Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Write the bathroom renovation brief

Start with how the room works today. List the problems you want solved: awkward storage, worn surfaces, a tired vanity or a layout that is hard to use. Separate essential repairs from appearance changes.

Use our renovation order of work to place the bathroom within the wider project. We include bathroom refreshes in our small renovations service in Wellington.

• Who uses the room and what do they need from it?
• Which fixtures and services will stay in place?
• What is damaged, leaking or no longer working?
• What storage and cleaning improvements matter?
• Is this the only bathroom or toilet in the property?
• What budget and timing constraints should shape the scope?

Record the room and choose products together

Measure the room and note doors, windows, fixtures and service positions on a simple sketch. Add door swings and the space needed to use drawers or cupboards. Photographs help explain features the sketch misses.

Keep product dimensions and installation information together. A vanity, tap, basin and mirror need to work as a set; the individual pieces looking good is only part of the decision. Confirm suitability and lead times before booking a sequence around them.

Resolve moisture and approval questions first

Tell us about leaks, soft floors, staining, failed surfaces and previous repairs. These affect the scope before a cosmetic change can proceed. If the room has a water-damage problem, establish the cause and material condition first.

Confirm any required consent, design and inspections for the actual proposal before work starts. Changing a fixture, changing services and changing a wet-area system are different scopes. Building Performance’s project stages explain where planning and consent sit in the process.

The relevant plumbing, electrical and building work needs the appropriate trades. We coordinate trusted plumbing and electrical support for the agreed project.

Agree the bathroom work sequence

1. Confirm the scope, products, approvals and quote.
2. Arrange access, protection and temporary household facilities.
3. Remove only the agreed items and assess exposed conditions.
4. Complete required repairs and service work.
5. Install the specified linings and wet-area systems with necessary checks.
6. Finish surfaces and fit the selected fixtures in the agreed order.
7. Complete the final checks, clean-up and handover information.

The exact order depends on the project and product systems. Build drying, curing and inspection time into the programme rather than treating every day as an installation day.

Check the quote and the finished room

The quote should identify removal, disposal, repairs, products, trade work and finishing. Record who supplies each item and how unexpected conditions will be handled. Keep optional additions separate so they do not blur the agreed scope.

At handover, check the agreed work, keep care instructions and note any remaining items. Ask when the room and surfaces can be used normally.

If the existing layout works and the changes are mainly surfaces and fittings, our bathroom refresh guide may help you define a smaller project. For floor choices, read vinyl vs laminate flooring before selecting the exact product.