Guides · Renovations
Harfield Village is known for its Victorian and Edwardian cottages, many of them semi-detached, on streets named after English counties such as Surrey, Norfolk and Suffolk. It probably takes its name from the original Harfield Cottage, built by one of Claremont's first residents. Cottages like these are ideal for a well-planned bathroom renovation, as long as you plan for their age.
What to plan for in an old cottage
- Small footprints. Every centimetre counts, so the position of the shower, toilet and basin is usually decided by where the drains can run.
- Old walls and floors. Original walls and timber floors need the right waterproofing and support before tiles go down.
- Shared walls. In a semi, the party wall is shared with your neighbour, so plan pipe routes and fixings with that in mind.
- Old pipework. A renovation is the best time to replace ageing supply pipes and drains you won't be able to reach once the new tiles are down.
Hot water for the new bathroom
A bigger shower head or a second bathroom can outrun an old geyser. Check the geyser's size and condition as part of the plan, not after the tiles are on. If it's due for replacement, a heat pump is worth considering.
What has to be certified
Plumbing work above a set value, and any work on the hot water system, must be done or supervised by a registered plumber and certified with a plumbing certificate of compliance. Electrical work in the bathroom needs an electrical certificate too, and lights, plugs and heaters near water have specific rules about where they may go. Doing it properly now saves a failed inspection when you sell.
How we work in Harfield Village
We handle the plumbing and electrical side of the renovation ourselves, so there's one team to coordinate with your builder or tiler. You get an itemised quote before work starts, a photographed report of the finished work recorded on site in our own app, and the certificates at the end. We cover Harfield Village, Claremont, Kenilworth and the rest of the Southern Suburbs on one flat call-out rate.
Common questions
Does a bathroom renovation need a plumbing certificate?
Plumbing work above a set value, and any work on the hot water system, needs a certificate of compliance from a registered plumber.
Can the bathroom layout change in an old cottage?
Often, yes, but the drains usually decide where the toilet and shower can go. We check the drainage before the layout is finalised.
Will my old geyser cope with a new bathroom?
Not always. A larger shower or a second bathroom can need a bigger or newer geyser, so we check it as part of the plan.