How long does a bathroom renovation take in Melbourne?
A standard Melbourne bathroom renovation takes three to four weeks on site once demolition starts. Ensuites run two and a half to three weeks. Here is the actual day-by-day sequence and where jobs realistically slip.
Week 1 — demolition and rough-in
Site protection, strip-out, rubbish removal, plumbing and electrical rough-in, structural repairs to timber floors if required.
Week 2 — prep, screed, waterproofing
Wall preparation, floor screed to falls, primer and two-coat membrane. Waterproofing is followed by a mandatory 72-hour cure before tiling.
Week 3 — tiling and joinery
Wall and floor tiling with waterproof grout, followed by vanity, mirror, tapware and shower screen installation.
Week 4 — silicone, clean, handover
Silicone at internal corners, detailed clean, snag list walkthrough, waterproofing certificate and compliance certificates issued.
Where jobs realistically slip
Three delay sources cover 90% of overruns: (1) tile lead-times — imported ranges frequently run 3–6 weeks, which is why we lock selections into the contract before demolition, (2) structural surprises exposed by demolition (rotted joists, failed hobs), which are pre-priced as variations in our contracts, and (3) client-driven scope changes after tiling has started, which always cost more than making the decision earlier.
How to keep your timeline on track
Sign material selections seven days before demolition. Confirm access, parking and site protection zones on day one. Keep decisions consolidated — batching three small selections into one conversation is faster than reviewing them ad hoc during the build. Trust the schedule: bathrooms run on cure times, not on effort — pushing the tilers forward before the waterproofing has cured is the fastest way to void the warranty.