FAQ

Where

Benefits of home renovations

Why should I consider home renovations?

This will vary greatly between bathrooms and owners. Some of the reasons are,

  • It’s time for a change,
  • You don’t like your existing bathroom,
  • Its outdated,
  • Your bathroom may not be healthy if it has cracked tiles, leaks, mould, mildew, dry rot etc.
  • You may have unseen leaks which can damage to the structure of your home
  • You may want a smart bathroom.
  • You may feel it is time in your life to have that 5 star luxury resort style bathroom experience every day, not just at holiday time.
  • It may be time to set your bathroom up with rails and supports etc, for older family members in your home. This means it may also be a good time to renovate your bathroom at the same time.
  • It’s time to sell, and your existing bathroom is pulling down the potential value of your home and or reducing interested buyers.
  • You may feel it is time for a spa in your life… the list goes on.

 

If you are unsure, or do not know exactly why you want your bathroom renovated, why not take advantage of our free consultation and quote. We can then specifically tailor the benefits of a new bathroom to your existing bathroom, your lifestyle  and your families needs.

Why us

Why should I choose Professional Residential to do our home renovations?

As you consider different home renovators, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. The reason we are considered one of the best builders in Melbourne is because of our quality, reliability, experience, customer service, reputation, qualifications, insurance, 20 year wet area guarantee, building work guarantee, fixtures and fitting guarantees. These are just a few of the things we provide to you when we do your home renovations.

Our reputation, reliability, workmanship and experience is why we were chosen to do the Block. And it was our customer service, the high quality of our workmanship and the tight frame to complete The Block, is why we were the winners. This is evidence and proves and establishes all of the things that we will bring to your home renovation, you don’t just have to take our word for it!

Did you really win Channel 9’s show ‘The Block’?

Yes we did. It was a lot of really hard work with really tight timing and schedules, but it was such a great experience. Lots of fun. You can check out our images in our gallery and the review they gave us on our home page.

Have you done any really large home renovations?

Yes, we have done home renovations up to the value of $800,000

How much experience have you had doing home renovations?

We have been building, tiling and renovating homes in Melbourne for over 25 years. We have combined experience of over 60 years.

What guarantees and insurances do you offer?

There are a lot of further questions, answers and information about our guarantees and insurances. Our about page has more details.

What are your qualifications?

Please see our about page for more details.

Do you use contractors?

No we don’t. All of our day to day tradespeople are employees rather than contractors. We do that because we know that contractors will usually have competing demands on their time from other clients.

 

Part of our customer service to you is to make sure that we are completely focused on your job from start till completion. That is our commitment to you.

Do you have a showroom?

Yes we do. Our showroom is a great way to have a look at options for almost everything you could want or need for your bathroom renovation.

Are you able to renovate all areas of our home and property?

Yes, because we have an ‘Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence’, registration number CDB-U 64138, we are able to renovate all areas of your home and property. We provide a free no-obligation consultation and quote for price and time to complete any other renovation work you need done in your home.

What are some of the other kinds of work you have done whilst doing bathroom renovations?

We have

  • installed pools,
  • done kitchen renovations,
  • decking,
  • extensions,
  • removed walls,
  • installed walls,
  • redone tiling,
  • floor to ceiling tiling for kitchens, laundries and toilets etc.

These are just a few examples. Let us know what you are thinking about having done, and we are happy to provide examples of previous work and of course a free no obligation consultation and fixed price quote and time to complete your work.

Pricing

Is it expensive to do home renovations

With home renovations, it is a matter of you get what you pay for. There are lots of things to consider, depending on what you need to have renovated.

Particularly with wet areas, it is important to have proper waterproofing as unseen leaks can affect the structure of your home. That is why we offer a 20-year wet area guarantee.

It is important to get quality fixtures, fittings and workmanship. Unseen leaks can also affect the health of your family because of black mould and other dampness health risks.

Also, baths, showers, cabinets, sinks, toilets, and quality tiling can all add up. That is why it is important that you get a consultation with an experienced home renovator and a fixed price, as the last thing you want is to have to pay more than you expected.

How much is a bathroom or kitchen renovation in Melbourne?

This price will vary depending on the size of your bathroom or kitchen.

If you need new fixtures and fittings, the quality of your fixtures and fittings, are you having a smart bathroom etc.

That is why we offer a no-obligation free consultation and quotation to be able to make sure you are making informed decisions about your bathroom or kitchen renovation. For example, should you proceed, are there any of your existing fixtures and fittings you can or should not use, understanding the benefits of quality tiles, fixtures and fittings, ongoing maintenance requirements etc.

