# Crest Renovations Fremantle > Bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovations for Fremantle homes, old and new. We do bathrooms, ensuites, kitchens and laundries in houses of any age. ## Facts - Business: Crest Renovations Fremantle - What we do: Bathroom renovations, Kitchen renovations, Laundry renovations, Heritage and character homes - Service area: Fremantle, WA, and nearby suburbs: East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale. - Quotes: We come out to see the room first, and you get your price once we have measured up. - How to enquire: Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/#quote and we call you back. - Phone: (08) 6275 6588 - Email: info@crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au ## Services - Bathroom renovations: Full bathroom and ensuite renovations, from stripping out the old room to the last tile. - Kitchen renovations: New kitchens planned around how you cook, with the cabinets, benchtops and splashback sorted. - Laundry renovations: Laundries rebuilt with proper storage, bench space and room for the machines. - Heritage and character homes: Renovating older Fremantle houses while keeping original features like the floorboards and fireplaces. ## Pages - [Crest Renovations Fremantle (home)](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/): Crest Renovations does bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovations in Fremantle and nearby suburbs. We measure up and talk you through it first. - [Renovation Services](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/services/): Crest Renovations does bathroom, kitchen, laundry and heritage home renovations. Pick a room to see how the job runs and what to ask us. - [Bathroom Renovations in Fremantle | Crest Renovations](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/bathroom-renovations-fremantle/): Crest Renovations renovates bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms in Fremantle. See what's included, the order of the work and what to avoid. - [Kitchen Renovations in Fremantle | Crest Renovations](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/kitchen-renovations-fremantle/): Crest Renovations renovates kitchens in Fremantle. Compare layouts and benchtops, plan plumbing, gas and power early, and see how the job runs. - [Laundry Renovations in Fremantle | Crest Renovations](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/laundry-renovations-fremantle/): Crest Renovations renovates laundries in Fremantle, with new cabinets, benchtops, tubs, tiles and waterproofing, in a cupboard or a full room. - [Heritage Home Renovations in Fremantle | Crest Renovations](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/heritage-home-renovations-fremantle/): Crest Renovations renovates heritage and character homes in Fremantle, keeping the floorboards, fireplaces and sash windows you love. - [Service Areas](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/areas/): Crest Renovations works in Fremantle and nearby suburbs, from Cottesloe to Hilton and across to Attadale. See the suburbs we cover here. - [Renovation guides](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/): Planning a bathroom, kitchen or laundry renovation, or work on an older Fremantle home? Read what to decide early and what to check first. - [Bathroom renovation checklist for Fremantle homes: what to decide before a quote](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/bathroom-renovation-checklist/): Your layout, tiles, taps, storage and lights all shape a bathroom renovation price, so it helps to decide them before you get your quote. - [Choosing a kitchen layout for a Fremantle home: galley, L, U or island](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/kitchen-layouts/): Galley, L-shaped, U-shaped and island kitchens each suit a different room, and moving the sink or cooktop adds plumbing, gas or electrical work. - [Small laundry ideas that work in Fremantle homes](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/small-laundry-ideas/): In a small laundry you can stack the machines, run a bench over the washer, add tall cupboards and hanging space, or hide it behind doors. - [Renovating an older Fremantle home: what to check first](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/renovating-an-older-fremantle-home/): Before renovating an older Fremantle house, check for a heritage listing, damp in the limestone, the stumps, old wiring and pipes, and asbestos. - [FAQs](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/faqs/): Crest Renovations answers common questions on how quotes work, who does the job, which suburbs we cover and what to have ready for the visit. - [About Us](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/about/): Crest Renovations renovates bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and older homes in Fremantle. See who you'll deal with and how we price a job. - [Contact Us](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/contact/): Call, email or send the quote form to Crest Renovations. We'll talk about the room, measure up at your place and give you a free quote. - [Business Information](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/llm-info/): Crest Renovations Fremantle renovates bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and heritage homes in Fremantle. See where we work and how to get a quote. - [Privacy Policy](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/privacy/): How enquiry details are handled. - [Terms of Use](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/terms/): Terms for using the site. Full text: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/llms-full.txt ## Bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovations in Fremantle We do bathrooms, ensuites, kitchens and laundries in houses of any age. - **Bathroom renovations**: Full bathroom and ensuite renovations, from stripping out the old room to the last tile. - **Kitchen renovations**: New kitchens planned around how you cook, with the cabinets, benchtops and splashback sorted. - **Laundry renovations**: Laundries rebuilt with proper storage, bench space and room for the machines. - **Heritage and character homes**: Renovating older Fremantle houses while keeping original features like the floorboards and fireplaces. ## How your renovation works Five steps from your first message to the finished room. 1. **Send us the details**: Fill in the form with your suburb and the room you want done. Photos help if you have them. 2. **We call you back**: We ring to talk about the job and book a time to come and see it. 3. **We measure up**: We look at the room, measure up and talk you through