The Northern Beaches unit
1960s–70s red-brick walk-ups line streets in Dee Why, Collaroy, Manly, Fairlight, Queenscliff and Brookvale. Three or four storeys, no lift, concrete slabs and a bathroom of perhaps four or five square metres — often with a bath-shower combination, a pedestal basin and a small high window.
Interwar flats in Manly and Fairlight are older again, with thick walls, character, and original bathrooms long since altered.
Newer apartments in the Dee Why town centre, Brookvale and around Frenchs Forest have lifts, loading areas and detailed renovation by-laws.
Cliff-top and headland buildings at Dee Why, Queenscliff and Collaroy Plateau face straight into salt-laden wind, so every exposed metal fitting is chosen with that in mind.
Strata comes before design is final
In NSW strata schemes, bathroom work frequently touches common property — the slab, the waterproofing, drainage stacks and sometimes external walls. The typical path is:
- Check the by-laws for renovation rules and working hours.
- Speak to the strata manager about the scope and what approval it needs.
- Provide details — drawings, membrane system, contractor licence and insurance, program.
- Approval — often a special resolution and by-law for bathroom work affecting common property.
- Book parking, access and protection for demolition and delivery days.
Allowing time for a general meeting avoids the frustration of a finished design and no permission to build it.
Making a small room work
- Remove the bath in favour of a walk-in shower with a fixed glass panel, where household needs allow.
- Wall-hung vanity and toilet to show more floor and make cleaning easier.
- Recessed shaving cabinet or niches instead of protruding storage.
- One floor tile carried into the shower, with a linear or tile-insert drain where the floor depth allows.
- Large mirror and good lighting, especially where the only window is small and high.
- Light walls that bounce light around a tight space.
What the building fixes
The waste position. Drainage runs to a stack, often through the ceiling of the unit below. Moving a toilet more than a short distance is often impractical.
Floor depth. Creating fall for a level-entry shower needs depth the slab may not have. Hobs or a slight step are sometimes the honest outcome.
Exhaust route. The building determines whether the fan can discharge through an external wall, into a shared duct, or neither.
Hours and noise. Jackhammering tile beds off a concrete slab is loud. By-laws limit when it can happen.
Walk-up logistics
Everything goes up and down the stairs by hand: old tiles and bedding, bags of screed, boxes of new tiles, the vanity, the toilet and the glass panel. Glass sizes are checked against stairwell turns before ordering. Common stairwells are protected and cleaned.
Asbestos in older blocks
Units built before about 1990 can contain asbestos in wall sheeting, ceiling linings, vinyl floor underlays and some service penetrations. Testing happens before demolition. Asbestos within common property is a matter for the owners corporation.
Salt and humidity in units
Sea-facing units get salt on every surface. Tapware finishes, screen hardware and towel rails are chosen for corrosion resistance. Ventilation is especially important in internal bathrooms, which are common in older layouts.
See waterproofing and the 2026 cost bands. Unit-heavy area guides: Dee Why and Manly.
Call 02 4705 5289 or send the bathroom details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
Do I need strata approval to renovate an apartment bathroom?
Almost always. Bathroom renovations in NSW strata buildings commonly involve waterproofing, drainage and sometimes the floor slab, which can affect common property. That often requires a special resolution and a by-law rather than a simple approval. Your scheme's by-laws and strata manager will confirm what is needed, and approval should be in place before work starts.
How much does a small apartment bathroom renovation cost?
As a 2026 guide, a small apartment bathroom commonly costs $22,000 to $36,000 on the Northern Beaches. The room is small, but strata conditions, carrying materials up stairs, protecting common areas, restricted working hours and waterproofing certification add cost compared with a house.
Can I change the bath to a shower in my unit?
Usually, and it is one of the most common apartment bathroom changes. The shower waste may need to sit where the bath waste was, and the floor needs enough depth to create fall. Whether the slab can be recessed or a hob-less shower is achievable depends on the building.
What happens if my renovation leaks into the unit below?
That is exactly what careful waterproofing, testing and documentation are designed to prevent. Many owners corporations require evidence of the membrane system and installation. The contract and insurance arrangements should be clear before work starts, and details are provided on request.