🛠 Why Hiring a Licensed Builder Is a Must (Not a Maybe) in Victoria
When it comes to renovating your bathroom—or any part of your home—it’s tempting to go the DIY route or hire the “mate-of-a-mate” who says they can do it cheaper. But here’s the truth: cutting corners on who you hire can end up costing you way more in the long run.
In Victoria, hiring a licensed builder isn’t just good advice—it’s often required by law, especially for work that involves structural changes, waterproofing, or jobs valued over $10,000. More importantly, it’s the only way to guarantee your renovation is safe, legal, and built to last.
Let’s break down why working with a licensed builder (like us!) is a must—not a maybe.

🧱 What Is a Licensed Builder in Victoria?
A licensed builder is someone who holds official registration through the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), the state’s governing body for building professionals.
To get licensed, a builder must:
- Pass assessments in building knowledge, construction law, and project management
- Have practical experience (usually several years on-site)
- Maintain appropriate insurance
- Adhere to a strict code of conduct and workmanship standards
This means when you hire a licensed builder, you’re hiring someone who’s:
✅ Qualified
✅ Experienced
✅ Regulated
✅ Insured
…and accountable if anything goes wrong.
🛑 When Is It Legally Required to Hire a Licensed Builder?
In Victoria, if your bathroom renovation or building project:
- Is valued over $10,000, or
- Involves structural changes, or
- Requires waterproofing, plumbing, or electrical work, or
- Needs a building permit
👉 Then YES—you must hire a registered building practitioner.
💡 Even if you’re managing the project yourself, you can’t legally hire trades to do these jobs unless the work is supervised by a licensed builder.
💎 What Is the Most Expensive Part of a Bathroom Renovation?
Here’s a breakdown of where your money tends to go:
- Labour & Trades – Around 40–50% of your budget
- Plumbers, electricians, tilers, waterproofers, carpenters
- Plumbers, electricians, tilers, waterproofers, carpenters
- Waterproofing & Tiling – 20–30%
- Especially with floor-to-ceiling tile layouts
- Especially with floor-to-ceiling tile layouts
- Custom Joinery & Fixtures – 10–20%
- Vanities, shaving cabinets, storage
- Vanities, shaving cabinets, storage
- Demolition & Rubbish Removal – 5–10%
- Don’t forget to factor this in!
- Don’t forget to factor this in!
🚿 Waterproofing and tiling are often the most labour-intensive parts. They require skilled hands, compliance certificates, and must be done right—so this is not an area to DIY or skimp on.
⚠️ Risks of Hiring an Unlicensed Builder (or DIY)
Plenty of people think they’re saving money by hiring a “handyman” or doing parts of the reno themselves. But here’s what they often don’t realise:
🚨 What can go wrong:
- No warranty insurance for work over $16,000
- No VBA oversight or quality control
- Potential fines for unpermitted or non-compliant work
- Voided home insurance if a claim involves unlicensed work
- Structural or waterproofing failure that can cost thousands to fix
- Delays and rework when inexperienced trades don’t follow code
👎 We’ve been called in more than once to “rescue” a half-finished job where a client tried to cut costs… and ended up spending double to fix it.
🧰 The Benefits of Hiring a Licensed Builder (Like Us)
As licensed builders who specialise in bathroom renovations and structural carpentry, here’s what you get when you work with our team:
✅ 1. Peace of Mind
You know the work is done properly, safely, and in full compliance with Victorian building standards.
✅ 2. Full Project Management
We coordinate all the moving parts—plumbing, tiling, waterproofing, carpentry, permits—so you don’t have to.
✅ 3. Quality Trades, Vetted by Us
We only work with trusted, licensed professionals—no cowboys, no cutting corners.
✅ 4. Warranty Insurance
All jobs over $16,000 are covered by Domestic Building Insurance, which protects you if anything goes wrong post-reno.
✅ 5. Real-Time Problem Solving
If your floor isn’t level or your frame needs reinforcing—we fix it. On the spot. No delays, no blaming “the other guy.”
🔍 How to Check If a Builder Is Licensed in Victoria
Don’t just take someone’s word for it. Always check their registration number with the VBA Practitioner Search Tool.
Look for:
- Domestic Builder – Unlimited or Domestic Builder – Limited to bathrooms
- A valid registration number
- Current insurance coverage
💡 Pro tip: If someone can’t give you their license number, don’t give them your deposit.
🏗️ Real-Life Scenario: Licensed vs. DIY Disaster
We had a client in regional Victoria who originally hired a friend-of-a-friend to tile and waterproof their bathroom. A few months later, the shower leaked into the hallway floorboards. No insurance, no compliance certificate, and a total rebuild was needed. We came in, stripped it back, corrected the framing, re-waterproofed it properly, and rebuilt the space with full compliance and sign-off. The client ended up paying twice—once to do it cheap, and again to do it right.
👆 Moral of the story? Hire a licensed builder from day one.
🤔 FAQs
Can I hire tradies directly instead of a builder?
Only if the work is minor. But if you’re doing a full reno or anything structural, a licensed builder must manage the project to ensure it’s compliant—and you’re protected.
Is hiring a builder more expensive?
It might look that way upfront, but you save long-term by avoiding delays, rework, compliance issues, and insurance drama.
How do I get started with a licensed builder?
Easy! Just contact us. We’ll visit your site, chat about your vision and budget, and provide a clear plan with all the details covered.
🧼 Final Word: Don’t Risk Your Reno—Build It Right
At the end of the day, your home is your biggest asset—and your bathroom is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house. Cutting corners with an unlicensed builder (or no builder at all) is never worth the risk.
When you work with a licensed builder, you’re not just getting a finished room. You’re getting:
- Peace of mind
- Full project management
- Trade coordination and compliance
- Work backed by insurance and standards
📩 Ready to renovate the right way?
Let’s chat. We’ll guide you through your bathroom project from design to handover—with everything built to last.