Bathroom Renovations Canterbury
Canterbury Bathrooms,
Done Beautifully
Delivering exceptional bathroom renovations in Canterbury and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, fixed pricing, no hidden costs.
Your Canterbury Bathroom, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we have been delivering exceptional bathroom renovations in Canterbury for over 20 years. Established in early 2002, our family-run business is proud to provide friendly, fast, fair, and efficient home renovation services throughout metropolitan Melbourne.
What Our Clients Say
5.0 out of 5 stars, based on 25 reviews
Powder room & laundry into a small bathroom
“We are delighted with our new bathroom. Tony made the entire process very easy for us, which is what you want when renovating. Nothing was too much trouble and he was very patient with all our questions and provided great advice on the design and installation. The workmanship was of high quality and the quote was highly competitive. Highly recommend Tony and his team!”
Bathroom renovations: stressless and wonderful
“Thank you, Tony and your team, for a stressless and wonderful bathroom renovation. Our 4-year-old townhouse bathroom and ensuite showers had serious leakage issues, with water leaking into the walls and between floors. The builder was happy to silicone the problem as a solution. The only options were to replace the showers, or a full renovation for both rooms. We chose the latter. Tony provided a competitive quote. Despite the inevitable out-of-square bathroom issues, the job was completed without stress, on-time and in budget, and the finish was fabulous. And square. We are now looking at a kitchen update. Tony, find some time. Highly recommend Tony and the team.”
Wow! Now that's a bathroom
“In such difficult times we were so grateful that we picked Tony and his crew to renovate our bathroom. His knowledge of the industry and his attention to detail is second to none. Tony was always easy to contact and happy to discuss any issues. The standard of workmanship was outstanding. We love our new bathroom!”
Renovating Bathrooms in Canterbury Homes
Canterbury grew after its railway station opened in 1882, and its streets filled with Federation and Edwardian villas in the early 1900s, followed by interwar houses. Bathrooms in these homes were built as a single room off the hallway, with high ceilings, a tall window and timber floors beneath the tiles, and many updated decades ago now have tired tiling and leaking showers.
Bathroom projects here usually involve rebuilding period bathrooms with proper subfloors and waterproofing, adding ensuites and powder rooms within existing rooms or new extensions, designing tiling and fixtures in keeping with the home’s character, and adding underfloor heating and good ventilation. Interior work doesn’t usually need a planning permit, though parts of Canterbury are in heritage precincts, so we check external work with the City of Boroondara.
Canterbury at a Glance
- Postcode
- Canterbury VIC 3126
- Council
- City of Boroondara
- From the CBD
- About 10 km east
- Typical Homes
- Federation Queen Anne and Edwardian villas
- Late Victorian houses
- Interwar homes
- Townhouses and apartments
- Property Market
- Median house price$3,260,000
- Median unit price$1,050,000
- House rent$1,295 a week
- Unit rent$695 a week
Source: CoreLogic via Your Investment Property, prices to July 2026, rents to September 2026
Before You Start
Before You Renovate a Bathroom in Canterbury
Design
Tall Rooms and High Ceilings
Federation bathrooms in Canterbury often have ceilings of around three metres or more. Tiling all the way up is a big job and can feel cold, so many owners tile to a set height and paint above, or finish the tiles at a picture-rail line. Lighting and the exhaust fan also need to be chosen to suit the room’s height.
Layout
Ensuites in Period Bedrooms
Large front bedrooms in Canterbury villas often have space for an ensuite behind a new wall, but ornate cornices, ceiling roses and fireplaces complicate where it can go. Building the ensuite as a room within the room, with its own ceiling, protects the original plaster. We check the plumbing routes under the floor before drawing the layout.
Plumbing
A Powder Room for Guests
A powder room near the living area is a common request in Canterbury’s larger homes. Under a staircase, in a former storeroom or off the back hallway are typical spots, depending on where the sewer drain runs under the house. A small hand basin and a wall-hung toilet keep the room compact while meeting drainage requirements.
