Bathroom renovation guide for Geelong homes

Renovating a bathroom is one of the best value upgrades you can make to a Geelong home, but it involves more decisions than most people expect. This guide walks through the process in the order it really happens, with notes on the types of homes we see most often at our Geelong showroom on Ryrie St. For tiles and fittings by suburb, see our tiles and bathrooms for Geelong homes page.

1. Start with how the room works

Before you look at a single tile, write down what is not working. Not enough storage? A shower over the bath that the kids splash out of? A cold room that never dries out in winter? The fix for each of these is a layout or product decision, and it is much cheaper to change on paper than once the walls are open.

• Who uses it: a family bathroom needs a bath and lots of storage; an ensuite for two may suit a double vanity and a bigger shower instead.
• What stays: keeping the toilet, shower and basin roughly where they are saves on plumbing.
• What you cannot live without: a freestanding bath, a niche in the shower, a heated towel rail. List your top three.

2. Know your house

Geelong homes vary a lot, and the type of house changes what is easy and what is not.

Weatherboard cottages and period homes

Common in Geelong West, Newtown, Manifold Heights and Herne Hill. Bathrooms are often small, at the back of the house, with a timber subfloor. Timber floors need the right sheeting and waterproofing before tiling, and older walls are rarely straight, which affects large tiles. Smaller formats, subway tiles and mosaics are forgiving and suit the style. See bathrooms for older homes in Geelong West, Newtown and Belmont.

Postwar brick and brick veneer homes

Found right across Belmont, Bell Park, Hamlyn Heights, Corio and Norlane. These bathrooms often have a sensible layout already, so a refresh can keep the plumbing where it is and focus on new tiles, a wall hung vanity, a rail shower and a back to wall toilet.

Newer estate homes

In Armstrong Creek, Grovedale, Waurn Ponds, Lara and Leopold, many bathrooms are less than fifteen years old. The bones are good, so owners usually upgrade finishes rather than rebuild. See upgrading a new home bathroom.

Coastal homes

From Torquay to Ocean Grove and Portarlington, sand, salt air and wet feet shape the brief. See choosing tiles for coastal homes.

3. Measure properly

Most mistakes come from guessing sizes. A vanity that is 50mm too wide can stop a door opening; a shower that is 100mm too narrow feels cramped. We offer a free measure in Geelong and the surrounding suburbs, so tile quantities and product sizes are based on your real room. If you measure yourself, note the room size, ceiling height, window and door positions, and where the existing waste pipes are.

4. Choose tiles first, then fittings

Tiles cover the most area, so they set the tone. Start with the floor:

• Floor: matt porcelain with a slip rating that suits a wet bathroom. 600x600mm is the everyday choice; 600x1200mm gives fewer grout lines in bigger rooms.
• Walls: a lighter wall tile makes a small room feel bigger. 300x600mm laid vertically adds height.
• Feature: one feature tile on the vanity wall or in the shower niche is plenty.

Then choose the vanity, tapware and shower to suit. Hold samples together in the showroom. A brushed gold mixer can look very different against a cool grey tile compared with a warm travertine.

5. Pick one tapware finish

Use the same finish for basin, shower, bath and accessories so the room looks planned. Chrome is classic and easy to clean, matte black is bold, and brushed finishes such as brushed gold and brushed nickel hide water spots well. Our tapware finishes guide compares them in detail.

6. Plan for Geelong winters

Geelong bathrooms can be cold and slow to dry. A heated towel rail, good ventilation and a well sealed window all help. If you are opening up the floor, ask your builder about underfloor heating at the same time.

7. Line up the trades

A typical bathroom renovation involves demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tiling and fit off. You can use your own trades and buy products only, or ask us to quote installation by our qualified trades after the measure. Installation is a paid service, quoted for each project. Either way, read our waterproofing basics so you know what to ask.

8. Order in the right sequence

Tiles are call to order, so confirm them early and allow about 10 percent extra for cuts. Tapware and shower mixers with in wall bodies are needed before the walls are sheeted, and the vanity and toilet before fit off. Pickup from our Geelong showroom is free and usually ready in 2 to 4 days, or we deliver to your home or site.

For a printable list, see the bathroom renovation planning checklist. If you would like help pulling it all together, book a renovation consult.

Common questions

How long does a bathroom renovation take in Geelong?

It depends on the size of the room and the trades involved, but allow several weeks from demolition to fit off once products are on site, plus time beforehand for choosing and ordering.

Can I buy products only and use my own builder?

Yes. Many customers buy tiles and fittings from us and use their own trades. We can supply to your home or site, or you can pick up from the Geelong showroom.

Do you offer a free measure in Geelong?

Yes. We offer a free measure in Geelong and the surrounding suburbs, including the Bellarine and Surf Coast.

Visit us or shop online

See the range in person at our showrooms: Geelong at 35A Ryrie St, Geelong VIC 3220, phone (03) 5223 2765, and Reservoir at 214 Broadway, Reservoir VIC 3073, phone (03) 9867 5051. Both are open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm and Saturday 9:30am to 3:00pm, and Sunday by appointment only.

Planning a renovation? Request a quote and a free measure, or book a renovation consult, and ask us to include installation by our qualified trades if you would like it quoted. Prefer to shop from home? Order online with Australia-wide delivery, or pick up from either showroom, usually ready in 2 to 4 days. See all the areas we serve.