A kitchen or bathroom can involve many decisions in a tight space. Before choosing finishes, make a simple responsibility list: who designs, who supplies, who installs, who coordinates trades and who checks the finished work?

Draw the handovers

Map the order of work with your contractor. Confirm when measurements become final, what must happen before cabinetry or fixtures are ordered and who checks compatibility between products. Ask which selections affect the programme and which can wait.

Document the less visible work

Ask the relevant professionals about existing services, ventilation, waterproofing, structural changes and any required approvals or inspections. Agree what records, certificates and care instructions you should receive at handover. This guide does not supply technical construction instructions.

Plan for living through it

Discuss access, dust separation, water or power interruptions, temporary kitchen or bathroom arrangements and daily clean-up. Make any essential accommodation arrangements part of the practical plan rather than an assumption.

Treat unknown materials carefully

Older building materials may contain asbestos. Do not rely on appearance or disturb suspect material to investigate it. Seek appropriate professional assessment before work that could disturb it; if suspect material is discovered during work, stop and obtain advice. Use the NSW asbestos guidance for the next step.

Before the final handover, walk through the agreed scope with your contractor and record unresolved items clearly. Keep product warranties and maintenance instructions with the project documents, while preserving your statutory rights.

Official sources & further reading

Sources checked 5 November 2026. Our wording and structure are original. The linked authorities provide the current requirements.

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