At a Glance
Older Adelaide cottages in the inner suburbs often contain original lead supply pipes that should be replaced during any bathroom renovation. The plumbing component costs $2,550–$6,800 per bathroom, covering rough-in pipework, drainage, and fixture installation, with lead pipe replacement adding to the scope.
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
Adelaide's inner ring of suburbs, including North Adelaide, Norwood, Unley, Prospect, and Colonel Light Gardens, features a concentration of stone-built homes from the 1880s to 1940s. These bluestone and sandstone cottages present specific plumbing challenges that do not exist in newer construction.
The most significant issue is pipe material. Many of these homes still have original lead supply pipes. While lead pipes have often been replaced from the street to the meter, internal lead runs from the meter to fixtures may still exist. A bathroom renovation is the ideal time to replace these, as the walls are already being opened up. Budget for full supply line replacement if your home predates 1940.
Stone walls, whether bluestone, sandstone, or rubble, are extremely labour-intensive to chase pipes through. Unlike brick, which can be cut with a standard masonry saw, stone requires specialised 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 affects the finished look.
Adelaide's outer suburbs, including Salisbury, Elizabeth, and Morphett Vale, have predominantly 1960s–80s brick-veneer homes on concrete slab. These are more straightforward renovations, similar in complexity to equivalent homes in Sydney or Melbourne.
SA Water manages the sewerage network. Drainage modifications connecting to the sewer 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.