CHAPTER 02 — ASSESSMENT
A bathroom can look tired but be sound underneath, or look fine and hide problems behind the tile. Before I put a figure on your renovation, I come and look at the room itself: the walls, the floor, the existing finishes and what you want to change. That way the written quotation reflects your bathroom, not a guess.
Weathered grey plaster over red brick: cracks, missing sections and patch repairs.
1
WHY I INSPECT FIRST
Many people assume the visible finish shows the condition of a bathroom. It doesn’t. Tiles and paint sit over adhesive, waterproofing, sheeting and framing, and those layers decide how much preparation the work really needs.
That’s why I don’t give instant fixed-price quotations. Photos are useful for a first conversation, but a detailed quotation generally needs an on-site assessment, where I can see the existing conditions for myself. If you’d like to understand the layers, read What the Visible Finish Doesn’t Tell You.
2 — ON SITE
Three things shape every bathroom renovation. I assess each one before writing a quotation.
A
The state of the walls, floor and existing tiles, and signs of wear or deterioration around the shower, junctions and edges. I also look at how the room was put together originally.
B
What has to be stripped back, repaired, levelled or replaced before new materials go in. Durable results start with proper preparation, and preparation is often where two bathrooms differ most.
C
What you want to change, such as the layout, tiling, fixtures and finishes. I’ll explain what’s practical and which parts need licensed specialists.
Cracked, uneven render: the kind of substrate that changes how much preparation a wall needs.
3 — THE WRITTEN QUOTATION
Please note: prices vary with the existing conditions, materials, preparation and work involved. Some things can’t be seen until the old finish comes off. Where that’s likely, I’ll tell you so you know where the uncertainties are. For more on cost, see What Affects Bathroom Renovation Costs.
4
QUESTIONS HOMEOWNERS ASK
Yes, that’s how I prefer to work. Tell me about your bathroom through the Request a Quote page or call 0413 142 055. Then we can arrange a time for me to look at the room, depending on availability and where you are within Malvern and Surrounding Melbourne Suburbs. The written quotation is based on what I find.
It depends on the bathroom. Two rooms of the same size can need very different preparation, depending on what’s behind the tiles and what you want to change. I can’t give you an honest figure without seeing the room. That’s why I don’t give fixed prices sight unseen.
No. Appropriately licensed specialists complete plumbing, electrical and other regulated work where it’s required, and I may coordinate their involvement in your renovation. I also don’t provide a 24-hour emergency plumbing or electrical service. Read more about Plumbing, Electrical and Regulated Work.
Me. I’m an independent sole trader, so I do the assessment myself, and you deal directly with me from the first visit through to completion. You can read more about Ivan Bodnar, or see how the work unfolds in How a Bathroom Renovation Works.
