Renovation Guide
Published 2026 · 8 min read
A Melbourne bathroom or kitchen renovation involves multiple trades working in a sequence where each depends on the previous being complete. Getting this sequence wrong tiling before the plumbing rough-in is done, or ordering fixtures before tile selection is finalised is one of the most common and most expensive renovation mistakes Melbourne homeowners make.
The consequences of getting the sequence wrong range from re-cutting tiles around a moved fitting to stripping out finished tiling to fix a covered defect.
This guide explains where tiling sits in the renovation sequence for Melbourne's most common projects: bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations, and laundry renovations. It covers what decisions must be made before the tiler arrives, how to coordinate with the other trades involved, and what the tiler needs from the homeowner and other trades to start and finish without delays.
Ali Star Tiling coordinates with plumbers, electricians, and builders on renovation projects across Melbourne's western and northern suburbs daily. This guide reflects what we actually encounter in the field, not a theoretical sequence, but the practical reality of how Melbourne residential renovations work.
Every wet area renovation in Melbourne, bathroom, ensuite, or laundry, follows a broadly consistent trade sequence. The specific timing of each step depends on the scope of the renovation, but the order is not negotiable.
| Stage | Trade | Dependency for Tiling |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Demolition | Homeowner, builder or demolition contractor | Substrate condition assessed before anything else proceeds. |
| 2. Structural repairs | Builder or carpenter | Only if rot or damage is revealed during demolition. |
| 3. Plumbing rough-in | Licensed plumber | Waste and supply positions must be final before layout is planned. |
| 4. Electrical rough-in | Licensed electrician | Heated floor mat wiring position must be known before tiling. |
| 5. Substrate installation | Builder or tiler | Fibre cement sheet levelled and jointed before waterproofing. |
| 6. Waterproofing | Tiler | AS 3740 membrane, fabric reinforcement, full cure of 24-48 hours. |
| 7. Inspection (if permitted) | Building inspector | Certificate issued before tiles cover the membrane. |
| 8. Tiling | Tiler | Layout, adhesive, fixing. No fixtures installed before this stage. |
| 9. Grouting and silicone | Tiler | Grout after adhesive cures; silicone applied after grouting. |
| 10. Fixtures and fittings | Plumber and electrician | Vanity, toilet, tapware, towel rails, light fittings. |
| 11. Painting | Painter | Above tile height, ceiling, door frames. |
| 12. Completion and clean | Homeowner or cleaner | Final clean including grout haze removal. |
The correct trade sequence for a Melbourne bathroom renovation is: demolition, structural repairs if needed, plumbing rough-in, electrical rough-in, substrate installation, waterproofing with curing and inspection if permitted, tiling, grouting and silicone, fixture installation, painting, and final clean. Tiling occurs after all rough-in work is complete and the waterproofed substrate is ready, but before any fixtures are installed.
The most common cause of delays and cost overruns in Melbourne bathroom renovations is decisions not made before the tiler arrives on site. When the tiler is asking where the niche goes and which tile starts at which wall, and the homeowner hasn't decided, the clock is running.
The tile must be selected, purchased, and physically on site before the tiler's start date. Order tiles at least 2-3 weeks before the tiling date, allow correct wastage (10% straight lay, 15% diagonal, 15-20% herringbone), and confirm every tile type is on site: floor, wall, feature, niche tiles, threshold strips, grout and silicone.
The recessed shampoo niche must be positioned and built into the wall framing before substrate and waterproofing are installed; it cannot be added afterward without significant re-work. Niche dimensions should be multiples of the tile format to avoid awkward cuts at the edges.
The floor waste must be in its final position before tiling, it cannot be moved afterward without significant disruption. Ideally the waste falls at the intersection of four tiles rather than in the middle of a tile requiring a circular cut, which requires coordinating the waste position with the tile format during planning.
In-adhesive electric floor heating mats are laid during tiling, before the tiles are fixed. If heated flooring is planned, the mat and thermostat must be on site and dimensions confirmed before tiling starts. A mat added after tiles are down requires full tile removal.
Grout colour affects tile ordering and is extremely difficult to reverse after installation. Confirm the colour for every surface before tiling starts, not during or after. Ali Star Tiling installs AS 3740-compliant waterproofing as part of every renovation project, so waterproofing and tiling stay sequenced correctly.
Before a tiler starts a Melbourne bathroom renovation, confirm: all tiles purchased and physically on site (floor, wall, feature and niche tiles); niche position built into the framing; floor waste in its final position; heated floor mat on site if applicable; grout colour confirmed for all surfaces; fixture and fitting positions finalised; and threshold strip type confirmed for the bathroom entry.
In a Melbourne renovation managed by the homeowner rather than a builder, trade coordination is the homeowner's responsibility. With the plumber: confirm rough-in positions are final before tiling, confirm floor waste height against the tile and adhesive bed depth, and arrange fixture installation only after tiling and grouting are complete and cured.
With the electrician: confirm power point and switch positions before tiling so they fall at tile joints rather than requiring awkward cuts, coordinate heated floor mat installation between both trades, and complete exhaust fan and light fitting rough-in before substrate and waterproofing.
With the builder or carpenter: the substrate must be flat to within 3mm over 1800mm, the niche must be built and lined with fibre cement before waterproofing, and the door frame height must accommodate the new tile and adhesive depth.
Kitchen renovations follow a different sequence from bathroom renovations because most kitchens have no wet area waterproofing requirement, and the tiling work is divided between the splashback and the floor.
| Stage | Who | Tiling Dependency |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | Homeowner or builder | Floor tile after substrate repair; splashback after new joinery. |
| Plumbing rough-in | Plumber | Sink position affects the splashback tile layout. |
| Electrical rough-in | Electrician | Power point heights confirmed before splashback layout. |
| Floor preparation | Builder or tiler | Substrate levelled or replaced before floor tiling. |
| Floor tiling | Tiler | Ideally complete before joinery is installed. |
| Joinery installation | Kitchen cabinet maker | Cabinetry, benchtop and appliances fitted. |
| Splashback tiling | Tiler | Benchtop height determines the tile layout. |
| Fixture installation | Plumber and electrician | Sink and tapware connected after grouting is complete. |
Ideally, kitchen floor tiles should be installed before the cabinetry. Tiling the full floor, including the zone under the toe-kicks, produces a cleaner result and a consistent tile layout across the whole floor plane. Some kitchen suppliers prefer to install cabinets first; discuss the sequence with both your tiler and kitchen supplier at the planning stage.
Not sure who to book for a renovation like this? Our guide to choosing a tiler in Melbourne covers the questions to ask before you commit to a start date.
Curious what the full renovation might cost? See our tiling cost guide for Melbourne for labour rates and realistic budgets.
Planning a renovation in Melbourne's western suburbs? Call Ali Star Tiling on 0455 233 816 or email alistartiling@yahoo.com. We coordinate with plumbers, electricians, and builders to sequence tiling correctly. Free site visits and written quotes across Melton, Caroline Springs, Sunbury, Werribee, and surrounding areas. Mon-Sat 7am-6pm.
FAQs
Tiling a renovation in Melbourne: common questions homeowners ask about timing, trade coordination, and sequencing.
