7 Signs It's Time to Renovate Your Ensuite

Your ensuite gets used more than almost any other room in the house, yet it's often the last one homeowners think to update — until something forces the issue. Here are seven signs it's time to stop patching and start planning a proper ensuite renovation.

1. A Musty Smell That Won't Go Away

If your ensuite smells damp even after cleaning, it's usually a sign that moisture is getting into places it shouldn't — behind tiles, under the shower base, or into the subfloor. By the time you can smell it, the waterproofing has often already been compromised for some time.

2. Tiles That Feel Loose or Sound Hollow

Tap a tile near the shower or bath. If it sounds hollow or feels slightly loose underfoot, the adhesive bond has likely failed, often due to moisture getting underneath. A handful of loose tiles rarely stays isolated for long.

3. Visible Mould Returning After Cleaning

Surface mould that wipes away and returns within weeks, especially along grout lines or silicone joints, points to a moisture source that a bathroom clean can't fix. Persistent mould despite good ventilation habits is one of the clearest signals of a waterproofing issue underneath.

4. The Layout No Longer Works for Your Household

Ensuites in Melbourne homes built 15–25 years ago were often designed around a single small shower and a compact vanity, which can feel genuinely undersized for a growing family or a couple who both get ready at once. If you're doing a morning routine around each other rather than alongside each other, it's a sign the layout is holding you back.

• Single small vanity with no bench space
• Shower too small to comfortably use with modern shower heads
• No storage for towels, toiletries or linen

5. Dated Fixtures That Cost You in Water and Energy

Older single-flush toilets, non-mixer taps and standard shower heads use significantly more water than current WELS-rated fixtures. Beyond the aesthetic, an ageing ensuite is usually costing you more on water bills than a modern one would, and older tapware is more prone to leaks as seals degrade.

6. Cracking Grout or Recurring Leaks Around the Shower Base

Grout is meant to be a cosmetic finish, not a waterproofing layer — if it's cracking repeatedly around the shower base or bath edge, water is very likely finding its way underneath. This is one of the most common early warning signs we see before a full waterproofing failure is discovered.

7. It's Been More Than 15–20 Years Since the Last Renovation

Waterproofing membranes have a working life, and most manufacturers rate them at around 15–20 years even when properly installed and maintained. If your ensuite hasn't been touched since the house was built or last renovated in that window, it's worth having the waterproofing assessed even if nothing looks obviously wrong yet.

What an Ensuite Renovation Typically Costs and Takes

A full ensuite renovation in Melbourne generally runs $14,000–$25,000 depending on size and finish level, and takes roughly 2–3 weeks from demolition to final handover for a standard-sized room. Because an ensuite connects directly to a bedroom, we take extra care with dust control and site cleanliness throughout the build, so the rest of your home stays liveable during the work.

Don't Wait for a Bigger Problem

Most of the signs above are cheaper to act on early than late. A waterproofing issue caught before it reaches the subfloor is a renovation; the same issue left for another two years can become a renovation plus structural repair. If any of these signs sound familiar, it's worth getting a proper on-site assessment before deciding what your ensuite actually needs.