Choose a bathroom renovator in five steps
In short
To find a bathroom renovator on the Gold Coast, prepare a brief with your suburb, bathroom photos, layout changes and access details. Ask companies about comparable work and who will coordinate the trades. Check the contracting business through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), resolve body corporate permissions for an apartment, and get site-based written quotes that include waterproofing and repairs. Choose a renovator whose scope, responsibilities and contract are clear before you book demolition.
Step 1
Give each renovator the same room and access brief
Send your Gold Coast suburb, property type, measurements and photos showing the whole room. Mark which fittings will stay in place and which you want to move. Include visible damage, leaks and previous repairs so the renovator can investigate rather than quote only for new finishes.
Explain how materials and rubble will move through the property. For an apartment, include the floor level and any lift, loading or parking arrangements you already know. If this is your only bathroom, ask for a plan for the period without a working toilet or shower.
What to include in your enquiry
| Part of the brief | Useful detail |
|---|---|
| Room and layout | Dimensions, photos, fittings to replace and proposed shower, toilet or vanity moves. |
| Existing problems | Leaks, loose tiles, damp adjoining rooms and known repairs. |
| Building and access | House or apartment, floor level, delivery route and building manager contact if applicable. |
| Selections and timing | Fixture models, items you will supply, budget and dates when the property is available. |
Step 2
Check who contracts for the job and who does the work
Ask for the business name and licence number that will appear on your contract, then check the QBCC register for current status, classes and conditions. Queensland generally requires a relevant QBCC licence for building work valued over $3,300. Plumbing and drainage require licensing regardless of value. Contact QBCC if a licence restriction or the proposed scope is unclear.
Ask for completed bathrooms with similar layout changes and building access. Speak to a recent referee about supervision and how the company handled problems. Confirm whether one renovator contracts for the whole bathroom or whether you will have separate agreements with trades.
Step 3
Resolve apartment permissions before setting a start date
For a Gold Coast home in a body corporate scheme, check the scheme's by-laws and ask whether your renovation needs written approval. Work affecting common property or shared pipes, wiring or load-bearing walls needs particular attention. Give the body corporate the proposed layout and scope, and keep any required approval with your project records.
Ask building management about work hours, lift bookings, protection of shared areas and water shutdowns. For example, moving a shower waste may affect shared pipework even when the visible work stays inside your bathroom. Have the contractor confirm any building or plumbing approval requirements and who will arrange them.
Check insurance cover for your building before paying. QBCC says the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme does not cover work to or for a duplex or multiple dwelling of more than three storeys, excluding a car park level. That exclusion also applies to work inside an individual unit. Ask QBCC about your building and proposed renovation if eligibility is uncertain.
Step 4
Compare the full scope, including the work beneath the tiles
Arrange site visits and request written quotes against the same brief and selections. Check fixed amounts, allowances and exclusions separately. An allowance for a fixture you have not chosen or repairs that cannot yet be measured can change the final bill. Ask how those amounts will be adjusted and how hidden damage will be priced after strip-out.
Waterproofing protects the building beneath the bathroom finishes. Ask the renovator to specify the areas and products, surface preparation, installer and checks before tiling. QBCC warns that inadequate preparation, detailing or curing time can compromise the system. The schedule should allow it to cure properly and protect it from damage during later work.
Step 5
Agree on the contract, changes and handover records
Bathroom refits are domestic building work. Queensland requires a written contract for this work priced over $3,300, including labour, materials and GST. At $20,000 or more, the contractor must give you the QBCC consumer building guide before you sign. Check that the contract includes the agreed quote, layout, selections and exclusions, and that both parties sign and date it.
Record the deposit, payment milestones and completion arrangements. Agree how variations, meaning changes to the contracted work, will be documented and approved with their price and time effect. Check the applicable deposit limits before paying.
Ask for waterproofing records, product warranties, care instructions and any required approval or trade certificates at handover. Walk through the finished room with the renovator, record outstanding items and agree when they will be addressed. Keep those records with the contract and invoices. If damp patches or other possible waterproofing defects appear later, photograph them and notify the contractor in writing promptly.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- QBCC: when you need a licence
Queensland licence thresholds, relevant licence classes, plumbing and drainage licensing, and exemptions.
- QBCC: apartment renovations
Body corporate by-laws and approvals, shared building systems, and the home warranty exclusion for taller residential buildings.
- QBCC: waterproofing guidance for home owners
Written waterproofing scope, preparation, curing, protection during later work and reporting suspected defects.
- QBCC: domestic building contracts
Bathroom refits, written contract threshold including GST, signatures and consumer guide requirement.
