A suburb of two halves
Woolooware stretches from the edge of Cronulla across to Woolooware Bay, with the railway, the stadium precinct and the golf course in between.
The established streets are mostly freestanding homes: post-war brick and fibro houses, sixties and seventies family homes, and a good number of knock-down rebuilds and duplexes. Townhouses and villa developments are scattered through.
The newer apartment precinct around the stadium and toward the bay has added a large number of modern units in recent years.
Those two halves bring very different bathroom enquiries.
Older Woolooware houses
What they typically have
- A bath with a shower over it and tiles to around head height
- A separate toilet in a narrow room next door
- Mortar-bed floors with no membrane, often on timber floors
- Fibro linings in the bathroom or in a later enclosed verandah
- Galvanised supply pipes nearing the end of their life
- A small window and little or no mechanical ventilation
What a renovation focuses on
An asbestos test before strip-out. New pipework while the walls are open. A proper membrane and falls. An exhaust fan ducted to outside. And a layout that suits the household: often a walk-in shower, better storage, and a decision about whether to keep the toilet separate.
On timber floors, it is also worth checking the subfloor. Lower-lying streets toward the bay can have damp subfloors, which shortens the life of the timber under a bathroom.
The sandy route inside
Woolooware households are close enough to the beach for sand to be a daily issue. An outdoor rinse by the back gate or a laundry with a floor waste and a deep tub keeps it out of the new bathroom. See laundries and outdoor showers.
Newer Woolooware apartments
Why owners renovate newer bathrooms
- Defects — a shower leaking into the unit below, cracked tiles, poor falls
- Builder-grade finishes that date faster than the rest of the apartment
- Layouts with a bath nobody uses and a small shower
Before renovating a bathroom in a newer building, check whether any defects fall within the statutory warranty periods for residential building work, and raise them with the owners corporation or strata manager first. Renovating over a defect can complicate a warranty claim.
Working in a new building
Newer buildings usually have building managers, lifts, set working hours, and detailed renovation by-laws. Owners corporation approval is generally needed where waterproofing is replaced. The slab and waste positions are fixed.
Improvements come from finishes and fittings: a fixed glass panel instead of a framed door, a better vanity and mirror cabinet, lighter tiles to the ceiling, and a quieter, more effective exhaust fan where the building allows. See apartment and small bathrooms.
Townhouses and villas
Townhouses are usually strata or community title, which means owners corporation approval for waterproofing work. Bathrooms upstairs sit on timber or concrete floors over living areas, so the waterproofing detail is critical. Ensuites are often small and benefit from shallow vanities and sliding doors. See ensuites.
Salt air a few streets back
Woolooware is not beachfront, but the onshore breeze carries salt a long way. Better tapware, 316-grade stainless hardware and powder-coated fan grilles are still worthwhile. See vanities and fittings.
Costs in Woolooware
As a 2026 guide:
- Main bathroom in an older house: $25,000–$39,000
- Apartment bathroom update or renovation: $18,000–$30,000
- Townhouse ensuite: $17,000–$28,000
- Laundry with outdoor rinse: $12,000–$26,000
Asbestos removal, subfloor repairs and strata costs are additional where needed. See renovation costs.
Nearby
We also work in Cronulla, Burraneer, Kurnell and Bundeena.
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.
Nearby beaches and bays
Questions people ask before they commit
My Woolooware apartment is quite new. Why would the bathroom need work?
Newer apartments sometimes develop defects such as shower leaks, cracked tiles or poor falls, and builder-grade finishes can date quickly. If the building is still within statutory warranty periods, raise defects with the owners corporation before renovating.
Are post-war Woolooware houses likely to contain asbestos?
Houses built or extended before about 1990 may have fibro in bathroom linings, eaves or enclosed verandahs. Suspect material is tested before removal, and any asbestos is removed by a licensed removalist.
Does being near Woolooware Bay affect a bathroom renovation?
Mainly through salt air and humidity, which affect metal fittings and ventilation. Low-lying sites may also have damp subfloors, which is worth checking when a timber bathroom floor is opened.