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How to renovate a 1975 bathroom for less than $5000?

I have this Bathroom that I really want to get renovated in 2025. I am currently seeking ideas which won't cost an arm and a leg $5,000 or less

I wanna give most of it a go myself ,I've considered painting the tiles but I fear this will not last long. I've also got the tarrazo flooring which I'm considering tiling over as I don't like the colour of it was plain black or white I would have keptb

Thanks in advance Tom

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Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Knipe_AUS

That older bathroom would have seam great in its day.

To save money The easiest way is to tile over the top of the existing tiles I use an angle grinder to score the base tiles creating glue keyways.

But you floor has curved walls and curved shower basin.

Maybe the shower can be a prefab fiberglass base and matching glass shower screens.

Start pulling tiles off the floor /walls will destroy any waterproof membrain and the under floor may need re surfacing.

You can get some great closed back loos these days that old one an eye sore,

Baths can be repainted with an enamal like paint or epoxy paint more expensive.

So thats just to start the ball rolling see what others say too,

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Knipe_AUS. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about renovating a bathroom.

I see @Jewelleryrescue has already added a helpful reply.

To keep costs under $5,000, you might consider painting the tiles as a short-term solution. While it may not last forever, with proper preparation and quality tile paint like the Dulux Renovation Range, it can give the bathroom a refreshed look for a few years. For the terrazzo flooring, tiling over it is a practical option if you don’t like the current colour. Ensure the surface is clean and level before laying new tiles, and consider using large-format tiles to reduce grout lines and achieve a modern finish.

Other cost-effective updates could include replacing dated fixtures like taps, adding a new mirror or vanity, or updating the lighting to give the space a contemporary feel. These small changes can make a big impact without breaking the bank. You might also like to replace the toilet, remove or upgrade the bath and add a shower screen.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Knipe_AUS

Thanks all for your speedy responses - Much appreciated!

I am in talks with a plumber to have a new toilet and vanity installed and also changing the taps in the bath & shower to mixer taps.

I just didn't want to go to the effort of putting in a new toilet just to rip it up in a few years to replace the floor hence why I thought I would try and do it now all in one go. So if I was to take the tiles off the floor and re-tile I would also have to put a new waterproof membrane? if the plumber is already taking some tiles off to change the location / style of tap would this too affect the waterproofing? Tiling over pre-existing tiles is they're and negatives to this? Obviously there is the huge bonus of not having any waste. Also do I need to worry about asbestos? The walls are solid.

Ive got in my head that I would like it tiled to the ceiling in with white tiles , tile the floor with large black tiles and install some sort of basic shower screen to prevent water splashing all over the floor which it currently does.

MitchellMc

If you plan to remove the existing floor tiles @Knipe_AUS, you will most likely need to replace the waterproof membrane. Removing tiles can compromise the membrane, especially if it was installed over the original floor. When the tiles are removed, the old membrane might be disturbed, meaning it’s essential to reinstall a new waterproof layer to ensure proper moisture protection, particularly when tiling the entire floor.

If your plumber is removing tiles to change the location or style of the taps, it could also affect the waterproofing in that area. Ideally, any exposed areas should be treated and re-sealed as part of the renovation. You’ll want to confirm with the plumber whether they plan to disturb the waterproofing and if additional sealing is required after the tap changes.

Tiling over existing tiles is certainly an option, and as you mentioned, it saves you from the waste and effort of removing the old tiles. However, there are some things to keep in mind. The surface must be properly prepared to ensure the new tiles adhere well. In some cases, if the existing tiles are too damaged or uneven, it might be better to remove them. Also, you’ll want to check the adhesive and grout compatibility with both the old and new surfaces.

Mitchell

Knipe_AUS

Applying a waterproof membrane , that pretty easy to do? Searching online it just looks like a thick paint that presumably I can roller on and leave to dry then continue to tile on top of once dry?

MitchellMc

Applying a waterproof membrane can certainly be done yourself @Knipe_AUS , depending on your location and the specific regulations in your area. It’s important to check your local building codes to ensure that you’re allowed to carry out the work, as some areas might require a licensed professional to apply the waterproofing, especially in wet areas like bathrooms or around showers.

While it might look like a simple process of rolling on a thick paint, I wouldn’t necessarily call it "easy." Waterproofing is a critical part of the tiling process and requires careful attention to detail. The membrane needs to be applied evenly, with particular focus on all the joins between the walls and floor, corners, and any penetrations (like taps or drains). These areas must be thoroughly sealed to prevent water from getting behind the tiles and causing damage.

If the membrane isn't applied properly or there are any breaches, it could lead to water seeping into the structure, potentially causing significant structural damage to your home, such as mould, rotting timber, or weakened foundations. Ensuring that the waterproof membrane is installed correctly and in line with building standards is crucial to the long-term integrity of your renovation.

Once the waterproofing is properly applied and has dried (according to the manufacturer’s instructions), you can continue with tiling over the top. However, make sure to allow enough drying time and follow all product guidelines for optimal results.

Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to waterproof a bathroom.

Mitchell

Knipe_AUS

This is the current floor plan , can I get some ideas for reworking the space.