There are sections below that go into more details about fixtures, fittings and tiling.

Are there any hidden costs?

No, that is why we provide a free no obligation consultation and fixed price and time to complete quotation.

How fixed is your fixed price quote?

It is fixed, and there will not be any extra charges unless there is structural damage from unseen leaks that we will not discover until we remove your old bathroom or kitchen.

The good news is that if that happens, we can do that work for you too, so you won’t have to get someone else to do the work for you. This can save you money as we do it whilst we are there. Just like your bathroom or kitchen renovation, we provide a free fixed price and time frame quotation for that work to be done too.

Is it cheaper to renovate my bathroom and ensuite at the same time?

Yes. whilst we are at your home, whatever additional work we do for you will usually be cheaper than getting it done at a separate time.

How can I cut costs when doing my bathroom renovation?

The best way to reduce costs, or not incur additional costs is to avoid major structural changes. For example, avoid moving doors, window size changes, moving plumbing points like changing where you have your sink, bath or shower, or toilet etc.

The areas you do not want to cut costs are in the wet areas, make sure you are getting a 20-year wet area guarantee and get quality fixtures, fittings and tiling work.

I have a small bathroom, how can I make it look bigger, rather than knocking down walls?

Here are a few suggestions.

  • Using lighter colours,
  • Using tone on tone,
  • mirrors,
  • free standing baths,
  • cabinets that are attached to the walls rather than being on the ground,
  • frameless shower screens,
  • floor to ceiling tiles,
  • great lighting,
  • long skinny cabinets for storage etc.

These are just a few ideas, and we cover a lot more in our free initial consultation

Fixtures and fittings

Will you help me select tiles, fixtures and fittings etc.

Will you help me select tiles, fixtures and fittings  etc.

Absolutely, selecting your tiles, bath, shower, lighting, sinks, cabinets is a major part of our initial consultation.  This is a very specialised process, and after hundreds of bathrooms, we can help you make decisions you will be happy with for a long time.

Can you help me buy cheap fixtures and fittings?

Yes we can, but we do not recommend cutting corners when it comes to fixtures and fittings. It is important to have a quality bench tops, sinks, cabinets, shower, bath, toilet, basins, taps etc. Otherwise they may leak, cause structural damage to your home and have to be replaced quicker anyway.

From our experience, cutting corners with kitchen and bathroom fixtures and fittings is false economy. It can also be bad for the health of your family, as unseen leaks can cause mold, mildew, etc .

What about ventilation for my bathroom?

Many people ask if a standard exhaust fan will be sufficient to stop mirrors fogging up and moisture in their bathroom. There are a lot of variables, such as the size of your bathroom, how hot and frequently is the shower used, etc. There are also a lot of solutions such as the quality of your ventilation unit, mirrors that don’t fog up etc. These are the sort of things that are discussed at your initial free no obligation consultation.

Smart homes and bathrooms

Do you build smart homes?

Yes, we do; just ask about it in your initial consultation. Just a few examples of Smart home features are cost savings, energy savings, time savings and more.

What kinds of features are there in smart homes?
  • Smart lighting, lights that come on and off as you enter and leave rooms.
  • Taps that have digitally controlled temperature (override is available).
  • Taps that have motion sensors, that come on and off when you place your hands there.
  • Shower panels with computer displays and controls that include touch controls for water temperature, water pressure, duration, music, movies and more
  • Toilets that don’t need hands, motion sensors to lift up and put down the toilet seat.
  • Toilets that don’t need toilet paper, temperature controlled water jets and dryers.
  • Toilets that don’t need cleaning, self cleaning toilets.
  • Refrigerated and locked bathroom cabinets for medicines and drinks.
  • Waterproof TV’s for baths, spas, soak tubs and saunas.

These are just some of the technologies that can be included in your smart home. Ask about these and other options in our free initial consultation with you.

Other rooms

Are you able to renovate other areas of our property whilst you do our home renovation.

Yes, because we have an ‘Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence’, registration number CDB-U 64138, we are able to do other areas of your property. Just like your home renovation, we provide a free no-obligation consultation and quote for price and time to complete any other work you need to be done in your home.

What are some of the other kinds of work you have done whilst doing bathroom renovations?

We have

  • installed pools,
  • done kitchen renovations,
  • decking,
  • extensions,
  • removed walls,
  • installed walls,
  • redone tiling,
  • floor to ceiling tiling for kitchens, laundries and toilets etc.

