An opened wall showing brick, metal framing, insulated pipes and electrical conduit.
Home / Bathroom Renovation Questions
SIX QUESTIONS, ANSWERED STRAIGHT
Before you invite anyone into your bathroom, you’ll want to know a few things: what it might cost, how a quote is put together, who handles the pipes and wiring, and who you’ll actually be dealing with.
I’m Ivan Bodnar, an independent renovation specialist in Melbourne. These are the questions homeowners usually raise first, with plain answers.
COST, QUOTES AND WHO YOU DEAL WITH
Most first conversations come back to the same few points: what it will cost, how the quote is worked out, who you’ll be dealing with and whether I cover your suburb. Open any question for a plain answer.
Pale wall tiles and dark grout lines: the visible finish, and only the first layer of the wall.
It’s the fairest question there is, and the honest answer is that it depends on the room. Prices vary according to the existing conditions, the materials you choose, the preparation needed and the work involved. Two bathrooms that look alike on the surface can need very different work once the old finish comes off.
That’s why I don’t give instant fixed prices without understanding the property’s condition and the scope you have in mind. A detailed quotation generally requires an on-site assessment. The factors are written out in What Affects Bathroom Renovation Costs.
Yes, that’s how I prefer to start. An on-site assessment lets me look past the tiles and grout to the signs of what’s underneath: movement, moisture marks, worn surfaces and how the room is laid out. We also talk through what you’d like to change.
The written quotation is then based on what I’ve seen and the scope we’ve discussed, rather than a guess from a photo. More on the process is on On-site Assessment and Quotation.
Yes. I work as an independent sole trader, so you deal directly with the person responsible for your renovation, from the first assessment through to completion. There’s no sales team in between.
I began learning renovation work alongside my father and have about 15 years of residential renovation experience. Read more about me.
I’m based in Melbourne and focus on bathroom renovations in Malvern and the surrounding suburbs. Specific project locations are subject to availability and assessment.
If you’re nearby and unsure, just ask. The area is described on Malvern and Surrounding Melbourne Suburbs.
Q3 — PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL
I don’t carry out plumbing, electrical or other regulated work myself. Appropriately licensed specialists complete those components where they’re required, and I may coordinate their involvement as part of your renovation.
My own work covers the preparation and finishing side of the bathroom: tiling, plasterboard, plastering and interior finishing. You’ll always know which part of the job is mine and which is handled by a licensed specialist. More detail is on Plumbing, Electrical and Regulated Work.
Q6 — GETTING IN TOUCH
Send a few details through the Request a Quote page, call 0413 142 055 or email [email protected]. Once you submit the form, you’ll see a message confirming your enquiry has been received. Nothing is booked or paid online; the first step is simply a conversation about your bathroom.
