Bathroom renovations and carpentry in Surfers Paradise
Unit and house bathrooms, with body corporate rules in mind.
- QBCC licensed
- 5.0 stars on Google
- Free quotes
Homes in Surfers Paradise at the 2021 Census
- 10.0%separate houses
- 7.4%townhouses and semis
- 81.2%flats and units
- 46.5%2 bedrooms
Surfers Paradise packs high-rise towers between a surf beach and the Nerang River. Its first high-rise, the 10-storey Kinkabool, went up on Hanlan Street in 1959 and still stands. Towers like Q1, Soul and Circle on Cavill came later.
With most people living in units, the work that suits this suburb mostly happens indoors: a new bathroom, a kitchen update or new floors. Over on Chevron Island and the Isle of Capri, canal homes bring decks and waterfront rules into the mix.
Close by: Main Beach, Southport, Broadbeach.
What Brett does in Surfers Paradise
What are homes like in Surfers Paradise?
Units lead by a long way. In the 2021 Census, 81.2% of occupied homes in Surfers Paradise were flats or apartments. Only 10.0% were separate houses and 7.4% were townhouses or semis. Two bedrooms was the most common size at 46.5%, with one bedroom next at 25.1%.
More than half of homes, 51.2%, were rented. Another 26.8% were owned outright and 18.2% had a mortgage. On census night, 33.1% of private dwellings were empty. For waterfront living there is Chevron Island, a natural island, and the Isle of Capri, a canal estate that is not really an island.
How do bathroom renovations work in Surfers Paradise?
A unit bathroom has more parts to sort out than a house. In a Queensland building format plan, the waterproof membrane inside your lot is usually yours to look after. So is the shower tray your unit uses, even if it sits outside your lot. Shared pipes and drains are common property, and the body corporate looks after those.
The QBCC lists waterproofing failures among the common defects in apartment work. So the order matters: check the plan and by-laws, strip out, then a licensed waterproofer lays the membrane before tiles go down. Waterproofing work over $3,300 needs a certificate from a licensed contractor. Read our waterproofing cost guide.
Do I need body corporate approval in Surfers Paradise?
Often, yes. The QBCC tells unit owners to check their by-laws to see if a renovation is allowed and if written approval is needed. Work that touches common property or building systems like pipes may need the body corporate's okay.
If you want to change common property, the committee can approve it when the cost is under $3,000 and it does not spoil the look of a lot. Anything bigger goes to a vote at a general meeting. You must follow any conditions and keep the work maintained. Read the Queensland body corporate guide before you plan.
What clients say
5.0 on Google
A full reno, two bathrooms and all
He was fantastic to work with and the quality of work was top notch. … Brett is a very good communicator and a great builder.
Deck restored, new steps from scratch
Brett did a bang-up job repairing and restoring our wooden deck … we can't fault his work ethic, craftsmanship, communication or punctuality.
15 years of jobs, still calling Brett
Brett has done several renovation jobs for us over the last 15 years … quality work, great follow-through, and just a great guy to have come into our home
Can I swap carpet for timber in my Surfers Paradise unit?
Maybe. Queensland's body corporate guide says some schemes need approval for flooring changes, because hard floors often cause noise disputes. Even with no by-law, think about how noise will affect your neighbours. Get any approval in writing before the old floor comes up. Floor coverings inside your unit, like tiles or floating timber, are usually yours to maintain.
Do canal homes in Surfers Paradise need approval for a deck?
Sometimes. On canal lots like those on the Isle of Capri, council sets a waterfront setback area. A deck in that area that stands more than 1 m above natural ground needs a referral agency assessment. A small, low, unroofed deck elsewhere on the block may not need building approval. See our deck building page.
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Brett Field, owner and carpenter25+ years · 5.0 on Google · QBCC licensed
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