The Best Bathroom Renovations Specialists in Christchurch

Updated 11 September 2021

Whether you've moved into a new home or improving your current one, bathroom renovations transform a house. However, sky-high quotes and delays in getting a builder have caused frustration among homeowners. 

Things have changed. There’s a strong market for bathroom renovations in Christchurch as homeowners re-invest in their property rather than move homes. Our guide explains what you need to know to make the right choice at every step of the process, covering:

• How much will a bathroom renovation cost?
• ​The 8 best bathroom renovation companies in Christchurch right now

Know this first: Furture-proofing is essential in any design decision

1. If you're renovating a bathroom pre-sale, the wrong style can make or limit your sales potential and/or discount the offer prices. Bathroom taste is very subjective for people, more so than other features of a home (kitchen, driveway etc). 
2. Bathroom styles have changed a great deal in recent years with new, sleek, and modern fixtures and fittings now being the preferred choice; being ahead of the trends (but not too ahead) is important for reselling.
3. Our bathroom renovations guide has extensive FAQs, tips and must-know facts and is worth a read.

The cost of bathroom renovations will depend upon the size of your bathroom, and the scope of the refurbishment involved. We have worked with an industry leader to ensure the upmost accuracy in the pricing we present. 

Important: With so many different fixtures, fittings, and designs – from standard to bespoke – you need to consult an expert for the final price. 

Pricing Guide:
1. For a very minor renovation (spruce up) which involves replacing all bathroomware, you would normally be in the area of $10,000

2. For a full renovation (but keeping everything pretty basic), you would normally fall in the area of $15,000 to $22,000 plus an additional $5,000 for bathroomware and tiles.

This would involve:

• Laying floor protection throughout the house, fully stripping out and gutting the bathroom.
• Treating all the timber framing in timber treatment, new insulation, pluming disconnected where it enters the bathroom and plumbed to suit new selected bathroomware, new linings, new floor to repair there waste pipes were adjusted, new tile and slate substrate, waterproofed floor, new kit set shower installed, tiled floor and half high walls, repair carpet where it enters the bathroom, new paint to windows, door and ceiling, all required materials, disposal of all waste, etc, etc.

Reducing your costs

• The only way to really reduce the total would be in a DIY situation where registered tradesman aren’t employed, or if key items of the renovation were removed like testing for asbestos for old vinyl, timber treatment to all framing, new insulation, floor waterproofing, etc.
• For a job like this the bathroom renovation main contractor would be employing and managing Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Waterproofing, Tiling, Plastering, Painting, Glazing and Carpet laying

3, For a mid-end renovation with a tiled shower you would normally fall in the area of $23,000 - $35,000 plus an additional $8,000 for bathroomware and tiles. This is allowing for all of the above along will recessed tiled shelves, under tile heating, etc.

4, High end renovations fall in the area of $40,000 - $80,000 plus bathroomware and tiles. This is allowing for things like silencers/mufflers on the extractor to remove sound, extractor grille plastered into ceiling, copper pipework, high end feature lighting, tiled ceiling, low iron glass (which is crystal clear), multiple shower heads and body jets, bluetooth ceiling speakers, etc.

​To make sure you get a fully-inclusive quote with no nasty surprises at the end, we suggest asking the following questions:

1. What is the service offered? Is it "all inclusive" (i.e. design, supply of fittings, project management, fit-out, clean up and disposal of old bathroom fittings) or is it "design and supply", which means you'll have to hire your own trades people to complete the renovation? In almost all circumstances, an "all inclusive" arrangement gives you the most control while limiting the companies or people you deal with to one.
2. Once you know the service offered, ask for their range of bathroom furnishings and fittings. 
3. If there are non-standard items included in a quote, can these be specified? Are there alternatives to non-standard items to reduce the cost? The more generic your fittings, the cheaper the cost
4. Is everything included in the price; are there any hidden extras? Get an assurance that the quote is the final price and not an estimate. Ask what the payment terms area, i.e. payment by stage, or 50% upfront and 50% on completion?

Before you settle on a Bathroom Renovation company, consider the following:

1. Look online for reviews - recent customer experiences are paramount to getting comfortable with a supplier
2. Ask around family and friends who might have recently had their bathroom remodelled - they may recommend a company
3. Always ask several companies to quote for your job, and then use the quotes to negotiate.
4. Does the quote deliver precisely the bathroom suite and design you want, or are there limitations? If they are, why?
5. What is the time frame in which to complete the job?
6. Is the company insured for damage and liability while in your home?
7. How long will the work, fixtures and fittings be guaranteed for? Bathrooms have a lot of wear in tear so you need to be protected should there be issues later on.

​Our list below covers bathroom renovation specialists in Christchurch. We have selected these based on their history of longstanding service within Christchurch, location and data extracted from internet reviews on Google Business, Facebook, TradeMe Services and others.

Remember, you want your bathroom to be beautiful, functional, and as you imagine it, so take your time getting the right people on board for your bathroom renovation.

If you don't know exactly what you need done, and want to minimise the cost while maximising the aesthetics, follow these easy steps to get a complete picture of your current situation:

1. Review your bathroom - how bad is the current condition? Are tiles chipped, is the colour dated, does the bath and/or sink have cracks or chips? If the answer is yes, contacting a bathroom renovations company is likely to be your next step. Otherwise, superficial cosmetic work (like changing the colour or re-tiling) can be a DIY project. 
2. Assess the fixtures' condition - if pipes are rusting, or if you're noticed blockages that don't seem to go away, it's likely you'll need to budget for a replacement.
3. Repainting vs. reconstruction - sometimes the colour of a bathroom can be the main problem. Repainting and adding a few bathroom-friendly plants can make the difference between spending $500 and spending $5,000. Don't ask for quotes until you have properly considered a repaint.
4. Fixture resizing - you may think that fixtures inside your bathroom have become too cumbersome, or you want to eliminate some altogether, i.e. replacing a bath with a shower suite. It's unlikely you can change the size of your bathroom area, so reducing the size of fixtures frees up space while minimising friction in your bathroom. 

In summary, thinking about your plans carefully will help you plan the right bathroom renovation, be it a simple redecoration or a full refurbishment. You don't need to invest big if a simple re-paint will solve most of the issues with your current bathroom.

Disclaimer: Quotes and final bills for renovations will vary, and our pricing guide is for informational purposes only.