Find how much you may need to dish out for a basic, standard and luxury laundry renovation.
Although a laundry renovation may not be the highest value-adding activity you can undertake, the laundry is a frequently used space that can add functionality to your home.
A well-planned laundry renovation can simplify your household chores and provide extra storage for cleaning or household products.
Learn more about the materials, fittings and fixtures required for a laundry renovation and get an indication of what it might cost you.
What’s the cost of a laundry renovation?
As the “average” cost of a laundry renovation can be misleading, the best way to budget for your laundry renovation is to source several itemised quotes from suppliers. Once you have several quotes, you can compare the costs to guide your budget allocation.
According to Homesafe Group (2013), a standard laundry renovation costs approximately $4,300, while a luxury upgrade costs $16,300.
However, for a medium sized laundry of 5.0 square metres, here’s what you can expect to pay depending on your budget and the desired quality of finish.
The following numbers have been extracted from the Home Design Directory calculator. The calculator includes the cost of fittings and labour costs. Labour includes the cost of waterproofing, plumbing, tiling and the installation of fittings.
The per-square metre cost for labour is $1,600. However, as the cost of labour can vary greatly, check out our state-by-state comparison to see
However, as the cost of labour can vary greatly, check out our state-by-state comparison to see what you should be paying for your trades.
Quality of finish
Estimated cost
Basic
$16,050
Standard
$17,550
Luxury
$19,050
(Source: Home Design Directory)
Materials and fittings
Tiling
The cost of re-tiling will be a major factor to consider for your laundry renovation. Depending on the supplier and the quality of finish, floor tiles typically cost between $35 and $50 per square metre or around $50-$100 per square meter for high-quality natural stone tiles.
On average, a tiler charges $45.91 per square metre. Make sure you ask your tiler to include the cost of floor preparation and waterproofing in the quote.
Remember that a laundry floor should be durable and waterproof. It should also feature a waste hole for drainage. Vinyl flooring, ceramic tiles or natural stone are good options for the laundry floor.
Sink
A new laundry tub sink will will give you plenty of space for hand washing and soaking. These range from around $250 to $750 depending on the brand and size. For instance, a Blanco 60cm 45L laundry sink is $295 whereas a Clark 84cm laundry sink costs $579.
You can opt to buy a laundry trough unit which combines the tub and cabinet. This ranges from $250 to $1,100.
Tapware
Spruce up your laundry with new tapware. This will set you back between $50 and $150. For example, a Flexispray WELS 4 Star Chrome Kleio laundry tap set costs $141. If possible, try to get a spray feature tap for extra flexibility when hand washing clothes.
Washing machine
As a central part of the laundry, a new washing machine is an important addition. However, keep in mind that you may need to restore your plumbing services to ensure full functionality of the laundry.
An average 7kg front loader will cost you between $650 to $2,000. For instance, a 7kg Asko 5 Star WELS will set you back $1,699.
Dryer
You’ll need to fork out between $500 - $2,000 for a good quality clothes dryer. Of course, there’s the option of getting a dual washing machine and dryer which ranges from $1,500 to $2,500. This may be a more economical choice.
Exhaust fan
As laundries can produce a lot of moisture, it may be a good idea to install a new exhaust fan to stimulate air circulation. A 150mm Ventair Universal Wall Exhaust Fan costs $85, but you can get them for as little as $35.
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Laundry renovation process
Background research
Like any renovation project, a laundry upgrade requires careful planning and execution supported by background research. With several online resources, including online calculators, renovation websites and planning or budgeting apps, there’s a large amount of information at your disposal which can help you prepare for the project.
For instance, the Bunnings 3D Laundry Planner allows you to develop a custom-built plan for your laundry. Simply enter the dimensions of your space, the colour scheme of your benchtop, the position of your cabinets and appliances and you can preview your completed laundry design.
Research different laundry trends, materials, labor costs and renovation specialist companies to ensure that you spend your money wisely.
Reflect on room purpose
Before you embark on your renovation project, identify the purpose of the laundry room. While you may use it primarily for washing and drying, it could also be a room where you complete other tasks such as folding and ironing, or storing cleaning equipment or pet supplies.
Once you have a clear idea of the types of activities you’ll be undertaking in the laundry, you can plan more effectively. For example, if you think you’ll be ironing in the laundry but you don’t have enough space to store the iron board, you could consider a drop-down ironing centre.
Laundry position
If you are re-locating the laundry, try to position it in a well-ventilated room that receives enough natural sunlight to minimise the risk of dampness.
Multi-purpose space
If you can’t afford to dedicate an entire room for the laundry, and you’re integrating a laundry from scratch, think about placing the washing machine/dryer behind cupboard doors to save space.
Functionality
Creating a functional space is key to any laundry renovation. Organise your appliances in a flow to ensure that dirty laundry can go straight from the washing machine, then through to drying and on to the bench for folding or hanging.
To optimise storage, try to think vertically. Use a combination of shelves and baskets on your walls to store your clothing, equipment and other appliances, such as an ironing board.
Identify project scope
The next thing to think about is the scope of your renovation. Are you substantially renovating the laundry or are you just installing a couple of new appliances? You should consider your needs, usage and budget before drawing up any draft plans.
Are you structurally changing the space, such as installing a solar hot water system or adding a chute? Will you need to change the plumbing or electrics as a result?
Once you have an idea of the scope of your project and the extent of work required, you can start working on your budget and sourcing quotes from different trade professionals.
Set budget
After doing some background research and identifying the scope of work required, you can set out your budget. Consider speaking to an accountant to help you crunch the numbers to ensure that you don’t overcapitalise.
It may be useful to speak to a local real estate agent in the area as they may provide insight about how much value a laundry renovation can add to your home.
Keep in mind that an average laundry renovation costs $17,500 so you need to review your cashflow to see whether you can afford this or whether you’ll need to access finance by taking out a line of credit home loan.
Check out our tips for sticking to a renovation budget and a renovation timeline.
Speak to the experts
Depending on your budget, you may need to consult the help from an architect, interior designer, specialised laundry renovation service, plumber, electrician, carpenter and tiler.
Request itemised quotes from several different suppliers and cross-check them to ensure that you get the best value for money. Before deciding on the expert or company, make sure you do a background check to ensure that they are certified and that they have relevant industry experience.
Consider the environment
To lower your plumbing costs and to boost the efficiency of your laundry, pair the tub, washer and dryer together.
See our energy saving tips for your laundry.
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