what's possible, including anything original you want to keep. 4. **You get your quote**: You get a price for the work we talked through. Take the time you need to think it over. 5. **We do the work**: If you go ahead, we book a start date and get to work. ## Why choose us Crest Renovations renovates rooms in Fremantle homes of every age, and plans each one around the house it's in. - **We come to you**: We work in Fremantle and the surrounding suburbs, and we come to your place to measure up. - **Waterproofed before tiling**: Every shower and wet floor gets its waterproof layer, the membrane, before a tile goes down. - **Tiles that line up**: Few walls are perfectly square. We plan for that from day one, so the tiles still line up. - **We keep the features you love**: Want to keep the floorboards or a fireplace? Tell us early and we'll plan the room around them. - **Problems fixed first**: If the strip-out turns up rot, termite damage or an old leak, it's fixed before anything new goes in. - **Long waits ordered early**: Tiles, vanities and tapware with a long delivery wait are ordered once you've picked them. ## Renovation questions ### How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Fremantle? It depends on the size of the room, whether the layout changes, and the tiles and fittings you pick. Older houses can add work, like levelling an old timber floor or replacing old pipes. We give you a price once we've measured up. ### How long does a bathroom renovation take? That comes down to the room's size and how much changes. Moving the toilet or shower, or fixing problems found under the floor, adds time. Ask us when we measure up and we'll talk you through how long your room should take. ### Do you renovate heritage and character homes? Yes. Fremantle has lots of old limestone cottages and Federation houses. We renovate them as well as newer homes, and plan each room around how the house was built. ### My house is heritage listed. Do I need approval? Some work on a heritage-listed house needs approval before it starts. Check with your local council, and tell us about the listing when we measure up so we can plan for it. ## Suburbs we cover around Fremantle We renovate homes in Fremantle and the suburbs around it, from Cottesloe down to South Fremantle and across to Attadale. A bit further out? Send us your suburb and we'll let you know. Fremantle, East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale ## Book a measure and quote Send us a few details and a photo of the room if you have one. We'll call you to talk it through and book a time to see it. Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/#quote. ## Bathroom Renovations in Fremantle Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/bathroom-renovations-fremantle/ Every Fremantle bathroom renovation with Crest Renovations starts with a visit to measure the room, whether it's the main bathroom, an ensuite or a powder room. We talk through the layout, fixtures and tiles before you get a price. For a free quote, get in touch with us today. ### Bathrooms we renovate in Fremantle Every bathroom has its own limits, from a family bathroom shared by the whole house to a powder room barely wider than its door. - **Main bathroom**: The room that gets the most use, so storage and bench space are planned around everyone who shares it. A bath, a shower or both, depending on the space. - **Ensuite renovations**: Ensuites sit off a bedroom, so steam and the exhaust fan matter more. A walk-in shower, one with no step and no door, can make a narrow ensuite feel much bigger. - **Small bathroom renovations**: In a tight room every bit of floor counts. A wall-hung vanity, a shelf recessed into the shower wall, called a niche, and a single glass panel all help. - **Powder room**: A toilet and a basin, often under the stairs or off the hall. The floor still needs sealing and the fittings set at a comfortable height. ### The correct order to renovate a bathroom Each trade has to finish before the next one starts, or a bathroom can end up leaking or being retiled. A smaller job, like a new vanity or shower screen, uses only the steps it needs. 1. **Measure and choose**: We measure the room and you pick the tiles, vanity, toilet and tapware, which means the taps and shower fittings. Anything with a long delivery wait gets ordered now. 2. **Strip out**: Everything comes out. Rot, termite damage or an old leak shows up here and gets fixed first. 3. **Rough-in**: Pipes and wiring are run inside the walls and floor to their new positions, before anything is closed up. 4. **Walls and floor**: New wall sheets go up, and the shower floor gets a sloped bed of sand and cement, called a screed. 5. **Waterproofing**: The waterproof layer, called a membrane, goes on and is left to dry hard, which is called curing. No tile goes down until it's fully cured. 6. **Tiling**: Floor tiles, wall tiles, then grout, the filler between tiles, and flexible silicone where the walls meet. 7. **Fit-off**: The plumber comes back to connect the new fixtures, and the glass, mirror and rails go up last. 8. **Clean and walk-through**: We clean up and walk you through the finished room. ### What to avoid when renovating a bathroom Most bathroom regrets come from a decision made too late, after the walls are closed up or the tiles are on. - **Choosing tiles before the layout**: Settle where the shower, toilet and vanity go first. The layout decides how many tiles you need and where the cuts land. - **Too little storage**: Count what lives in the room now and plan a home for each. A niche is easy to add before the wall is tiled and hard after. - **Forgetting the exhaust fan**: Steam with nowhere to go ends up as mould on the ceiling. A fan that vents outside goes into the plan from the start. - **A flat shower floor**: Without enough slope, called the fall, water pools against the wall. The fall is built into the screed, under the tiles. - **A slippery floor tile**: Glossy tiles look great in a showroom but they're slippery when wet. Pick a tile with a slip rating made for wet floors. ### Bathroom waterproofing explained Tiles and grout aren't waterproof, and water gets through the grout every time you shower. The real protection is the membrane underneath, a rubbery coating rolled or brushed onto the floor and walls. The Australian Standard for wet areas, meaning rooms like bathrooms and laundries, sets where the membrane has to go and how far up the walls it runs. The shower floor and the shower walls always get it. - **Corners and joins**: Where the floor meets the wall, a flexible strip is bedded into the membrane, because those joins move with the house. - **Around the drain**: The membrane