Whether it's a bathroom stripped back and rebuilt, a kitchen renovation, or an ensuite fit-out - we manage the full job from the first trade to the last fixture. South Auckland and East Auckland.
A kitchen or bathroom renovation involves more trades, more sequencing, and more compliance requirements than most residential jobs. Here's what Watcon Projects covers end to end.
Full strip-out to completion. The floor comes up, the tiles come off, the vanity and fixtures come out - and everything goes back in correctly. That means a waterproofed wet area done to compliance, tiled surfaces with straight grout lines, and fixtures installed to manufacturer requirements. Not rushed through to get to the next job.
Bench removal, boxing out new joinery, tiling splashbacks, installing new fixtures - whether the kitchen is getting a full reconfiguration or a partial update, we handle the build work. If the plumbing or drainage layout changes, that triggers the need for a licensed plumber - we coordinate that as part of the job.
Ensuite and laundry fit-outs are compact jobs that still require the same waterproofing and compliance as a full bathroom. Often done as part of a larger renovation or extension - or as a standalone job in an existing home.
Most of the problems people have with kitchen and bathroom renovations come down to sequencing - trades in the wrong order, waterproofing skipped or rushed, plumber called back because boxing was done before the pipes were confirmed. Here's how we run it.
Everything comes out first - vanity, fixtures, tiles, and any linings that are coming off. The condition of what's underneath gets confirmed before anything goes back in. If there's a moisture problem, rot, or an existing waterproofing failure, it comes out now - not discovered later when tiles are already going down.
Wet areas are waterproofed to compliance before a single tile goes down. This is where shortcuts are most commonly taken on cheaper bathroom renovations - and where the consequences show up years later as leaks behind walls or into ceilings below. Waterproofing is confirmed before tiling starts.
Tiling to agreed layout and specification. Boxing and joinery installed. Fixtures and fittings fitted out. Final inspection before handover.
New Zealand's building regulations require wet areas in bathrooms - showers, baths, areas adjacent to them - to be waterproofed to a specific standard before any tiling or lining goes over the top. It's not optional, and it's not something that can be retrofitted if it's skipped.
A waterproofing failure in a bathroom doesn't show up immediately. It shows up months or years later - as moisture in walls, damaged framing, mould behind linings, or a leak into the ceiling of the room below. By the time it's visible, it's an expensive repair.
We apply membrane waterproofing to all wet areas before tiling begins, as required under NZS 4858. The sequence doesn't get rushed to save a day on site.
Compliance Reference
NZS 4858
New Zealand Standard - Wet Areas
Waterproofing done correctly is invisible once the tiles are on. Waterproofing done incorrectly is also invisible - until it isn't.
Kitchen and bathroom costs vary based on what's being done to the space - not just how big it is. The variables below are what we work through at quoting stage.
A small ensuite costs less than a large family bathroom - but layout affects cost as much as area does. A simple rectangular shower box is a different quote to a custom tiled walk-in with a linear drain and niche shelving.
The specification of what goes into the bathroom drives a significant part of the budget. A mid-range freestanding bath, vanity, and tapware sits at a very different price point to a high-specification fit-out. We work from what you've chosen - or help you narrow down options if you're not sure yet.
A bathroom renovation that keeps all fixtures in their existing locations doesn't require plumbing alterations. The moment a shower moves, a bath gets repositioned, or a basin changes walls, a licensed plumber is involved - and that cost is separate to the builder's quote. We flag this upfront.
Bathroom renovation costs depend on size, specification, and whether the layout changes. A straightforward like-for-like strip-out and rebuild is a different budget to a full reconfiguration with high-specification fixtures. We need to see the bathroom before we can give an accurate quote. Get in touch to arrange that.
Most standard bathroom renovations run 2-4 weeks on site once work begins. That includes strip-out, waterproofing cure time, tiling, and fit-out. Larger bathrooms or more complex jobs take longer. We give you a realistic timeframe at quoting stage, not an optimistic one that slips.
Not for most bathroom renovations - if the layout stays the same and the plumbing connections aren't altered, consent isn't typically required. If plumbing or drainage is being relocated, a licensed plumber needs to carry out that work under a plumbing permit. We confirm what applies to your specific job before work starts.
Usually yes - if you have another bathroom to use during the renovation. If you're renovating the only bathroom in the house, timing matters more. We'll talk through this when we scope the job.
Yes. Tiling is part of the job, not a separate trade you need to find. We tile to the agreed layout and specification as part of the renovation - floors, walls, and wet area.
Yes - South Auckland and East Auckland. Papakura, Karaka, Manukau, Drury, Pukekohe, Clevedon, Howick, Pakuranga, Botany and surrounds. Not sure if you're in range? Call 021 877 308.
Based in Pahurehure, we handle kitchen and bathroom renovations across South Auckland and East Auckland - from Central Auckland south through Manukau, Papakura, Karaka, Drury, Ardmore, Clevedon and Beachlands, out through Howick, Pakuranga and Botany, and south to Pukekohe and Pokeno.
Tell us about the bathroom or kitchen, what you're planning to change, and your timeline. We'll come back to you within one business day to talk it through and arrange a time to look at the space.
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