Bathroom Renovation in Hougang New Town

Strip-out, then first-fix plumbing and electrics (pipes and cables in walls), then substrate preparation and waterproofing, then tiling, then second-fix (toilet, vanity, taps, shower screen, lights), then silicone and snagging. If a quote or schedule doesn't follow this order, question it — out-of-sequence work is how leaks and redone tiles happen.

It can work on sound, well-bonded wall tiles and saves strip-out cost, but it fails on floors with movement, adds thickness that fouls doors and fittings, and hides the condition of the substrate and membrane. Most renovators strip back in wet areas — if a contractor proposes tile-over-tile in the shower zone specifically, treat it as a cost-cutting red flag.

In rough order: whether you move plumbing (relocating the toilet or shower is the single biggest multiplier), the quality tier of tiles and fittings, bathroom size, waterproofing scope, and access (upper floors and apartment buildings cost more). Labour typically makes up 40-60% of the total, so a bigger bathroom does not scale cost linearly — fixture count matters more than floor area.

Relocating a toilet means rerouting the soil pipe and adjusting floor levels; moving a shower means new drainage falls and full re-waterproofing. Either typically adds a meaningful share of the total budget and extra days of work. If your budget is tight, keeping the existing layout is the single most effective cost-saver.

A single HDB bathroom typically runs S$4,000-S$12,000 depending on whether floors are hacked and waterproofing redone; renovating both bathrooms together commonly lands around S$8,000-S$18,000. Condo master bathrooms run higher, S$8,000-S$25,000.

HDB prohibits hacking floor and wall finishes in new BTO bathrooms for 3 years to preserve the original waterproofing warranty. You can still change fixtures, vanities, and accessories in that window — full retiling has to wait or use approved overlay methods.