builder, same fixed-price approach.
Other Services Available in Unley
Bathroom Renovation in Unley?
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