Refresh: a bathroom makeover without retiling
A bathroom refresh keeps the tiles, the membrane and the layout, and replaces what you touch: vanity, tapware, toilet, mirror, lighting, extractor fan and paint. CheckMyBuilder puts a budget refresh at $8,000–15,000 excl. GST for a standard room; Superior Renovations puts a small-bathroom minor upgrade at $4,000–8,000 (GST status not stated). It is the right job when the waterproofing is sound and the room is simply tired.
| Room | Band | GST and source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard or large | $8,000–$15,000 | excl. GST · CheckMyBuilder |
| Small, under about 5 m² | $4,000–$8,000 | GST status not stated by the source · Superior Renovations |
| Contingency, on top | 15–20% | Superior Renovations |
These are published market bands, not our prices. We publish our own from-prices once we hold at least two crew quotes on a standard scope. Checked 16 September 2026.
What's included
- Vanity, basin and tapware replaced like for like
- Toilet replaced in the same position
- New mirror, shaving cabinet and towel fittings
- Lighting and an extractor fan that vents outside
- Moisture-resistant repaint of walls and ceiling
- Re-grout and re-seal, where the existing grout and silicone are the only problem
- A licensed plumber for every fixture change, and a registered electrician for the fan and lighting
What's not
- Removing wall or floor tiles
- A new waterproof membrane
- Moving the shower, bath, toilet or basin
- Anything behind the linings
- Repairs to rot or framing found once a fitting comes off
Consent
A refresh that replaces fixtures in the same positions, and does not increase the number of sanitary fixtures in the house, is normally exempt under Schedule 1 clause 35 of the Building Act, with the plumbing done by an authorised person. Exempt work still has to meet the Building Code.
Schedule 1, clause 35 exempts “alteration to existing sanitary plumbing in a building, provided that the total number of sanitary fixtures in the building is not increased by the alteration; and the alteration does not modify or affect any specified system”. Water heaters are excluded. Clause 35 sits in Part 2 of Schedule 1, which applies to sanitary plumbing and drainlaying carried out by a person authorised under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.
Building Act 2004, Schedule 1 Part 2, cl 35 · checked 16 September 2026
Exemptions apply to the work as it actually is, not as it is described on a website. Check your own job with your council before anyone starts. The clauses in full.
How long it takes
2–5 days on site for a budget refresh in New Zealand, 3–7 days in Auckland (Superior Renovations).
Where the days actually goQuestions about Refresh
Can a refresh fix a leaking shower?
Usually not. If water is getting behind the tiles, the membrane is the problem and re-grouting only hides it for a while. Determination 2024/054 turned on exactly that: cracked grout let water into the concealed space and the showers failed Building Code clauses E3.3.4, E3.3.5 and E3.3.6. If there is any sign of moisture in the wall, the honest answer is a retile, not a refresh.
Is a refresh worth it in a rental?
It is the scope most landlords choose, because it is the cheapest way to deal with the healthy homes ventilation standard at the same time. A bathroom fan installed after 1 July 2019 must be at least 120mm in diameter including ducting, or move at least 25 litres per second, and must vent outside (Tenancy Services).
Do I need consent for a refresh?
Normally no, if fixtures go back in the same positions and the total number of sanitary fixtures in the house does not go up. That is Schedule 1 clause 35 of the Building Act, and it applies to plumbing work done by an authorised person. Check your own job with your council before anyone starts.