is sealed into a puddle flange, a collar around the floor drain, so any water under the tiles still finds its way out. - **Time to dry**: Each coat has to dry before the next, and before any tile goes on. Rushing it is how a membrane splits. ### Bathroom renovation FAQs #### How long does it take to renovate a bathroom? The biggest factors are whether the pipes move, what turns up under the old floor, and how long the membrane takes to cure. We'll give you an idea for your room once we've measured up. #### What drives the price of a bathroom renovation? Moving the shower, toilet or vanity means new plumbing, and your tiles and tapware can matter more than the size of the room. Older houses can need a floor levelled or pipes replaced. You get your price after we've measured up. #### Can I renovate a bathroom on a tight budget? Often, yes. Keeping the shower, toilet and vanity where they are saves the most, because the plumbing stays put. Tell us your budget at the measure-up. #### Can I live in the house while the bathroom is done? Yes. If it's your only bathroom, line up showers with family, a gym or a neighbour. Ask us which days the water will be off. #### Can I replace my bath with a shower? Yes, in most bathrooms. The drain moves to the new shower floor, and the wall where the bath sat gets waterproofed and tiled full height. If it's the only bath in the house, think about whether you'll miss it for bathing kids. #### Do I need to pick my tiles and fittings before I get a price? It helps. Tiles and tapware vary a lot in price, so the closer you are to choosing them, the closer the quote is to what you'll actually pay. Bring photos of what you like to the measure-up. #### Can you tile over my old tiles? In a shower, no. The old tiles come off so the waterproof layer underneath can be checked and redone. Tiling over them hides any water damage and leaves a failed membrane in place. #### Do I need approval to renovate a bathroom? Inside work often doesn't, but moving a wall, a heritage listing or strata rules can change that. If you're in a unit or a listed house, check with your strata manager or council before the work is booked. ### Bathroom renovations around Fremantle We renovate bathrooms and ensuites in Fremantle and the suburbs close by. Not on the list? Send your suburb with the form. Fremantle, East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale ### Book a bathroom measure-up Send a few details and a photo of the bathroom as it is now. We'll call to talk it through and set a time to measure up. Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/bathroom-renovations-fremantle/#quote or call (08) 6275 6588. ## Kitchen Renovations in Fremantle Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/kitchen-renovations-fremantle/ A kitchen renovation with Crest Renovations in Fremantle can be a new benchtop and splashback or a full rebuild with a new layout. We measure the room, talk through your preferred layout, and then give you a price. Get in touch for a free quote. ### Kitchen layouts that work in Fremantle homes Most kitchens follow one of four layouts. A **galley kitchen** runs along two facing walls, an **L-shaped kitchen** uses two walls that meet in a corner, a **U-shaped kitchen** wraps around three walls, and an **island kitchen** adds a freestanding bench in the middle. The right one depends on the room's size and where the doors are. - **Galley kitchen**: Two runs of bench facing each other, with a walkway between. Everything is a step or two away, and it makes the most of a narrow room. Best for long, narrow rooms. - **L-shaped kitchen**: Bench along two walls that meet in a corner, leaving the rest of the room open for a table. The corner cupboard needs a pull-out so nothing gets lost in the back. Best for kitchens that open onto a dining area. - **U-shaped kitchen**: Bench on three sides, so you get the most bench and cupboard space for the floor it takes. Leave enough room in the middle for two people to pass. Best for cooks who want plenty of bench. - **Island kitchen**: A straight or L-shaped run with a freestanding bench in the middle, often with stools on one side. It needs clear space all the way around. Best for open-plan living areas. ### Benchtops and cabinets compared The benchtop takes more wear than anything else in a kitchen. Pick it for the way you cook as well as the look. | | Laminate | Stone | Timber | |---|---|---|---| | What it is | A printed plastic surface bonded to a board | Natural stone such as granite or marble, or a porcelain slab | Solid timber boards joined into one top, usually oiled | | Hot pans | Will mark it, so use a heat mat | Handles heat well | Leave burn marks | | Knocks and scratches | Edges can chip if hit hard | Very hard, though edges can chip | Dents and scratches, but it can be sanded back | | Water and stains | Fine on top, but water in the joins makes the board swell | Granite and porcelain shrug it off; marble stains | Needs re-oiling, and water left by the sink marks it | | Price, compared | Usually the lowest | Usually the highest | In between, depending on the timber | Engineered stone, the man-made slab of crushed stone and resin, is now banned in Australia, so a stone benchtop means natural stone or a porcelain slab. #### Cabinet doors - **Laminate doors**: Hard-wearing and easy to wipe clean, in plain colours or timber looks. - **Painted doors**: A smooth painted finish in any colour. A hard knock can chip it. - **Timber veneer doors**: A thin layer of real timber over board, for the grain without the cost of solid wood. ### Plan the plumbing, gas and power early Cabinets are built around the pipes and cables, so their positions need settling before anything is ordered. Moving them later means pulling apart new work. #### Plumbing - Where the sink goes, and whether it moves - A dishwasher beside the sink, sharing its drain - A water line to the fridge for filtered water or ice #### Gas - Gas or induction cooktop, decided before the benchtop is cut - Moving a gas cooktop is work for a licensed gas fitter - Switching to induction usually needs its own power circuit #### Power and light - Power points along the bench where the kettle and toaster will live - Lights under the overhead cupboards - The rangehood duct and its path to outside Bring a list of your appliances to the measure-up. Their sizes set the cabinet sizes. ### How a kitchen renovation runs In a kitchen, each trade waits on the one before it. The benchtop can't be measured until the cabinets are in. 1. **Measure and design**: We measure the room, note where the pipes and power sit, and work out the layout with you. Your part: Choose the layout, door finish, benchtop and appliances. 