Bathroom Renovations in Cape Town

A bathroom renovation is the highest-disruption job per square metre in a house. Plumbing, electrics, waterproofing, tiling and fittings all happen in one small room, in a strict order, and a mistake in the early stages shows up later as a leak or a cracked tile. That is why FN Building Projects renovates bathrooms across Cape Town as one accountable job, from strip-out to handover, with one team rather than a parade of separate trades.

Bathroom renovations across Cape Town

We renovate main bathrooms and en suites throughout greater Cape Town, mostly in:

• Northern Suburbs. Including our bathroom renovation in Richmond Estate, and suburbs such as Goodwood, Parow, Bellville, Durbanville, Edgemead and Milnerton
• Southern Suburbs. Including suburbs such as Rondebosch, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Tokai and Retreat
• Atlantic Seaboard. Including suburbs such as Green Point, Sea Point, Fresnaye and Camps Bay

If you are not sure whether we cover your suburb, ask and we will tell you straight away.

What a bathroom renovation includes

• Layout changes. Moving the toilet, shower or basin, removing a wall or combining spaces into one larger room
• Full strip-out. Old tiles, flooring, sanitaryware (toilets, basins and baths) and, where needed, windows, taken out and the rubble removed
• Wet works first. New plumbing and waterproofing done properly before anything is covered up
• Electrical. Lighting and plug points placed where the new layout needs them
• Tiling and detail work. Floor and wall tiling, including recessed niches
• Finishes and fit-off (installing the final fixtures). Sanitaryware, taps, glass, accessories and painting

Everything required to hand the room back complete is part of the job. If the bathroom is one piece of a bigger project, see our home renovations page.

How the job runs

1. Strip-out. Everything comes out. In older bathrooms this is where damp or failed waterproofing shows up, and we deal with it rather than tile over it
2. Structural and layout work. Walls moved or removed and openings formed if the layout changes
3. Plumbing and electrical. New supply and waste routes and electrical points, before the walls are closed
4. Waterproofing and screed (a levelling layer over the floor). The stage that must not be rushed; the products need their proper curing time
5. Tiling. Floors, walls and niches, then grouting and sealing
6. Fit-off and finishes. Sanitaryware, taps, glass and paint
7. Snagging (the final defects check) and handover. We walk the finished bathroom with you and close every item before the final payment

You pay a deposit when you sign, then a payment as each stage is completed, never ahead of the work. Read how we work and our quality promise.

How long it takes

A single bathroom usually takes two to three weeks. What moves that number is the condition of what comes out of the walls, whether the layout changes, how detailed the tiling is, and whether your fittings have arrived when they are needed. We go through each stage, and what causes delays, in how long a bathroom renovation takes.

What affects the price of a bathroom renovation

• Layout. Keeping the toilet, shower and basin where they are is the biggest single saving. Moving them means new plumbing routes and more time
• What the strip-out finds. Damp, failed waterproofing or old pipes must be put right before the new bathroom goes in
• Size and tiling. The area to be tiled, tile format, and details such as niches and floor-to-ceiling tiling
• Sanitaryware and fittings. From standard ranges to freestanding baths, concealed fittings and frameless glass
• Windows and glass. Replacing a window or adding shower glass

We do not publish bathroom prices, because a number without a scope behind it means very little. After a free site visit you get a fixed, itemised quote, usually within 3 to 5 working days, so you can see exactly what is included before you commit. To compare quotes properly, read what is included in a renovation quote.

See it before we build it

We can model your bathroom in SketchUp to the real dimensions of the room, so you can judge the layout before anything is removed. Finish and styling visuals are impressions of how it could look, not construction drawings. You receive the proposal electronically and as a printed copy. Where there is a genuine intention to proceed together, it is included at no cost.

Bathrooms we have done

• Bathroom renovation, Richmond Estate. A dated bathroom stripped back and rebuilt with new plumbing, tiling and fittings, a freestanding bath and recessed niches, handed over snag-free
• En suite bathroom, Cape Town. Upgraded with cleaner finishes and a better layout, and handed over snag-free

See all our projects, including before-and-after comparisons.

Before you appoint anyone

Bathroom quotes vary widely, usually because they are not pricing the same work. Check that each quote states the waterproofing, the plumbing changes, the rubble removal and the finishes allowed for, and ask every contractor for their NHBRC registration and COIDA Letter of Good Standing. Read the questions to ask before hiring a building contractor and your rights when hiring a builder.

Prepare for your bathroom site visit

Bring a few photos of the room and a short list of what is not working for you: storage, a leaking shower, difficult access or a layout that wastes space. You do not need to have chosen every finish.

• Layout: decide which fixtures you would like to keep and which you want to move. We can discuss the plumbing implications at the visit.
• Daily use: tell us whether this is your only bathroom, so access and the sequence of work can be discussed before strip-out.
• Tiles and fittings: tell us what you want to supply yourself. Agree quantities, specifications and delivery dates before work begins.
• Quote comparison: check that demolition, waterproofing, plumbing, tiling, fittings and rubble removal are clearly included or excluded.

Arrange a free bathroom renovation site visit. See the completed Richmond Estate bathroom for an example of our work.

Common questions

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Cape Town?

It depends mainly on whether the layout changes, what the strip-out finds, the size of the tiled area and the fittings you choose. We price each bathroom from a free site visit, and the fixed, itemised quote usually follows within 3 to 5 working days.

Can we still use the house while the bathroom is being renovated?

Usually, if you have another bathroom. The bathroom itself is out of use from strip-out to handover, and choosing your fittings before we start is the best way to keep that period short.

Can I supply my own tiles and fittings?

Yes. Clients can supply their own tiles and fittings. We agree what you will supply when defining the scope.

Can you move the toilet, shower or basin?

Yes. Layout changes are a normal part of our bathroom work. Moving fixtures means new plumbing routes, so it adds time and cost, and we show you both in the quote so you can decide whether it is worth it.

Do I need plans for a bathroom renovation?

It depends on what changes. A like-for-like renovation inside the existing room is different from structural changes or an extension. We tell you what your job needs at the site visit. Where plans are needed, you arrange them and the council approval, and we build to the approved drawings.