What's Included in the Price
- Rough-in plumbing (first fix): new hot and cold supply lines, waste pipes, and floor waste to AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and Drainage
- Fixture installation (second fix): toilet, basin, shower, and/or bath fitted after tiling
- Isolation valves for each fixture
- Pressure testing and drainage compliance checks
- Two-stage attendance: rough-in before waterproofing and tiling, fit-off after
- Disconnection and removal of old fixtures
What Affects the Cost
- Pipe replacement : Adelaide's inner suburbs have a high proportion of homes with original lead or galvanised supply pipes that should be replaced with copper or PEX during a renovation. The health risk of lead pipes is well established.
- Construction type : bluestone and sandstone cottages have thick masonry walls (300–500mm) that are difficult and expensive to chase pipes through. Some plumbers surface-mount and box in instead.
- Slab vs timber floor : older homes often have timber floors with sub-floor access, making pipe runs easier. Newer homes are slab-on-ground.
- Fixture relocation : moving fixtures on a concrete slab requires cutting, adding significant cost
- Drainage condition : clay sewer pipes in older suburbs may be cracked, root-invaded, or partially collapsed, requiring repair beyond the bathroom scope
- Number of fixtures : full bathroom (toilet, basin, shower, bath) vs compact ensuite affects total pipework required
A fixture-in-place renovation in a newer brick-veneer home with plasterboard walls and accessible sub-slab plumbing sits toward $2,550. A renovation in a pre-1940 bluestone cottage requiring lead pipe replacement, stone wall chasing, cracked clay drain repair, and fixture relocation pushes toward $6,800.
Adelaide-Specific Considerations
Salt damp: Adelaide's hidden renovation killer. South Australia has extremely high ground salt content, and moisture carries soluble salts into masonry via capillary action. Many SA homes lack adequate damp-proof courses. Salt damp must be addressed BEFORE a bathroom renovation begins. Waterproofing a salt-damp-affected wall without treating the damp source traps moisture and accelerates damage. In severe cases, salt damp has made homes uninhabitable. If you see white crystal deposits (efflorescence) on interior walls, get a professional salt damp assessment before committing to a renovation scope. Treatment is available from Adelaide specialists, but it adds cost and time.
Stone walls (North Adelaide, Norwood, Unley, Prospect, Colonel Light Gardens). Adelaide's inner ring features bluestone and sandstone cottages from the 1880s to 1940s. These walls are 300–500mm thick and extremely labour-intensive to chase pipes through. Unlike brick, stone requires specialised cutting tools and careful work to avoid cracking the face. Some plumbers prefer to surface-mount pipes on stone walls and box them in with timber battens and plasterboard. This is faster and cheaper but reduces the room's finished dimensions.
Lead supply pipes. Many pre-1940 homes in the inner suburbs still have original lead supply pipes. Internal runs from meter to fixtures may still exist even if the street-to-meter connection has been replaced. A bathroom renovation is the ideal time to replace these while walls are already open. Budget for full supply line replacement if your home predates 1940.
Pre-renovation pipe inspection. For pre-1970 homes, a CCTV pipe inspection (~$200–$400) is worthwhile before committing to a renovation scope. It can reveal cracked clay drains, root intrusion, or partially collapsed sewer pipes that should be addressed during the renovation rather than discovered after tiling is finished.
Outer suburbs (Salisbury, Elizabeth, Morphett Vale). 1960s–80s brick-veneer homes on concrete slab with copper or PEX plumbing. These are the most straightforward renovations in Adelaide, similar in complexity to equivalent homes in Sydney or Melbourne.
SA Building Indemnity Insurance (BII). Mandatory for renovation projects above $20,000 (increased from $12,000 in November 2025). From November 2025, BII covers up to $250,000 for defective work. SA's owner-builder permit threshold is $12,000, and no formal course is required (the most accessible jurisdiction).
SA Water manages the sewerage network. Drainage modifications may require a plumber's report and SA Water approval, particularly in heritage overlay areas where additional restrictions apply.
Hiring a Licensed Plumber in SA
All plumbing work in South Australia must be performed by a licensed plumber. Consumer and Business Services (CBS) manages licensing.
Confirm with your plumber:
- Current SA plumbing licence
- They will provide a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) on completion
- Public liability and workers compensation insurance
- For older homes: specific experience with stone construction and lead pipe replacement
In Adelaide's older suburbs, ask for a pre-renovation pipe inspection. A camera inspection of existing waste pipes can reveal cracked clay drains or root intrusion that should be addressed as part of the renovation rather than discovered after tiling is complete.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current licensed Plumber rates in metropolitan Adelaide, standard material costs, and typical renovation complexity. All prices include GST. Adelaide rates tend to be 10–15% higher than Sydney due to the smaller plumber pool. The range reflects the difference between a straightforward fixture swap and a renovation involving pipe replacement and stone wall work. Tiling, waterproofing, and electrical costs are excluded.