Common ensuite problems
- A cramped shower with a framed screen and a door that swings into the room.
- A single small vanity for two people.
- No storage beyond a mirror.
- Poor ventilation — fogged mirrors, mould on ceilings.
- Upstairs leaks staining the ceiling below.
What a renovation fixes
Walk-in shower. Fixed glass panel, no door to swing, linear drain, niche.
Double or wider vanity. Two basins where the wall allows, or one wide trough basin.
Storage. Wall-hung drawers, recessed mirror cabinets in stud walls.
Ventilation. A correctly sized exhaust fan, ducted outside.
Lighting. Light at the face, plus a soft night light.
Borrowing space
In some 1980s and 90s homes, a walk-in robe or bedroom corner can give an ensuite the space it always needed. That is a bigger job — walls, plumbing, electrical — and is scoped carefully.
Upstairs ensuites
Menai, Illawong, Bangor and Engadine have many two-storey homes with ensuites upstairs. Waterproofing protects the ceiling below, so it is done and certified properly. See waterproofing and tiling.
Costs
Typically $16,000–$28,000. See the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 4307 5309 or send the room details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
Can a single vanity become a double?
Often, if the wall is long enough — usually around 1,200mm or more for two basins with usable bench space. Where it is shorter, one wide basin with two taps or a single basin with more storage can be the better answer.
Can the ensuite be made bigger?
Sometimes by borrowing space from a walk-in robe or the bedroom. That involves moving walls and possibly plumbing, and can change the scope and approval requirements, so it is assessed at the measure.
How much does an ensuite renovation cost?
As a 2026 guide in the Shire, typically $16,000 to $28,000, depending on size, layout changes and finishes.
Is an upstairs ensuite harder?
It needs particular care with waterproofing because any failure shows in the ceiling below, and access for materials is up the stairs. Otherwise the process is the same.