Laundry Renovations Balaclava
Balaclava Laundries,
Built to Work
Stylish, practical laundry renovations in Balaclava and across Melbourne for over 20 years. Family-run, upfront quotes, zero hidden costs.
Your Balaclava Laundry, Done Properly
At Smarter Home Renovations, we’ve been delivering high-quality laundry renovations in Balaclava and across Melbourne for more than 20 years. Since launching in early 2002, our family-owned business has earned a reputation for fast, fair and reliable renovation services with a personal touch.
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!”
Laundry fix and touch up
“The customer service from Smarter Home Renovations is amazing! They could not have been more helpful in fixing and remodelling our laundry. Highly recommend them for any renovation work.”
Laundry Renovation
“Tony and his team did an outstanding job on my laundry renovation. Great workmanship, very professional and knows his stuff. Tony was very easy to deal with throughout the whole process. He was helpful, prompt and on time. I will definitely use them again and highly recommend them.”
Renovating Laundries in Balaclava Homes
In Balaclava the laundry is usually a cupboard, if there is a dedicated space at all. Many interwar flats were built with a shared laundry on the ground floor, and owners now want their own machines in the kitchen or bathroom. Cottages tend to have a laundry in the rear lean-to or combined with the bathroom.
Laundry work in Balaclava usually means fitting European laundries into kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, stacking a washer and dryer in tight spaces, separating the laundry from the cottage bathroom, and adding exhaust and drainage. Internal laundry work generally doesn’t need a planning permit from the City of Port Phillip; in flats, owners corporation approval is usually needed for plumbing and drainage changes.
Balaclava at a Glance
- Postcode
- Balaclava VIC 3183
- Council
- City of Port Phillip
- From the CBD
- About 7 km south-east
- Typical Homes
- Interwar and Art Deco flats
- Victorian and Edwardian cottages
- Apartments
- Edwardian villas
- Property Market
- Median house price$1,466,000
- Median unit price$582,000
- House rent$975 a week
- Unit rent$580 a week
Source: CoreLogic via Your Investment Property, prices to July 2026, rents to September 2026
Before You Start
Planning a Laundry in a Balaclava Home or Flat
Apartments
Moving Out of the Shared Laundry
Many Balaclava interwar blocks were built with one laundry room for all the flats, often on the ground floor or at the back of the building. Adding your own washing machine inside the flat means new water, waste and power connections, and in a block of flats these usually need owners corporation consent. We confirm the rules before choosing where the machine goes.
Storage
Turning a Hallway Cupboard Into a Laundry
A linen cupboard in a Balaclava flat hallway can often become a European laundry behind bifold or hinged doors, with a benchtop over a front loader and shelves above. It needs a waste connection nearby, a floor that can be waterproofed and enough depth for the machine and its taps. We measure the cupboard depth before anything else.
Ventilation
Dryers With No Outside Wall
Small Balaclava flats rarely have a balcony or yard for a clothesline, so a dryer is often essential. Venting a standard dryer into a closed cupboard causes condensation and mould, so a condenser or heat pump dryer is usually the better choice when there is no external wall to duct through. We also allow for a suitable power point.
Waterproofing
Protecting Timber Floors
In Balaclava’s weatherboard cottages the laundry usually sits on a timber floor, sometimes in a lean-to with little airflow underneath. A waterproofed floor with a floor waste, or at least a safe tray under the washing machine, protects the boards and joists from a burst hose. We check the subfloor for old water damage before relaying anything.
Layout
Laundry Out of the Cottage Bathroom
Many Balaclava cottages have the washing machine in the bathroom, which crowds both uses. Moving the laundry into a cupboard in the kitchen or onto an enclosed rear porch can free bathroom space for a larger shower. The new spot needs hot and cold water, waste and power, which we plan with our licensed plumbers and electricians.
Get a Free Laundry Estimate in Balaclava
Two quick steps. We’ll be in touch within one business day to arrange a visit to your Balaclava 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 Laundry Renovations in Balaclava
Custom Cabinetry
Built-in storage designed around your space: overhead cabinets, under-bench drawers, broom cupboards, and hidden ironing board solutions.
Trough & Tapware
Laundry trough, basin, and tapware selection and installation. We'll help you choose practical fittings that hold up to daily use.
Tiling & Waterproofing
Professional floor and wall tiling with full wet-area waterproofing, done to Australian Standards so your renovation is protected for the long term.
Appliance Integration
Purpose-built spaces for your washer, dryer, and ironing station, with the right height, ventilation, and access clearance built in from the start.
Electrical & Plumbing
Licensed plumbers and electricians handle all service connections: power points, hot/cold water, waste lines, and dryer ducting.
Ventilation & Lighting
Good ventilation prevents mould and condensation. We install exhaust fans, LED lighting, and ensure the space is bright, fresh, and functional.
Your Balaclava Laundry 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.
Laundry Renovations In and Around Balaclava
Balaclava (3183) is about 7 km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, and well within our regular service area. We renovate laundries in Balaclava and its neighbouring suburbs, with the same team, the same fixed pricing and the same attention to detail.
Laundry Renovations MelbourneNearby suburbs we service
Can I put a washing machine in my Balaclava flat if the block has a shared laundry?
Often you can, but in a block of flats you generally need owners corporation approval for new connections to shared pipes and for changes to walls or floors. The machine needs a water supply, a waste connection and a power point nearby. We prepare a simple plan for your owners corporation and provide compliance certificates when the work is done.
Is a stacked washer and dryer safe in a small Balaclava cupboard?
Yes, with the manufacturer’s stacking kit, a level floor and enough ventilation. The cupboard needs room for hoses and either a door gap or vents so heat and moisture can escape. In older Balaclava flats with small switchboards, we also check whether the existing circuit can handle both machines safely.
Do I need a permit to renovate a laundry in Balaclava?
Internal laundry work in Balaclava generally doesn’t need a planning permit from the City of Port Phillip. Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed trades, with a plumbing compliance certificate and a Certificate of Electrical Safety. If a rear lean-to laundry is being rebuilt in a heritage overlay area, a planning permit may apply.
What should I fix in the laundry before I sell or lease my Balaclava property?
In a Balaclava flat, buyers and tenants want to see a clear place for a washing machine, with taps, a waste and a power point already there. If the block only has a shared laundry, an in-flat laundry cupboard can make daily life simpler and the listing easier to describe. In a cottage, a tidy, dry laundry with working taps and some storage is usually enough.
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.