How-To Guides

The Ultimate Beginner's Checklist for a Bathroom Renovation

A complete, printable-style checklist for your first bathroom renovation — every step from budgeting to final inspection, including the compliance checks most people miss.

TL;DR A bathroom renovation has a lot of moving parts, and a checklist keeps you from missing the ones that matter — especially the compliance steps that protect you. This is a complete beginner's checklist, grouped into four phases: plan, choose, build, and finish. Work through it in order and you'll cover budget, design, licensing, waterproofing and final certificates — the things that separate a lasting bathroom from an expensive redo. Phase 1: Plan Set a budget, including a 10–15% contingency. Decide your scope — cosmetic refresh or full strip-out. Decide whether to keep or move plumbing (moving costs $2,000–$5,000+). Gather inspiration and separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Choose your big-ticket items: tiles, vanity, shower screen, tapware. Check whether your job needs council o…