Bathroom Renovations in Bundeena's Old Weekenders

From weekender to home

Bundeena and neighbouring Maianbar sit on the southern shore of Port Hacking, bordered on the other sides by the Royal National Park. For much of the twentieth century, they were holiday villages: fibro shacks and simple weatherboard cottages for summer weekends, reached by ferry or a long drive.

Over time, many of those weekenders became permanent homes. Some have been rebuilt completely. Others have been extended piece by piece, and their bathrooms show it.

What Bundeena bathrooms are often like

• A small bathroom added to the back of a cottage, sometimes in an enclosed verandah
• Fibro wall linings in the bathroom, laundry and additions
• Timber floors on stumps or piers over sandy soil
• Minimal waterproofing, if any
• Basic plumbing extended over the years in various materials
• An outdoor shower or laundry that was once the only one

For a house now lived in year-round, a bathroom built for weekends is not enough.

What a renovation involves

Asbestos first

Fibro in houses built before about 1990 is tested before it is disturbed. If it contains asbestos, a licensed removalist removes it before strip-out continues. In a small village, removal logistics — and where the removed material goes — need planning.

Floors

Many bathrooms sit on timber floors that have absorbed decades of water. When the old floor is opened, joists and bearers under the shower are checked, and softened or termite-damaged timber is replaced. New structural sheeting and flexible waterproofing junctions go in.

Building a real bathroom

A proper membrane and falls, an exhaust fan ducted outside, and a layout designed for daily use: a walk-in shower, a vanity with storage and, where space allows, a separate toilet or a second toilet near the living areas.

The outdoor shower

Many Bundeena houses already have an outdoor shower, and with beaches and walking tracks at the door, it earns its keep. Renovating it with better fittings, screening and compliant drainage is often worth including. See laundries and outdoor showers.

Bushfire-prone land

With national park on several sides, much of Bundeena and Maianbar is mapped as bushfire-prone. For an internal bathroom renovation, this usually changes nothing. It becomes relevant when:

• A window is replaced or enlarged as part of work that needs approval
• The bathroom is extended beyond the existing footprint
• External walls or roof are altered, for example for a skylight or new vent

In those cases, the construction requirements for the site's bushfire attack level can affect glazing, framing and materials. Confirm before choosing windows.

Getting there

Bundeena is reached by road through the Royal National Park, a longer trip for trades based on the Cronulla side. The ferry carries people, not pallets of tiles. That means:

• Deliveries grouped and scheduled ahead of each stage
• Trade visits combined where possible to reduce return trips
• A skip or bins booked with realistic collection times
• Travel time stated in the quote rather than added later

Salt and humidity

Bundeena faces Port Hacking and the coast, so salt air and humidity affect fittings here too. Tapware with coastal-rated finishes, 316-grade stainless hardware and good ventilation all apply. See vanities and fittings.

Maianbar

Maianbar, to the west of Bundeena, is smaller and quieter, with a similar history of holiday cottages turned homes. The same considerations apply, often with even more attention to access.

Costs in Bundeena

As a 2026 guide:

• Main bathroom in a former weekender: $26,000–$42,000
• Bathroom in a rebuilt home: $22,000–$36,000
• Outdoor shower upgrade: $3,500–$9,000
• Travel and logistics allowance: commonly $1,000–$3,000 depending on scope

Asbestos removal and floor repairs are additional. See renovation costs.

Nearby

We also work across the water in Cronulla, Burraneer, Woolooware and Kurnell.

Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on request.

Call 02 5850 4715 or send the room details through.