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Bathroom renovation: which trades and licences do you need?

A bathroom is small, but renovating one involves more trades than almost any other room. Getting the right licence for each part avoids leaks and failed work.

Option 1: one business runs the job

A kitchen and bathroom renovator with the Builder Restricted to Kitchen, Bathroom and Laundry Installation licence can run the whole renovation and bring in the other trades. Their licence doesn’t cover structural work, such as moving a load-bearing wall. For that you need a builder.

Option 2: you organise the trades

If you hire each trade yourself, these are the usual ones, in the order they come in:

  1. Plumber (Plumbing and Drainage): moves and caps pipes before the walls are lined. Plumbing needs a licence at any price.
  2. Electrician: lights, power points and the exhaust fan. Electricians are licensed by the Electrical Safety Office, not QBCC.
  3. Plasterer (Plastering Drywall): new wall and ceiling linings.
  4. Waterproofer (Waterproofing): seals the floor and wet walls. Tilers with the Wall and Floor Tiling licence can also do this for the tiling they lay.
  5. Tiler (Wall and Floor Tiling).
  6. Cabinet maker (Cabinet Making) for the vanity, then the glazier (Glass, Glazing and Aluminium) for the shower screen.
  7. Plumber and electrician again to fit taps, toilet, lights and fan.

If the whole job is worth more than $3,300 and one business takes it on, that business needs a QBCC licence for it.

Waterproofing matters most

A leaking shower can damage walls and floors well beyond the bathroom, and it is costly to fix once the tiles are down. Ask who will do the waterproofing, check their licence covers it, and ask what product they use.

Before anyone starts

Find a licensed tradie