These are just a few examples. Let us know what you are thinking about having done, and we are happy to provide examples of previous work and of course a free no obligation consultation and fixed price quote and time to complete your work

Insurances and guarantees

How long is your wet area guarantee?

We offer a 20 year wet area  guarantee for your kitchen, bathroom, ensuite or laundry renovation, in writing. We are one of just a few home renovators in Australia, that can provide a 20 year wet area guarantee.

How are you able to offer a 20 year wet area guarantee, when most other bathroom renovators only offer a 10 year wet area guarantee?

We are able to offer a 20 year wet area guarantee because of the additional training and qualifications our qualified tradesmen have had and the amount of experience we have in bathroom renovations.

Will my fixtures and fittings be guaranteed?

As we only use reliable and quality suppliers, you can have peace of mind that if something does go wrong with any of your fixtures and fittings, the supplier should still be around to honour their guarantee.

 

We also make sure that any guarantees include installation. This is important, as you do not want to be paying a second time for the re-installation of a faulty appliance.

How do I know that you will complete my work properly, what guarantees do you offer?

Because we have the highest possible domestic builders licence, which is an ‘Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence’, registration number CDB-U 64138, all our work is quality guaranteed and insured. There is domestic building insurance, and certificates provided to meet all domestic building requirements, i.e. plumbing certificates, electrical certificates etc.

To have an ‘Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence’ we are required to have insurance. Insurance protects you for not only the quality of the workmanship in your home renovation but that your work is completed.  Unregistered builders may not have insurance. Regardless of who you choose to do your bathroom renovation, make sure that they are registered builders and have current insurance.

We are also a registered member with Master Builders Association in Victoria, who have been operating for over 140 years. MBA Victoria only accepts registered builders, and verifies all building registrations of all trades with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).

What this all means is that we go above and beyond to make sure that you have the peace of mind that your home renovation will be done properly, and that we will be around if you ever have any concerns.

Qualifications

What is your builders registration details and number

We are fully registered with the highest possible domestic builders licence, which is an ‘Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence’, registration number CDB-U 64138.

What does that registration mean?

All our work is quality guaranteed, and it must comply with all council, building, insurance and legal regulatory requirements. It also means that we have to go through a rigorous registration process that ensures we are capable of carrying out and guaranteeing all residential building works.

This registration process has been put in place to help homeowners obtain quality and reliable home renovation and building services.

Whoever you use to do your home renovation, make sure that they are fully registered with an Unlimited Domestic Builders Licence and get their registration number. You can check their registration number with the link below.

How can I check to see that your registration is valid and up to date?

You can check by calling 1800 815 127, or going to the website of  Victorian Building Authority (VBA) at https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/ or click on this link for a direct search: https://consumer.etoolbox.buildingcommission.com.au/Pages/Search.aspx

Are your trades people qualified?

Yes. Not only are we qualified, we are all experienced and trained in the quality work and customer service we provide. We have a very high retention rate with staff. This is because we do all we can, to make sure doing your home renovation is enjoyable for our staff members. Looking after our staff and our high staff retention rate is just one of the many ways we provide such great quality home renovations, customer service and time to complete your work.

Do you provide ongoing training to your team members?

Yes we do. We are always looking for ways to improve our home renovations and the customer service we provide. That means training our staff and keeping them up to date with new and improved services.

Do you use contractors?

No we don’t. All of our day to day tradespeople are employees rather than contractors. We do that because we know that contractors will usually have competing demands on their time from other clients.

 

Part of our customer service to you is to make sure that we are completely focused on your job from start till completion. From our first call to you, to completion and after with follow up calls, that is our commitment to you.

What if we need council permits?

No problem. If you need council permits we can help with that too.

Customer service

What kind of customer service do you provide?

We believe that customer service starts from our first phone call with you, until long after we have finished your home renovations.

We do this in many ways. We start with our no obligation free consultation and fixed price and time to complete quotation.

Then we provide you with your very own project manager, who you can contact at any time if you have any questions. Having your own project manager means you don’t have to repeat yourself to multiple people. Your Project manager will be familiar with your quote, work to be done, progress of your work and your expectations of us at Professional Residential Builders.

We also have a follow-up service to make sure everything is going well after we complete your home renovations.

 

How do you keep me updated on the progress of my home renovations?

We have an app you can log in to to get updates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The app includes pictures of your progress to date. Or if you prefer you can discuss it with your project manager, or be sent an email.

Do you clean up after you finish our home renovations?