2. **Order the cabinets**: Cabinets are ordered to the final measurements. It's often the longest wait, so it happens before anything is pulled out. Your part: Keep cooking in your old kitchen. 3. **Strip-out**: The old kitchen comes out, and the pipes, gas and cables are moved to their new spots. Your part: Set up your temporary kitchen. 4. **Install the cabinets**: Cabinets go in level and fixed to the wall, even where the floor or walls aren't straight. 5. **Benchtop template**: A full-size pattern of the bench, called a template, is made on site, and stone tops are cut to it off site. 6. **Splashback and finish**: The splashback, the wall behind the bench, goes on last. Then the sink, cooktop and appliances are connected. Your part: Move back in. ### Living without a kitchen during the renovation You'll be without a working kitchen for part of the job. A little setting up beforehand makes that stretch much easier. #### A temporary kitchen that works - The fridge, moved to the laundry, garage or dining room - A kettle, toaster, microwave and electric frypan on a spare table - The laundry tub for washing up, or a tub to carry dishes to it - The barbecue, cleaned and ready to go - One box of plates, cups, cutlery and a good knife Pick a room with a power point and a tap close by. Ask us at the measure-up which days the water or power will be off, so you can plan meals around them. ### Kitchen renovation FAQs #### How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen in Fremantle? It comes down to the kitchen's size, whether the layout changes, and the benchtop, doors and appliances you choose. Moving the sink or cooktop adds plumbing, gas or electrical work. You'll get your price after we've measured up. #### Can I redo my kitchen on a small budget? Keep the layout, so the plumbing, gas and power stay put. New doors, a benchtop, splashback and tap can change the whole look without replacing the cabinets. #### How long will I be without a kitchen? It depends on the size of the job and how long the benchtop takes to make once it's templated. At the measure-up we'll explain which stages leave you without a sink or cooktop. #### Can I move the sink into an island bench? Usually, yes. The water and drain have to run under the floor to the island. On a raised timber floor that's simpler than on a concrete slab, which has to be cut and patched. #### Can I knock out the wall between the kitchen and dining room? It depends on what the wall holds up. If it carries the roof, it needs a beam sized by an engineer, and pipes or wires inside it have to be moved. We'll look at it at the measure-up and tell you what's involved. #### What's the difference between a custom kitchen and a flat-pack one? Custom cabinets are made to your room's exact measurements, so they fill odd gaps and run right up to the ceiling. Flat-pack comes in set sizes, with filler panels covering the gaps. Both can look good in the right room. #### Which kitchen finishes date the fastest? Strong colours and whatever's on trend this year usually date first. Plain doors, a good benchtop and simple handles last longer, and a bold colour is easy to add with a splashback you can change later. #### Will a new kitchen add value to my house? A kitchen is one of the first rooms buyers look at, so a tired one can hold a sale back. The ones that hold their value suit the house, work well day to day, and keep the finishes simple. ### Kitchen renovations around Fremantle New kitchens for homes in Fremantle and the suburbs around it. A bit further out? Tell us where you are and we'll let you know. Fremantle, East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale ### Book a kitchen measure-up Send a few details and a photo of your kitchen now. We'll call to talk through what you'd change and set a time to measure up. Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/kitchen-renovations-fremantle/#quote or call (08) 6275 6588. ## Laundry Renovations in Fremantle Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/laundry-renovations-fremantle/ For laundry renovations in Fremantle and the surrounding suburbs, Crest Renovations works on everything from a laundry in a cupboard to a full room. Our expertise focuses on transforming outdated utilities into highly functional, beautifully crafted laundry spaces. Our Fremantle team delivers bespoke, space-saving renovations tailored to your daily routine. Contact us to get a free quote. ### Laundry layouts for the space you've got Laundries end up wherever there's room: a cupboard, a narrow passage, the corner of a garage. The layout follows the space. - **European laundry**: Machines, a small tub and a bench built into a cupboard, with doors that close it all away. It works well where the laundry gave up its room to a bigger kitchen. Best for hallways and open-plan living. - **Galley laundry**: Bench and machines along one wall, storage along the other. It turns a walk-through passage into a working laundry. Best for passages to the back door. - **L-shaped laundry**: Machines along one wall, with the tub and a folding bench on the other, meeting in a corner. The most bench for the floor area. Best for separate laundry rooms. - **Garage laundry**: A run of cabinets holding the machines and a tub against a garage wall. Water and a drain have to be run to it, and doors keep the dust off. Best for houses with no room inside. ### Laundry storage for wash day A laundry holds more than washing. Brooms, the vacuum, the ironing board, cleaning bottles and pet food all need a home, or they end up on the bench. - **A tall cupboard**: Full-height storage for the broom, mop, vacuum and ironing board, with a shelf up top for things you rarely use. - **Machines side by side or stacked**: Side by side gives you a bench on top. Stacking the dryer on the washer frees a whole stretch of wall for cupboards. - **A hanging rail**: A rail over the bench for shirts straight out of the dryer, so they go onto hangers while they're still warm. - **Pull-out baskets**: Baskets under the bench for darks, lights and towels, so the sorting is done before you start a load. - **Somewhere high for the chemicals**: A shelf above the machines keeps powder and cleaning sprays off the bench and out of reach of kids. ### Quick laundry refresh or full rebuild? Not every laundry needs stripping back to the walls. It comes down to whether the layout works and whether the floor is sound. #### Quick refresh Keep the layout and the plumbing. - New cabinet doors, or new cabinets in the same spots - A new benchtop over the machines - A new tub and tap - A tiled splashback and fresh paint Suits a laundry that works fine but looks tired. #### Full rebuild