Knipe_AUS

I wanna put a glass panel up seperating the toilet and the shower but it will leave little room to get into the shower between the glass and the bath

JacobZ

Hi @Knipe_AUS,

Thank you for sharing the floor plans. Unfortunately, they don't provide dimensions for the bathroom which would be essential for redesigning the space.

Can I ask you to measure the walls and let us know the dimensions of the room?

Once we have those dimensions, our members will be able to offer much better advice about reworking the space.

My first thought seeing the space is that having a separate bath and shower takes up a lot of room. Have you considered moving the shower and bath around, combining them, or even removing the bath altogether? This could be an option to make the room feel more open.

Allow me to tag @RenoRach, @diy_hausdesigns, @Nailbag and @Dave-1 for their thoughts.

You might also like to check out our Top 10 most popular bathroom projects for some inspiration.

Once you've provided the dimensions for the room, I'll be happy to assist further.

Jacob

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @Knipe_AUS

Going over your photos a few times I dont think its wise to tile over any of your tiles. Mostly because of that long diagonal crack from above the toilet down the the sunken shower pan. Plus the cracking in that concrete. If you look at the tiles on the wall the grout is also discolured in that area. I suspect there is water damage to whatever waterproofing was done way back when the bathroom was orginally done.

Id be tempte dto save your dollars and looking into replacing the whole bathroom. Beware that there could be abspestos in the walls so that may need to be done professionally. If you decide on redoing the bathroom then you know that the waterproof will be up to spec (you will need to get it signed off by a professional for insurance reasons most likely) But mainly it will give you a chance for a re-design. I like the idea of merging a shower and bath together. Its one way of pulling space back from a tight room.

Combining the shower and bath in the area where the xisting shower is will keep major plumbing within the same locations so lesson the cost of shifting them.

With your plumber removing tiles to change the toilet you already are changing the waterproofing. I dont think you will be able to keep within your $5,000 limit but doing what you can yourself will keep the costs lower. I have a 1980's bathroom that looks like its had the floor tiles doubled over. I have tried rejigging a small space to give me seperate areas but sometimes its just not possible.

Dave

Knipe_AUS

Evening @Dave-1

Thanks for your response.

I've looked into having the the bathroom redone by a professional with that enamel spray stuff ie spraying the tiles & bath , this of course would last a lot longer than me painting it myself but of course is just patching up an issue that will need to be fixed in the future. I believe that by the time the toilet , vanity and the cracked tiles have gone I might as well retile the whole thing because there will be very few tiles that are in good condition and I don't want it looking like a patch work quilt.

When you say "replacing whole bathroom" does that also include the terrazzo flooring ? although I'm not a massive fan of the terrazzo flooring I feel that if I got the cracks filled and had it re-polished back to its former glory with the walls painted with a similar egg shell paint it might look pretty good.

Basically if I was to :

- Remove the toilet and vanity myself.

- Remove all the tiles myself

- Have a plumber come to move the water outlets accordingly (for new toilet and vanity) and have all the taps changed over to mixers.

- Have a professional in to put a new waterproof membrane onto the wall and find someone to also just enamel spray the bath (The bath is fine minus the colour)

- Re-polished tarrazo floor before tiling to prevent vibrations moving new tiles.

- Then have the plumber come back to install toilet / Vanity

- then I might give the tiling a go myself to keep the cost down , Youtube is an amazing thing.

If it is a case of having the whole bathroom redone including floor this would be well out of my budget and capabilities so will have to just look at patching up that leaky toilet on the cheap until a point i have the funds to do the whole thing properly.

Dave-1

Evening @Knipe_AUS

Yeah it can be daunting I must admit.

My first bathroom that I did the patch and cross fingers had a couple of loose tiles coming off in the shower area 😲 I waterproofed the surface and then reinstalled the tiles as they didnt break when they came away. Several months later I could lean on the wall and it would flex.... This is why I am super cautious over any cracks in the walls or flooring.

Removing the tiles yourself, verify there is no asbestos withing the backing of the walls, there is a bunch of information here https://www.asbestossafety.gov.au/

I like the idea of re-enamling the bath. I also like the idea of paint the tiles and will probarly go that route myself. The floor... mmm thats a hard one as the tiles are so small. Id be tempted to paint, knowing that it may not hold up. At least it will give you time to save some dollars if you want to do the lot.

Not sure about re-pollishing the terrazo tiles, but you could paint the floor. or even line it with lino. My mum has that in her bathroom (ex housing commision place)

Retiling over the floor will be a lot cheaper, it will raise the floor a little 2-3cm but that crack in the base concrete is what I worry about as the water if leaked is already under the existing tiles.

Think ive gone through your worries/questions 🙂 I break things down when it feels too much. Individual issues are easier to do then just class each as a project.

Dave

Nailbag

HI @Knipe_AUS

Need to bear in mind the minimum width requirement for a toilet space needs to be 900mm. So, ideally you don't wont to encroach within that measurement.

Deleting the toilet will give you a lot more space to work with, but this can affect resale. So combining the toilet and show could be an option. Stealing some space from there bedroom would also give you a lot of options.

A bedroom on the smaller side would be consider less of a negative than a bathroom. You can make a bedroom work with movable pieces, but you can't do the same with a bathroom.

Functional bathrooms, kitchens and laundries take high priority in any reno. So, here are a few ideas to get the thought processes going:

Nailbag.

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