Yes, we do. It is a part of our hand over and follow up service.

Initial consultation

What is involved in your initial consultation?

Firstly we find out exactly what you want and what you do not want. Then we give you lots of options and ideas. Then we help you select your tiles, fixtures and fittings, such as your sinks, bench tops, cabinets, bath, sinks, shower, lighting etc. Then we bring it all together so we all know exactly what you want, what your expectations are, and we provide a free, no-obligation written fixed price and time to complete quotation.

Is your initial consultation free, and without any catches.

Yes it is free and with no obligation at all. No catches, just an honest appraisal of your home renovations. We also include lots of great ideas too, so even if you don’t choose us to do your home renovations; your time will have been well spent because of the ideas and suggestions we provide.

How long does it take to provide the written quotation?

Unless you are wanting things that are hard to find, usually about a week.

Interior designer

Do you have a qualified interior designer?

Yes we do. A part of the service we provide includes professionally designed home renovations. This means not only will it be unique, it will probably be a better design than you could have come up with on your own.

Is there an extra charge for this service?

No, it is included in our fixed price quotation

Are there any other benefits of having our home renovation designed by a qualified interior designer?

Yes. Aside from it being unique and a better design, professionally designed homes, especially bathrooms and kitchens, can add extra value to your home if you ever want to sell your home or investment property.

Tiling

Why is it important to have quality tiling work done?

You want your tiling work to stand the test of time. There is nothing more unsightly than cracked or loose tiles. Also, cracked tiles can mean unseen leaks, which can cause structural damage. At Professional Residential Builders we have qualified and experienced award-winning tilers doing your tiling work for you. It is a part of our satisfaction guarantee. And of course we offer a 20 year wet area guarantee too.

I have no idea about tiling, can you help me?

Yes, a part of our free no obligation consultation and quotation is giving you lots of options and helping you make the best decisions for your home, family and budget.

I know exactly what I want with my tiling, can you do it for me?

Yes, as long as we can find the tiles you want, we can definitely do styles and patterns and whatever you want done with your tiling work. All our tilers are qualified and very experienced.

Should I have feature tiling?

This is a personal decision that can be influenced by taste and trends. From our experience, if you find a feature tile that you really like and want in your home, then consider it. It is important to consider that feature tiles can date your home and maybe a benefit or hindrance if you want to sell your home. These are all the kinds of things we discuss in our initial consultation.

What pattern should I have my tiling done in?

Patterns can have a large impact on the look of your tiling work. There are over 10 different patterns, borders etc to choose from. That is why it is an advantage for us to do your free consultation, so we can explain to you your options and the benefits and hindrances of the different types of patterns.

Should I have floor to ceiling tiling?

Floor to ceiling tiling has become very popular as they are easy to keep clean, therefore more hygenic and the maintenance is much lower than paint. Selecting the right tile is important if you are having floor to ceiling tiling as there will be so much of it. We can help you select tiles that you will enjoy for a very long time and help to reduce your cleaning and maintenance.

How can I reduce the maintenance of my tiling work?

If you select tiles that are glazed when they are manufactured, it will avoid you having to reseal them. There is also grouting that can be used to reduce mould and mildew. Just ask about these features and more during your free no obligation consultation.

What about the levels of where the hallway floor meets the bathroom tiles?

There can be a small step between the level of your bathroom or kitchen tiles and your hallway carpet or floorboards. We are happy to talk to you about options to keep it flush.

Timing

Do you provide a fixed time to complete your home renovations?

Just like we provide a fixed price quote, we also provide a fixed time frame quote. This means you can plan around it, and not be concerned about it going over time.

However, if there is structural damage from unseen leaks that we do not discover until we remove your old bathroom, ensuite,  kitchen or laundry, there may be delays. The good news is that we can do that work for you too, so you won’t have to get someone else to do the work for you. This can save you money as we do it whilst we are there. Just like your home renovation, we provide a fixed price and fixed time frame for that work to be done too.

If you do have someone else do the structural repair, your home renovation will be delayed for the time period that they take charge of the area to be repaired. Our home renovation work can not continue until the damaged structure has been repaired or replaced.

How long does it take to complete a home renovation?

This will depend on the size and the intricacies of your home renovation. We are able to complete your home renovations much quicker than most other home renovators because of the systems we have and the additional qualifications our staff have.

Also, our day-to-day tradespeople are employees rather than contractors. What that means is that our employees only have one priority, and that is getting your home renovation completed. Using  contractors rather than employees can cause delays as contractors will usually have competing demands on their time from other clients.