Change the layout. - Everything stripped out to the walls and floor - Tub and machines moved, with new pipes and drains - New waterproofing and floor tiles - New cabinets, bench and storage throughout Suits a laundry in the wrong spot, one that's too small, or one with a cracked or leaking floor. ### Renovating your laundry with your bathroom Laundries and bathrooms often share a wall. In older houses they're usually side by side in the lean-to at the back, a single-storey add-on with a sloping roof. Doing both at once means the old rooms only get stripped out once, and the plumbing, waterproofing and tiling only get done once. You can run the same floor tile through both rooms, too. The catch is going without both rooms at the same time. If it's your only shower, talk to us about the order, so one room stays usable while the other is being done. [Bathroom renovations in Fremantle](https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/bathroom-renovations-fremantle/) ### Laundry renovation FAQs #### How much does it cost to renovate a laundry? The biggest factor is whether the tub and machines move, since keeping them in place keeps the plumbing simple. After that it's the amount of cabinetry, the benchtop and the tiles. You'll get a price once we've measured up. #### Can I use flat-pack cabinets in a laundry? Yes. Flat-pack cabinets work in a laundry if they're made from moisture-resistant board and the bench over the machines is well supported. Tell us at the measure-up if you're thinking of buying your own. #### Can you move my laundry to another room? Usually, yes. The new spot needs hot and cold water, a drain and power for the machines. Moving it onto a timber floor or into the garage adds work, so we'll check what's under the floor first. #### What's the best benchtop for a laundry? Laminate and porcelain both handle water, detergent and wet baskets well. Timber looks warm but needs sealing and wiping, especially beside the tub. #### How do I stop condensation building up in the laundry? A vented dryer pushes warm, damp air into the room, so it needs a window open or a vent kit to the outside. Heat pump and condenser dryers keep the moisture in. An exhaust fan helps too, especially in a laundry with no window. #### What size laundry tub do I need? A deep tub is best for soaking clothes and filling a mop bucket. If space is tight, a smaller tub set into the bench still works, as long as the tap is tall enough to get a bucket under. #### Should I tile the laundry walls? Behind the tub at least, where water splashes every day. Tiling the rest of the walls is up to you. Paint is fine anywhere the water doesn't reach. #### Can I add a toilet to my laundry? Often, yes, especially in older houses where the laundry sits in the lean-to beside the bathroom and the pipes are already close by. It needs its own drain, a waterproofed floor and a door that closes it off. ### Laundry renovations around Fremantle We rebuild laundries across Fremantle and its neighbouring suburbs. If yours isn't listed, put your suburb in the form. Fremantle, East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale ### Book a laundry measure-up Send a few details and a photo of the laundry as it is. We'll call to talk about what isn't working and set a time to measure up. Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/laundry-renovations-fremantle/#quote or call (08) 6275 6588. ## Heritage Home Renovations in Fremantle Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/heritage-home-renovations-fremantle/ Crest Renovations completes heritage home renovations in Fremantle, from old limestone workers' cottages to Federation houses and post-war homes. Our Fremantle contractors are experts in restoring old buildings. Get a free quote today. ### Character home renovations by house type A **character home** is an older house that still has the features of its era, like **jarrah floorboards**, **fireplaces**, **decorative ceilings** and **timber sash windows** that slide up and down. A **heritage home** is one that's on a council or state **heritage list**, which can limit what you change. - **Limestone workers' cottages (Colonial)**: Small houses with thick limestone walls, built close to the street. Many have a lean-to, a low add-on at the back with a sloping roof, where the kitchen, bathroom and laundry were added later. - **Federation homes (Federation)**: Brick or limestone houses with high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, leadlight glass and a front verandah. Generous rooms, but small, dated bathrooms and laundries. - **Bungalows (Between the wars)**: Wide, low houses with deep verandahs, big front rooms and timber floors sitting on stumps. The floor is often the first thing that needs attention. - **Post-war homes (After the war)**: Plain brick houses with smaller rooms and lower ceilings, often with the original kitchen and bathroom still in place and ready for an update. ### What to keep and what to update Some things in an old house can't be bought new, and others have simply worn out. Sorting one from the other comes first, before any plans are drawn up. #### Worth keeping - Jarrah floorboards, sanded back and re-oiled instead of covered up - Fireplaces and mantelpieces, even if they'll never be lit again - Ceiling roses, the round plaster decoration around a light, and cornices, the moulding where the wall meets the ceiling - Timber sash windows, repaired and fitted with new cords - Leadlight glass in the front door and windows - Exposed limestone, cleaned and with its joints refilled in lime mortar #### Usually due for an update - Old wiring, checked by a licensed electrician before walls are opened - A bathroom and laundry squeezed into the back lean-to - A kitchen that hasn't been touched in a generation - Bathrooms and laundries with nothing waterproof under the tiles - A roof space with no insulation ### Old-house problems we plan for Most old houses have a few of these. Finding them at the measure-up is far better than finding them halfway through the job. #### Walls that aren't square What turns up: Walls lean and corners are out, sometimes by a little and sometimes by a lot. What we do about it: Tiles and cabinets are lined up with the room's real lines, so the joints look straight even when the walls aren't. #### Damp in limestone What turns up: Limestone draws moisture up from the ground, so paint bubbles and render crumbles near the floor. What we do about it: Limestone has to breathe, and cement traps the water in it. The cause gets fixed first, then repairs use lime render, a plaster coat that lets moisture out. #### Old pipes What turns up: Galvanised water pipes rust inside, and old clay sewer pipes crack where tree roots get in. What we do about it: Pipes in the room being renovated are replaced while the walls and floor are open. #### Uneven floors What turns up: Timber floors sag where stumps have sunk or the bearers, the beams under the boards, have rotted. What we do about it: The floor is packed level or the rotten timber replaced before tiles or cabinets go on top, otherwise they crack. ### Heritage listings and approvals Many older Fremantle houses are on a heritage list, or sit in a street that's part of a heritage area. If yours is, some work may need council approval before it starts. Check with your council first, because a listing may only apply to parts of the house. 