· 6 min read · Taylor Plumbing
The single biggest driver of cost in a bathroom renovation is whether the fixtures stay where they are. Same-spot swaps are straightforward. Moving a toilet across the room means opening the floor and rerouting waste at the right fall.
Do you need a building consent?
Like-for-like replacement of tapware, a vanity, a toilet or a shower in the same position generally doesn't need consent. Relocating fixtures, altering drainage, changing the layout of a wet area or touching structure usually does.
Christchurch City Council makes the call. We'll tell you early if we think your plan crosses the line, so it doesn't turn into a problem at sale time.
Waterproofing is not optional
Wet area waterproofing has to meet E3 of the Building Code and be done before tiling. It's the failure we see most often in cheap renovations, and by the time it shows as a stain on the ceiling below, the framing is already wet.
The order the trades run in
- Strip out and remove old fixtures
- First fix plumbing and electrical in the open walls and floor
- Wall and floor linings, then waterproofing
- Tiling
- Second fix plumbing: toilet, vanity, shower mixer, tapware
- Final connection, pressure test and clean-up
Decisions worth making early
- Wall-hung vs floor-mounted vanity, this changes the waste height in the wall
- In-wall vs exposed cistern
- Tiled shower base vs acrylic tray
- Whether your hot water system can supply the shower flow you want
- Underfloor heating, which has to be planned before the floor goes down
Older Christchurch homes
In villas and 1950s-70s homes we regularly find galvanised supply pipe, unvented waste and floors that have moved since the earthquakes. A renovation is the cheapest time to fix all three because the walls are already open.
Frequently asked questions
More guides
- Burst Pipe in Christchurch? What to Do in the First 10 Minutes
- Blocked Drains in Christchurch: Common Causes and Real Fixes
- Hot Water Cylinder Replacement in Christchurch: Costs, Options and Timing