The parts of a bathroom renovation that cost money to get wrong
Consent, waterproofing, who has to be licensed, what records to keep, and how long it all takes. Every figure and every rule is quoted from a source we read in full, with the date we read it.
Do you need a building consent for a bathroom renovation?
Usually not: most NZ bathroom renovations that keep fixtures in the same places are exempt under Schedule 1 clauses 12 and 35, and MBIE Determination 2024/054 confirmed a shower membrane is covered. What tips a job into needing consent.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026Bathroom waterproofing: what the rules require, and what to photograph
Building Code clause E3 requires wet-area surfaces to be impervious and constructed so splash cannot get behind the linings. What that means for a shower, and what a determination found when it failed.
Read the guideUpdated 28 September 2026What a landlord has to get right when renovating a rental bathroom
The healthy homes fan rule, the 24-hour entry notice, what the consent position is, and the records a tenant can ask for within 21 days. The rules as Tenancy Services and MBIE publish them, with the dates.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026What to keep when your bathroom work did not need a consent
Exempt work gets no council inspection and no code compliance certificate, so the only record is the one you keep. Here is the checklist, and why a buyer's lawyer will ask for it.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026Who has to be licensed on a bathroom renovation
Plumbing, electrical and restricted building work each need a different licence and a different register. Tiling and waterproofing need neither. One table, and how to check each one.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026Tiled or acrylic shower: which one is right for your bathroom
An acrylic shower unit costs $900–2,000 installed; a tiled shower $1,550–8,250 in New Zealand (Superior Renovations). Where the money goes, and where the leak risk sits.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026How long a bathroom renovation takes, and where the days go
A budget refresh is 2–5 days, a mid-range renovation 2–3 weeks and a structural job 5–6 weeks in New Zealand (Superior Renovations). CheckMyBuilder puts a bathroom at 2–6 weeks.
Read the guideUpdated 16 September 2026Asbestos in a bathroom renovation: what to check before anything comes off
WorkSafe says homes built before 1 January 2000 may contain asbestos, including in wet-area linings, wall-tile backing and vinyl. What that means before a bathroom strip-out.
Read the guideUpdated 9 October 2026Shower over bath or walk-in shower: replacing a bath in NZ
Swapping a bath for a shower usually needs no consent if the fixture count stays the same (Building Act Sch 1 cl 35). Costs, the trade-offs, and resale.
Read the guideUpdated 31 October 2026Shower niches: where they go, what they cost, and how they leak
Shower niche inserts cost $59 to $134 at NZ retailers (checked Oct 2026), plus framing, membrane and tiling. Sizes, where to put one, alternatives, and how they leak.
Read the guideUpdated 19 October 2026Bathroom renovation on a budget: what each price level actually buys
A cosmetic refresh costs $8,000–15,000 excl. GST for a standard NZ bathroom and a small-room upgrade $4,000–8,000. What $5k, $10k, $20k and $35k realistically buy, where to save, and the three things never to cut.
Read the guideUpdated 19 October 2026Small bathroom renovation: cost, layout and what not to squeeze in
A small NZ bathroom costs $4,000–8,000 to upgrade and $15,000–25,000 to fully renovate (Superior Renovations), because the trades cost much the same in a small room. Layout choices that make 3–5 m² work.
Read the guideUpdated 19 October 2026Regrout, reseal or retile: what your shower tiles actually need
Mouldy silicone and dirty grout can be fixed for a fraction of a retile. Loose tiles, swollen skirting or stains in the next room mean water is behind the tiles, and only a new membrane fixes that. How to tell which one you have.
Read the guideUpdated 19 October 2026DIY bathroom renovation: what you can do yourself, and what you can't
In New Zealand you can tile, paint and strip out a bathroom yourself, but you cannot fix or unfix a pipe or plumbing fixture, and most electrical work needs a registered electrician. What that leaves, and where DIY saves money.
Read the guideUpdated 29 October 2026How much does it cost to add an ensuite in NZ?
Adding an ensuite in NZ costs about $35,000–70,000 excl. GST inside the house (CheckMyBuilder premium band) and $65,000–140,000 with the bedroom (Refresh). It always needs a building consent: the fixture count goes up.
Read the guideUpdated 1 November 2026How much does it cost to replace a toilet in NZ?
Replacing a toilet in NZ costs about $700–1,300 all-in for a standard close-coupled suite, $1,100–2,200 for back-to-wall and $1,500–3,500 for wall-hung. Prices by type, what a plumber charges, the S-trap/P-trap trap, and a worked example.
Read the guideUpdated 2 November 2026How much does it cost to install a bathroom extractor fan in NZ?
Installing a bathroom extractor fan in NZ costs about $650–1,250 all-in for a ducted 150mm fan vented outside. Fan prices from Mitre 10 and Bunnings, what an electrician charges, the healthy homes 120mm / 25 L/s rule, and a worked example.
Read the guideUpdated 3 November 2026How much does it cost to install a heated towel rail in NZ?
A hardwired heated towel rail in NZ costs roughly $450–1,100 installed: $94–298 for a wall-mounted rail at Bunnings, $30 for a timer, and 1–2 hours of a registered electrician. Why it is an electrician's job and not a plumber's, where it can go, and what it costs to run.
Read the guideGot a bathroom that needs doing? Let's measure it.
A scaled plan, a line-item budget and a consent check for your own room, within 5 working days of the visit.