1. Find out whether the house is listed, and what the listing covers 2. Ask the council which parts of your plans need approval 3. Bring their answer to the measure-up, and we'll plan the job around it ### Heritage home renovation FAQs #### In what order should you renovate an old house? Fix what's underneath first: the roof, damp, stumps and floors, wiring and pipes. Then do the kitchen and bathroom, and leave floors and paint until last so the heavy work doesn't damage new finishes. #### Does an old house cost more to renovate? It can, because some problems only show once things are opened up. We look for the usual ones at the measure-up, so as much as possible is in the price from the start. #### Do you renovate newer homes too? Yes. Older homes are only part of the work. We renovate bathrooms, kitchens and laundries in houses of any age. #### Can damaged cornices and ceiling roses be repaired? Usually, yes. Cracked runs can be patched, and missing lengths can be remade by a plasterer from a mould taken off the original, so the new piece matches the old. #### Should I renovate my old house or knock it down? It depends on the listing, the state of the frame and walls, and what you love about the house. A heritage-listed house usually can't be demolished without approval, so check with your council before you plan either way. #### How do I find out how old my house is? Your council's heritage list, or the State's inHerit database, may have an entry for your street. Old titles, the style of the windows and ceilings, and the building materials are all clues too. #### Could my old house have asbestos in it? It might. Many older Australian houses used asbestos sheeting in eaves, bathroom and laundry walls and under floor coverings. It has to be tested before anything is cut or removed, and taken out by a licensed asbestos removalist where the rules require it. #### Is old lead paint a problem when renovating? It can be. Older houses often have lead paint under newer layers, and sanding or scraping it releases toxic dust. Have it tested before any paint is sanded back, especially with children in the house. ### Older homes around Fremantle Cottages, Federation houses and bungalows in Fremantle and the older suburbs around it. Further out? Send your suburb and we'll let you know. Fremantle, East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Mosman Park, Cottesloe, North Fremantle, Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley, Hilton, Bicton, Palmyra, Attadale ### Book a measure-up at your place Send a few details about the house and a photo or two. We'll call to talk about what you'd like to keep and change, and set a time to come out. Send the quote form at https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/heritage-home-renovations-fremantle/#quote or call (08) 6275 6588. ## Bathroom renovation checklist for Fremantle homes: what to decide before a quote Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/bathroom-renovation-checklist/ Before you get a bathroom renovation quote in Fremantle, decide **whether the layout stays the same**, whether you want **a bath, a shower or both**, and roughly **which tiles and taps** you like. These choices move the price more than the size of the room, so the more you've decided, the closer the quote is to what you'll pay. - Keeping the shower, toilet and vanity where they are keeps the plumbing simple. - A bath, a shower or both is the biggest layout choice in most bathrooms. - Tiles and taps can change the price more than the size of the room. - Plan storage and power points now, while the walls are open. - Lighting and an exhaust fan are easy to add during a renovation and hard to add after. - Photos of bathrooms you like are the most useful thing to bring to the measure-up. The more you've decided before someone comes out to measure, the closer the quote will be. Start with the layout, then work through the fittings. ### Keep the layout or change it The first question is whether the shower, toilet and vanity stay where they are. If they do, the water pipes and drains stay put, which keeps the job simpler. Moving them means new plumbing under the floor or in the walls. In an older house on a raised timber floor that can be easier than on a concrete slab, which has to be cut and patched. ### A bath, a shower or both In a small bathroom, taking out the bath gives you room for a bigger walk-in shower. If it's the only bath in the house, think about whether you'll miss it for bathing kids or for resale. If you keep a bath, choose between a built-in one along a wall and a freestanding bath. A freestanding bath needs more floor space and a floor-mounted or wall-mounted tap. ### Tiles: size, finish and how high they go Tiles vary a lot in price, and so does the labour to lay them. Large tiles have fewer grout lines, small mosaics take longer to lay, and a patterned layout like herringbone takes longer again. Decide whether the walls are tiled to the ceiling or only to a set height, with paint above. Floor tiles in a bathroom or laundry need a slip rating, which is a measure of how much grip they have when wet. ### Tapware, vanity and toilet Tapware means the taps and shower fittings. Pick the finish early, since brushed brass, black and chrome all come at different prices. Wall-mounted taps need their pipes set in the wall before it's tiled, so they can't be swapped for a bench-mounted tap later. A wall-hung vanity leaves the floor clear and makes the room look bigger. A wall-hung toilet does the same, but its cistern sits inside the wall, so it's decided at the start. ### Storage and power points Think about where things will go: a shaving cabinet, drawers in the vanity, a niche in the shower wall for bottles. A niche is a shelf built into the wall, and it has to be planned before the wall is waterproofed. While the walls are open, add power where you'll need it, such as inside a mirror cabinet for a toothbrush or beside the vanity for a hairdryer. Power points