How to complete a budget laundry renovation?

Tim20

I’m planning a budget friendly laundry renovation and would love advice on the best order of work. I want to remove the old sink cabinet, wall cabinet and wall tiles while keeping all existing plumbing locations to keep costs down.

The plan is to install a new benchtop along the wall over the washing machine (upgrading to a front loader), add a new sink into the benchtop, replace the wall taps, new splash back tiles and then patch and paint all walls for a more modern look.

My main question is what step-by-step order I should follow from demolition through to finishing, including when plumbing should be disconnected/reconnected, installing splash back tiles, painting and benchtop installation. 

My current laundry setup

Rough idea of the setup I’m planning 

Any advice and tips would be much appreciated. 
Thank you. 

MitchellMc

To achieve a look similar to the setup you’ve shown @Tim20, one of the biggest visual differences is that all the services are hidden below the benchtop, including the plumbing and the power outlet. I understand the aim is to keep costs down by retaining existing plumbing locations, but I would strongly recommend budgeting to have the plumbing and power relocated down below the benchtop height. Even if they stay in roughly the same area, dropping them lower will make a huge difference to how clean and modern the finished laundry looks.

With the current setup, the wall outlets will limit what you can do. A recessed sink like the one in your concept won’t work with taps coming straight out of the wall at that height, and having washing machine taps and hoses running down through the benchtop area tends to look unfinished. Moving those services is an upfront cost, but it removes design compromises and is much easier to do now than later.

In terms of order of works, I would start by planning and locking in your layout. Choose your cabinetry, benchtop and sink first so all dimensions are known. Once that is confirmed, get a plumber and electrician in early to relocate the taps, waste and power below benchtop height. That way all services are ready before walls and finishes are reinstated. Here's a helpful guide: How to plan a laundry renovation.

After the services are moved, you can demolish what’s there. Remove the old sink cabinet, wall cabinet and existing wall tiles. Once stripped back, patch and repair the walls, including any plastering where tiles were removed. This is also the right time to do any minor wall straightening or surface prep before painting.

Next, assemble and install your base cabinetry and position the washing machine underneath. Install the benchtop once the cabinets are level and fixed, then cut and fit the sink. Having the benchtop in place gives you a perfect reference height for your splashback, which makes tiling much easier and more accurate.

With the benchtop installed, tile the splashback. After tiling, install the sink tap and connect the sink and washing machine plumbing. Once all wet work is complete, you can finish with painting the remaining wall areas and installing any additional cabinetry or shelving.

By doing it in this order, you avoid rework, keep trades in and out efficiently, and end up with a much cleaner finished result. Even on a budget, shifting the plumbing and power below the benchtop is one change that pays off massively in both appearance and functionality.

You might like to have a look through our Top 10 most popular laundry projects, where our members have shared their build process.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell