All advice / Planning and cost
Demolition is the first real step
For most homeowners, demolition day is the first time the renovation feels real. The old bathroom goes from a room you use every day to a stripped-back shell in a matter of hours. It is noisy, dusty and fast — and it is also when the builder gets the first clear look at what is actually behind the walls and under the floor.
Understanding what happens during demolition, and why, takes the anxiety out of the process. The work follows a logical sequence, and every step has a reason.
Before the first tile comes off
The plumber isolates the water supply to the bathroom and caps the feeds. The electrician disconnects any hardwired fixtures — exhaust fans, heat lamps, heated towel rails — and makes the circuits safe. This happens before anything is removed.
If the bathroom is in a unit or apartment, the strata or body corporate may need to be notified, and water shutoff may affect common services. This is sorted before demo day, not on it.
The rest of the home is protected with drop sheets and plastic barriers at the bathroom door. Dust is the main concern — tile removal generates fine powder that travels further than most people expect.
The demolition sequence
Fixtures come out first: the vanity, mirror, toilet, shower screen and any accessories. These are disconnected and removed before tile demolition begins.
If there is a bath, it comes out next. A freestanding bath lifts out. A built-in bath may need to be cut or broken to remove, depending on the material and how it was installed.
Wall tiles are stripped using a combination of electric demolition hammers and hand tools. The goal is to remove the tiles and the adhesive bed cleanly, exposing the substrate — usually cement sheet or fibre cement board. In some older homes, the substrate is plaster or brick, and the approach changes accordingly.
Floor tiles follow the same process. The screed — the sand-and-cement layer under the tiles — is also removed to expose the structural floor, whether that is a concrete slab or timber framing. The old waterproofing membrane comes off with the screed.
What the builder is looking for
Demolition is also an inspection. Once the surfaces are stripped, the builder, plumber and tiler can see the actual condition of the structure, the plumbing and the waterproofing for the first time.
Common findings include: corroded galvanised or copper pipes, cracked or sagging clay drainage, water damage in the timber subfloor or framing, previous waterproofing that was patched rather than properly applied, and — in homes built or renovated before the mid-1980s — asbestos-containing materials in the wall or floor linings.
None of these are unusual, and a good quote accounts for the likelihood of finding them. ETR's written scope names how unexpected finds at strip-out are handled before work starts.
Asbestos: the one that cannot be ignored
Asbestos-containing materials were widely used in Australian homes until the mid-1980s. Fibro wall linings, vinyl floor tiles, pipe lagging and even some adhesives can contain asbestos. You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it — it requires testing. This is especially common in heritage and older-home renovations.
If suspected asbestos is identified, it must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. The material is bagged, labelled and disposed of at a licensed facility. The work area is sealed and the air is monitored. This is a regulated process, not something the builder handles informally.
A pre-demolition asbestos inspection is recommended for any home built before 1990. It is a small cost that avoids a larger problem if asbestos is found mid-demolition.
How long demolition takes
A standard bathroom strip-out — fixtures, tiles, screed, old waterproofing — takes one to two days. A simple fixture-and-tile removal in a small bathroom can be done in a single day. A full gut-out including wall linings, substrate removal and any structural investigation takes two.
The waste from a bathroom demolition is typically one to two cubic metres — enough to fill a small skip bin. The skip is arranged before demo day and removed once the room is cleared.
What happens after demolition
Once the room is stripped, the preparation phase begins. The plumber roughs in the new pipe positions, the electrician runs new wiring, and any substrate repair — re-sheeting walls, levelling the floor, reinforcing timber framing — is completed.
The room is then ready for waterproofing. The membrane is applied, allowed to cure, and flood-tested before any tiles go on. This is the stage where the new bathroom starts to take shape.
Demolition is not the renovation — it is the clearing away of the old room so the new one can be built properly. Understanding that it is a planned, controlled process makes the noise and disruption easier to manage. Our renovation timeline guide covers what comes after demolition and how long each stage takes.
How ETR manages demolition
Demolition is part of every full renovation scope. The on-site measure confirms the room condition, the likely findings at strip-out and the waste disposal requirements before the quote is written.
The team manages dust containment, waste removal and services isolation as part of the work. If asbestos is suspected, a testing and removal plan is included in the scope.
Every bathroom is waterproofed to AS 3740 after demolition and preparation, carried out under NSW Builder Licence 475204C, with a 10-year workmanship warranty. A free on-site measure anywhere in Sydney is the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How long does bathroom demolition take?
One to two days for a standard strip-out. A simple fixture-and-tile removal in a small bathroom can take a single day. A full gut-out with substrate removal and structural inspection takes two.
How much waste does a bathroom demolition produce?
Typically one to two cubic metres — tiles, screed, fixtures, old linings and packaging. This fits a small skip bin, which is arranged before demo day and removed once the room is cleared.
Will bathroom demolition damage the rest of the house?
Not if it is managed properly. Drop sheets and plastic barriers are set up at the bathroom door before work starts. Dust from tile removal is the main concern — it travels further than most people expect, so containment matters.
What if asbestos is found during demolition?
Asbestos-containing materials must be removed by a licensed removalist. The area is sealed, the material is bagged and disposed of at a licensed facility, and the air is monitored. A pre-demolition asbestos inspection is recommended for any home built before 1990.
Can I live in the house during bathroom demolition?
Yes. Most homeowners stay in the house during a bathroom renovation. You will need access to another bathroom or toilet during the work. The demolition phase is the noisiest part — it typically lasts one to two days, and the noise drops significantly once tiling begins.