in a bathroom are put in by a licensed electrician. ### Lighting and fresh air A single ceiling light leaves shadows at the mirror. Lights above or around the mirror make the room easier to use. An exhaust fan pulls damp air out so mould doesn't build up on the ceiling. Bathrooms without a window that opens need one, and they're worth having even with a window. ### What to bring to the measure-up When Crest Renovations comes out to measure, the most useful thing you can have is a few photos of bathrooms you like. Add your rough choices from this list and a budget if you have one. If you're in a unit, check the strata rules about renovations first, and if the house is heritage listed, tell us at the visit. - Photos of bathrooms you like - Bath, shower or both - Your tile and tapware finish, even roughly - Where you want storage and power points - Your budget, if you have one - Any strata rules or heritage listing ### Questions **What's the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation?** Usually the labour to strip out, waterproof and tile, plus anything that changes the plumbing. Your choice of tiles and tapware is the next biggest factor. **Should I pick my tiles before I get a quote?** It helps. If you've chosen roughly, the quote can be based on real products instead of an estimated amount, called an allowance, that may not match what you end up buying. **Do I need a bath if I'm selling?** It depends on who's likely to buy. Families with young children often look for one, so if it's the only bathroom, keeping a bath is the safer choice. **What is a shower niche?** A shelf set into the shower wall for bottles, so nothing sits on the floor or hangs from the tap. It's built and waterproofed before the wall is tiled. ## Choosing a kitchen layout for a Fremantle home: galley, L, U or island Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/kitchen-layouts/ The four common kitchen layouts in Fremantle homes are **galley** (two parallel benches), **L-shaped** (two walls), **U-shaped** (three walls) and **island** (any of these plus a freestanding bench). The right one depends on **the shape of the room**, how many people cook at once, and whether you'll **move the sink or cooktop**, which adds plumbing, gas or electrical work. - A galley kitchen fits narrow rooms and keeps everything a step or two away. - An L-shaped kitchen suits a corner and leaves the room open for a table. - A U-shaped kitchen gives the most bench and cupboard space in a closed room. - An island needs clear space on every side to walk around it. - Keeping the sink and cooktop where they are keeps the job simpler. - Work out where the fridge, sink and cooktop sit in relation to each other first. Most kitchens are one of four shapes. Knowing how each one works makes it easier to see what your room can take, and what changing it would involve. ### Start with the fridge, sink and cooktop Designers often talk about the work triangle, which is the path between the fridge, the sink and the cooktop. If those three are close together with clear bench space between them, the kitchen is easy to cook in. Whatever the shape, check that nothing like a doorway or an island corner cuts across that path. ### Galley kitchens A galley kitchen has two benches facing each other with a walkway between. It suits a long, narrow room, which is common in older cottages and units. It's efficient for one cook, but it gets crowded with two. Leave enough room between the benches to open the oven and the dishwasher at the same time. ### L-shaped kitchens An L-shaped kitchen runs along two walls that meet in a corner. It leaves the rest of the room open, so it works well in a kitchen and dining room together. The corner cupboard is the awkward part, since it's deep and hard to reach. Corner pull-out fittings help, or the corner can be used for the sink. ### U-shaped kitchens A U-shaped kitchen wraps around three walls. It gives you the most bench and cupboard space, and the cook is never far from anything. It needs a wider room than a galley, otherwise the middle feels tight. It also has two corners to solve instead of one. ### Kitchens with an island An island is a freestanding bench, usually added to an L-shaped or one-wall kitchen. It adds bench space, storage and somewhere to sit, and it faces the cook toward the living area. It needs space on every side to walk past, so it only suits a bigger room. Putting the sink or cooktop in the island means running water, drains, gas or power under the floor to it. ### What changes when you change the layout Keeping the sink, cooktop and dishwasher where they are is the simplest kitchen renovation. New doors, a benchtop and a splashback can change the look without moving any pipes, gas or power. Moving them adds plumbing, gas or electrical work, and knocking out a wall can need a beam if the wall holds up the roof. These are the things the measure-up is for. - Sink moves: new water and drain lines - Cooktop moves: new gas line or power circuit, and a rangehood above it - Wall comes out: an engineer checks whether it carries load - Island added: pipes, gas or power run under the floor if it holds the sink or cooktop ### Questions **Which kitchen layout is the most practical?** For one cook, a galley or U-shaped kitchen keeps everything close. For a family where several people use the kitchen at once, an L-shape with an island gives more room to move. **Can I add an island to a small kitchen?** Only if there's enough clear floor on every side to walk past it and open the cupboards. In a tight room, a peninsula, which is a bench joined to the main kitchen at one end, can give the same extra bench space. **Is it worth moving the sink under the window?