Waterproofing
Timber Floors Under Old Tiles
Many Canterbury bathrooms have tiles laid over timber boards or old sheeting with little or no waterproofing, and removing them often reveals water damage to the joists. We repair or replace the subfloor, install a waterproofing system to the Australian Standard and document it, so the new tiles sit on a stable, sealed base that lasts.
Heating
Keeping a Big Bathroom Warm
Large Canterbury bathrooms with high ceilings and a tall sash window can be cold through winter. Underfloor heating under the tiles, a heated towel rail and a radiant ceiling heater paired with the exhaust fan help. Each needs suitable circuits, which our licensed electricians install before issuing a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Get a Free Bathroom Estimate in Canterbury
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Canterbury home.
- 1Tell us about your project
Two quick steps. It takes about two minutes.
- 2We call you back
Tony will be in touch within one business day to talk through your ideas.
- 3Free on-site consultation
We visit, measure up and listen to how you want the space to work.
- 4Fixed-price quote
A detailed, itemised quote. What we quote is what you pay.
No obligation, no pressure
Family-run since 2002. Your estimate is free and your details are never shared with third parties.
Your Bathroom Renovations in Canterbury
Waterproofing
Applied by licensed trades to the Australian Standard for wet areas, and checked before a single tile goes down.
Tiling & Feature Walls
Floor and wall tiling, niches and feature walls, set out carefully so cuts and grout lines look right.
Vanities & Storage
Wall-hung or floor-standing vanities, mirror cabinets and recessed shelving that make the most of the space.
Showers & Baths
Walk-in showers, frameless screens, freestanding or built-in baths, chosen to suit your layout and routine.
Plumbing & Tapware
Licensed plumbers handle rough-in, drainage and fit-off, with tapware and toilets installed to manufacturer specs.
Lighting & Ventilation
LED lighting, heated towel rails and an exhaust fan ducted outside to keep moisture and mould under control.
Your Canterbury Bathroom in 5 Steps
Meet & Greet
We get to know you and your specific needs. And you find out more about us to make sure we are a good fit.
Consult & Design
We ask lots of questions to understand your ideal outcome for your project. We discuss layout, budget, colours and more.
Quote
A comprehensive quotation outlining all the details, costs and timelines to complete your project.
Construct & Manage
Time to get to work with all our suppliers and trades to construct your project and deliver it as promised.
Deliver
We strive to deliver your project on time and on budget. We believe in 100% customer satisfaction from start to finish.
Bathroom Renovations In and Around Canterbury
Canterbury (3126) is about 10 km east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate bathrooms in Canterbury and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Bathroom Renovations MelbourneWill heritage controls affect my Canterbury bathroom?
Interior bathroom work is generally not controlled. Parts of Canterbury are in heritage precincts such as the Maling Road precinct and the Griffin Estate, where external changes like a new window, a flue or a skylight visible from the street may need a planning permit from the City of Boroondara. We check your address first.
Can you add an ensuite to our Canterbury Federation home?
Usually, yes. The typical options are part of a large bedroom, a dressing room or a new rear addition. We look at plumbing routes, ceiling details and window positions, as an ensuite in a front room may need obscure glass that still suits the facade. We show you layouts before any design work is finalised.
How long does a bathroom renovation take in Canterbury?
Most bathrooms take 2 to 4 weeks. In older Canterbury homes, replacing a damaged subfloor, removing asbestos from earlier renovations or rerouting plumbing can add time, and large bathrooms with detailed tiling also take longer. We inspect first and set out the schedule in your written quote.
We’re selling our Canterbury home soon. What should we do with the bathroom?
Start with what buyers notice in a period home: leaks, cracked tiles, stained grout and poor ventilation. Fixing those, replacing worn tapware and refreshing the vanity often present the room well. If you have more time, a new bathroom that suits the era of the house is an option, but allow several weeks for the work before listing.
Ready to Start Your Renovation?
No matter the project, our team has the right solution. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote, and let's get your renovation underway.