Retile: strip out, waterproof and tile the same room
A retile strips the wall and floor linings back, repairs what is behind them, lays a new waterproof membrane, and tiles the room out with the fixtures in the same places. CheckMyBuilder puts a mid-range bathroom renovation at $15,000–35,000 excl. GST, with $22,000 typical across New Zealand. It is the scope that fixes a leaking or failing shower properly, and the one where the records of what went in behind the tiles matter most.
| Room | Band | GST and source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard or large | $15,000–$35,000 | excl. GST · CheckMyBuilder |
| Small, under about 5 m² | $15,000–$25,000 | 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
- Strip out wall and floor linings, fixtures and the old membrane
- Repair framing, substrate and subfloor found once it is open, priced as a variation
- New wet-area substrate and a waterproof membrane, photographed before a tile goes on
- Wall and floor tiling, grout and silicone
- New shower, vanity, toilet and tapware in the existing positions
- A licensed plumber for the rough-in and fit-off, a registered electrician for lighting and the fan
- A records pack: substrate and membrane photos, the membrane product data and installation instructions, the plumber's details and any electrical certificate
What's not
- Moving the shower, bath, toilet or basin (that is Reconfigure)
- Adding a fixture the house did not have
- Structural work, or removing a wall
- Asbestos testing and removal, which is priced separately once tested
- Council consent fees, where consent turns out to be needed
Consent
Relining and retiling an existing bathroom, membrane included, is exempt building work under Schedule 1 clause 12 of the Building Act: MBIE Determination 2024/054 decided the wet-area membrane is part of the internal linings that clause covers. The plumbing side sits under clause 35 as long as the fixture count does not go up. Exempt work still has to meet Building Code clause E3.
Schedule 1, clause 12 of the Building Act 2004 exempts “building work in connection with any internal linings or finishes of any wall, ceiling, or floor of an existing dwelling”. MBIE Determination 2024/054 decided that in an existing dwelling the internal linings include the backing substrate, the wet-area membrane applied to it, the tiles adhered to the membrane and the fixings, adhesives and grouting, so installing a wet-area membrane as part of a tiled shower is within clause 12 and did not require building consent.
Building Act 2004, Schedule 1 cl 12; MBIE Determination 2024/054, 2 October 2024 · 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
2–3 weeks on site in New Zealand, 3–4 weeks in Auckland (Superior Renovations); CheckMyBuilder puts a bathroom renovation at 2–6 weeks.
Where the days actually goQuestions about Retile
Does replacing a tiled shower need a building consent?
Often not. In Determination 2024/054 (2 October 2024) MBIE decided that installing a wet-area membrane as part of tiled showers in an existing dwelling falls within Schedule 1 clause 12, which exempts building work in connection with internal linings or finishes of a wall, ceiling or floor. The determination also records that MBIE's own guidance saying membranes are critical building work requiring consent is guidance only and does not override the Act. Check your own job with your council before anyone starts.
Why photograph the membrane?
Because once tiles are on it, nobody can see it again, and it is the part that fails. The showers in Determination 2024/054 failed Building Code clauses E3.3.4, E3.3.5 and E3.3.6 through cracked grout letting water into the concealed space. Photos, the membrane product data and the installation instructions are what you hand a buyer, an insurer or a council later.
What happens if there is rot behind the tiles?
It gets priced as a variation before it is fixed, not after. The measure-and-design visit takes non-invasive moisture readings so the budget carries a realistic allowance, and Superior Renovations recommends a 15–20% contingency on any bathroom for exactly this reason.