** Many people like the view and the light while washing up. It means moving the water and drain, so weigh the extra work against how much you'll use it. ## Small laundry ideas that work in Fremantle homes Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/small-laundry-ideas/ In a small Fremantle laundry, **stacking the dryer on the washing machine** frees up bench space, and a **bench over a front loader** gives you somewhere to fold. **Tall cupboards to the ceiling**, a pull-out hanging rail and a slim tub make the most of the wall space, and a laundry can even sit **behind cupboard doors in a hallway**. - Stacking the dryer on the washer frees a whole bench width. - A bench over a front-loading washer gives you a folding surface. - Cupboards to the ceiling hold the things you use least. - A pull-out or fold-down rail gives hanging space without taking floor space. - A European laundry hides the machines behind cupboard doors. - A dryer in a small room needs a vent, an open window or a fan. Lots of older houses have a laundry squeezed into a cupboard, the end of the bathroom or a lean-to, the low add-on at the back of the house. These ideas get more out of a small laundry. ### Stack the machines Putting the dryer on top of the washing machine frees up a whole bench width. It needs a stacking kit made for your machines, so the dryer can't slide or vibrate off. Stacking only works with a front-loading washer. A tall cupboard around the pair hides them and gives you shelves on the side. ### Run a bench over the washer With a front loader, a benchtop can run straight over the top. That gives you somewhere to fold and sort, which most small laundries are missing. Leave a gap above the machine so it can be pulled out for repairs, and choose a benchtop that handles water and detergent, like laminate or porcelain. ### Use the height of the room Overhead cupboards that run to the ceiling hold the things you use least, like spare sheets and cleaning refills. Open shelves lower down keep the everyday things within reach. Hanging space doesn't need a whole wall. A pull-out rail inside a cupboard or a fold-down rack above the tub gives you somewhere to hang shirts as they come out. ### Pick the right tub A full-size freestanding tub takes up a lot of floor. A smaller tub set into the bench saves space, as long as the tap is tall enough to fit a bucket under. If you rarely soak clothes, a slim tub is fine. If you wash muddy boots or dogs, a deeper one is worth the space. ### Hide it: the European laundry A European laundry sits inside a cupboard, often in a hallway or kitchen, with doors that close over the machines and the tub. It frees up the old laundry room for something else, like a second toilet or a pantry. The new spot needs hot and cold water, a drain and power, and the cupboard has to let out heat and damp from the dryer. ### Keep the air moving A vented dryer pushes warm, damp air into the room. In a small laundry that turns into condensation and mould, so it needs a window open, a vent kit to the outside or an exhaust fan. Heat pump and condenser dryers keep the moisture inside the machine, which suits a laundry in a cupboard. ### Questions **Can any washer and dryer be stacked?** Only a front-loading washer, and only with a stacking kit that suits both machines. Check the dryer's manual, since some models can't be stacked. **How deep should a laundry bench be?** Deep enough to cover the front-loading washer underneath it, with a little room behind for the hoses. Measure your machines before the bench is made. **Can I put a laundry in a cupboard?** Yes, if the spot can get hot and cold water, a drain and power. The cupboard needs airflow for the dryer, and the floor under it should be waterproofed. ## Renovating an older Fremantle home: what to check first Page: https://crestrenovationsfremantle.com.au/guides/renovating-an-older-fremantle-home/ Before you renovate an older Fremantle house, find out whether it's **heritage listed**, and check the parts that cost the most to fix later: **damp in the limestone walls**, the **floor and stumps**, the **roof**, and **old wiring and pipes**. Test for **asbestos and lead paint** before anything is cut or sanded. - Check your council's heritage list before planning any outside changes. - Damp low on limestone walls needs fixing before new plaster or paint goes on. - Bouncy or sloping timber floors can mean the stumps underneath need work. - Old wiring and galvanised pipes are often replaced during a renovation. - Asbestos and lead paint must be tested before cutting or sanding. - Fix what's underneath first and leave paint and floors until last. Fremantle has a lot of old limestone cottages, Federation houses and post-war homes. They're worth renovating, but it pays to check a few things before you plan the work. ### Is the house heritage listed? Start with your council. Some houses are on a heritage list, and some streets sit in a heritage area, which can mean approval is needed for changes, mostly to the outside and the street front. The State's inHerit database is another place to look. Inside work often isn't affected, but check before you plan anything that changes what people see from the street. ### Damp in the limestone Limestone soaks up water from the ground. Rising damp shows as bubbling paint, crumbling plaster or a tide mark low on the walls. It needs to be fixed before new plaster or paint goes on, or the new finish fails the same way. Covering limestone with a coating that traps the moisture usually makes it worse. ### Floors and stumps Many older houses sit on timber or limestone stumps with a timber floor on top. A floor that bounces, slopes or has gaps under the skirting can mean a stump has dropped or a bearer, one of the beams under the boards, has rotted. It's worth knowing before a bathroom or kitchen goes in, since tiles need a firm, level floor. Termite damage shows up here too. ### Wiring, pipes and the roof Old wiring, like rubber-coated cable or a fuse box with no safety switch, is often replaced during a renovation while the walls are open. That work is done by a licensed electrician. Galvanised steel water pipes rust from the inside and lose pressure over time. A roof that leaks undoes everything under it, so check it before any ceiling or wall is fixed. ### Asbestos and lead paint Many older Australian houses used asbestos sheeting in eaves, bathroom and laundry walls and under floor coverings. It has to be tested before anything is cut, drilled or removed, and taken out by a licensed removalist where the rules require it. Lead paint is common under newer layers in older homes. Sanding or scraping it releases toxic dust, so test it first, especially with young children in the house. ### Do it in the right order Fix what's underneath first: the roof, the damp, the stumps and floors, the wiring and the pipes. Then the kitchen and bathroom, with floors and paint last, so the heavy work doesn't damage new finishes. Keep the features you love, like jarrah floorboards, cornices and fireplaces. They can usually be repaired, and they're hard to replace once they're gone. ### Questions **How do I know if my house is heritage listed?** Ask your council or search its heritage list online. The State's inHerit database also lists places on state and local registers. **What does rising damp look like?** Bubbling or flaking paint, crumbling plaster, a white powdery crust or a tide mark on the lower part of the wall, often with a musty smell. **Should I replace old jarrah floorboards?** Usually not. Jarrah is hard-wearing, and old boards can be patched, sanded and re-coated. Replace only the boards that are rotten or badly damaged.