What does a laundry renovation include?
A laundry renovation usually includes pulling out the old fittings, proper waterproofing, plumbing and electrical work, cabinetry, a benchtop and trough, tiling, and the final fit-off. Here’s what the full scope generally covers:
- Demolition and waterproofing — removing old fixtures and applying waterproofing that meets AS 3740 for wet areas
- Plumbing and electrical — water lines for the trough and washing machine, drainage, ventilation, and power points for appliances
- Cabinetry and storage — overhead cabinets, under-bench storage, broom cupboards, and pull-out hamper systems
- Benchtop and trough — durable surfaces like engineered stone, laminate, or stainless steel, paired with a built-in or undermount trough
- Tiling and flooring — moisture-resistant tiles for floors, walls, and splashbacks
- Finishing touches — lighting, tapware, and the final fit-off
Signs Your Wollongong Laundry Needs Renovating
If your laundry still has just one tub doing all the work, you’ll know how quickly that gets old — no second space to spread out on wash day. Bench space is another common issue. Nowhere to fold a load, nowhere to sort the washing, nowhere to put your basket down without it ending up on the floor.
Poor ventilation is a big one too. A laundry that holds onto moisture can lead to mould, especially along the humid Illawarra coast. Add in stained or chipped laminate, and benchtops that have seen better days, and you’ve got the classic builder-basic laundry found across Wollongong homes from the 1970s through the 1990s.
Modern appliances don’t fit old layouts either — front loaders, dryers, and storage all need their own space.
Designing Your Laundry Layout
Getting the layout right comes down to two things — the appliances you use and how your household actually moves through the room. We design around both, not just the space itself.
Front Loader vs. Top Loader Configurations
Front loaders let us build bench space directly above the machine, which is great for folding and stacking. They also open up cabinetry options either side. Top loaders need clearance above for the lid to open fully, so bench height and cabinetry placement get planned around that instead. Plumbing runs differently for each too, so we settle on the machine type early.
Stacked Washer and Dryer Setups
Stacking the washer and dryer frees up valuable floor and bench space, which works well in smaller laundries. It’s not the right fit for every household though — if you’re doing big loads often, or want easy access to both machines at once, side-by-side usually suits better.
Cabinetry and Storage Solutions
Storage chaos is one of the biggest complaints we hear, and it’s usually the easiest thing to fix with the right design. Overhead cabinets make use of space that’s normally just blank wall, giving you somewhere to keep detergents, cleaning supplies, and everyday items up and out of the way. Under-bench storage handles the bulkier stuff — baskets, ironing boards, cleaning equipment — without it all piling up in a corner.
Broom cupboards are a small addition that solve a problem almost every household has, giving brooms, mops, and vacuums a proper home instead of being wedged behind a door. For a lot of Wollongong homes, we also build in linen storage as part of the laundry, since it’s often the most practical spot in the house for it.
Pull-out hamper systems round things out nicely, keeping dirty washing sorted and out of sight until it’s time to wash.
Benchtop and Trough Options
| Material | Durability | Water Resistance | Maintenance | Cost Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered Stone | Very high — resists chips and scratches | Excellent, fully non-porous | Low — wipes clean, no sealing needed | Higher upfront, long-term value |
| Laminate | Moderate — can chip or wear over time | Good, but edges need care | Low — easy to clean day to day | Budget-friendly |
| Stainless Steel | Very high — won’t crack or stain | Excellent, fully waterproof | Low, though scratches can show | Mid-range |
We pair every benchtop with either a built-in trough, set flush into the benchtop for a clean look, or an undermount trough, fitted underneath for easier wipe-down and a more streamlined finish. Tapware gets matched to whichever trough style you choose, so the whole setup works together rather than feeling tacked on.
Waterproofing and Compliance
Waterproofing is the part of a laundry renovation that doesn’t get talked about much, but it matters more here than almost anywhere else in the house. Laundries deal with constant water exposure — from the trough, the washing machine, and general daily use — yet they often get less attention than bathrooms when it comes to getting the waterproofing right.
We work to AS 3740, which is the Australian Standard covering waterproofing in wet areas. In plain terms, it sets out how walls and floors need to be treated and sealed so water can’t get through to the structure underneath. Skipping this, or doing it half right, is how homes end up with hidden damage — timber rot, mould behind walls, or flooring that lifts months down the track, long after the renovation looks finished on the surface.
Getting this right from the start means your laundry holds up the way it should, without any nasty surprises later on.
Small Laundry Solutions for Older Wollongong Homes
A lot of older Wollongong homes have laundries that were never meant to be much more than an afterthought — a tight lean-to off the back of the house, or a converted nook that was never really designed as a working room. The good news is, small doesn’t have to mean impractical.
Wall-Hung Cabinetry and Vertical Space: When floor space is tight, we look up instead. Wall-hung cabinetry keeps the floor clear while still giving you plenty of storage, and it makes the whole room feel more open in the process. Vertical space gets used for shelving, overhead cupboards, and even tall narrow storage for ironing boards or cleaning equipment that would otherwise eat up valuable floor area.
Fold-Down Ironing Boards and Integrated Fittings: Fold-down ironing boards built straight into a cabinet are one of our favourite small-laundry solutions — fully usable when you need them, completely out of the way when you don’t. Integrated fittings like these are what make a compact laundry actually function day to day, rather than just looking neat.
Combined Bathroom and Laundry Renovations
For households tackling both the bathroom and laundry at once, there’s a real advantage to doing them together. Both rooms share a lot of the same trades — plumbing, waterproofing, tiling — so combining the work means one disruption window instead of two, and often a smoother, more cost-efficient project overall.
It also means less time living around tradespeople, less mess spread across separate parts of the house, and one coordinated plan covering both spaces from start to finish. If you’re already weighing up a bathroom renovation, it’s worth thinking about your laundry at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most laundry renovations take one to two weeks, depending on the scope of work. A benchtop and cabinetry refresh moves faster than a full custom build that involves moving plumbing or knocking out walls.
It depends on what we’re changing. Cosmetic updates like new cabinetry or benchtops usually don’t need approval, but moving plumbing or making structural changes might. We’ll let you know early on what applies to your project.
Yes, we do this often. Wall-hung cabinetry, vertical storage, and fold-down fittings let us make the most of tight lean-to laundries without the room feeling cramped.
A built-in trough sits flush with the benchtop for a clean, simple look. An undermount trough sits beneath the benchtop, which makes wiping crumbs and water straight off the bench into the trough much easier.
It comes down to your space and habits. Front loaders let us add bench space above the machine, while top loaders need clearance for the lid to open. We’ll help you weigh up what suits your layout best.
Yes, and it’s one of the most important parts of the job. Laundries deal with constant water exposure, and we waterproof to AS 3740 to stop water getting into the structure and causing hidden damage down the track.
Yes, and a lot of our clients do exactly this. Both rooms share similar trades, so combining the work usually means one disruption window and a more efficient project overall.
Ready to Renovate Your Laundry?
A laundry renovation doesn’t have to mean weeks of guesswork or worrying about what’s hiding behind the walls. We start every project with a free design consultation, where we look at your space, your appliances, and your storage needs before recommending anything. No pressure, no upselling — just a plan that actually suits how your household works.
Whether you’re dealing with a cramped lean-to laundry or planning a full custom build, we’ve got the experience to bring smart cabinetry, durable benchtops, and compliant waterproofing together in one project. And if you’re thinking about your bathroom too, we can talk through combining both for a smoother renovation overall.
Give Wollongong Kitchen Renovations a call today on 0242026399 to book your free design consultation.