Cost is the first question every homeowner brings to a renovation conversation. The honest answer is: it depends. But it does not depend on as much as some builders make out. This piece lays out the real 2026 cost bands we see on the Central Coast, what actually drives them up or down, and how to think about the money without getting overwhelmed.
2026 Central Coast renovation cost bands
Bathroom renovation
$30,000 to $75,000 for a full bathroom renovation delivered by a licensed Central Coast specialist. Most main-bathroom renovations we deliver land in the $45,000 to $60,000 range. Ensuites are usually 20 to 30 percent less.
Kitchen refresh
$40,000 to $85,000 for new joinery, benchtops, tapware, splashback and appliances, without moving structural walls. If you are keeping the existing layout and just modernising, you land at the lower end. Custom joinery with stone or stone-look surfaces and premium appliances pushes toward the higher end.
Kitchen, living and dining reconfiguration
$120,000 to $250,000 for reworking the way the heart of the home lives, including flooring, joinery and ceiling changes. This is often where the biggest lifestyle change lands, per dollar spent.
Whole-home renovation
$250,000 to $600,000 for a full refresh of the existing footprint. Bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, living spaces, bedrooms and finishes. Structural change (opening walls, reworking rooflines) sits at the higher end.
Renovation plus extension
$400,000 and up, depending on the extension footprint. See our extension cost guide for more.
What actually drives the number up or down?
- Size. Obvious, but often the biggest lever.
- Structural change. Opening walls, moving windows, changing roof lines. These add cost quickly.
- Finish level. Selections matter. A budget kitchen and a designer kitchen can differ by $30,000+ on the same footprint.
- Trade access. Difficult access sites (steep, tight or with limited street access) add labour hours across every trade.
- Coastal considerations. Salt-air-rated fixings, marine-grade finishes and moisture-tolerant materials add cost near the water.
- Time pressure. Compressed programs cost more and often land worse. Give yourself time.
What is included in a fixed-price renovation quote?
A fixed-price quote from Ace covers everything you need to walk into a finished home. Demolition, structural work, plumbing and electrical, waterproofing, joinery, tiling, benchtops, tapware, appliances (where you have selected them with us), painting, cleaning and handover. No vague allowances. No end-of-job surprises.
If a builder’s quote has more than two or three “provisional sums” for major line items, ask them to firm those up before signing. Provisional sums are where budgets quietly blow out.
What is not typically included?
- Furniture, styling and soft furnishings.
- Landscaping (unless scoped in).
- Council fees, DA lodgement fees and Section 7.12 contributions.
- Anything you specifically want to source or install yourself.
How to pressure-test a renovation quote
- Compare quotes on the same scope, in writing, with the same inclusions. Do not compare apples with pears.
- Ask each builder how many similar projects they delivered last year.
- Check the licence number. NSW Fair Trading has a public search.
- Ask for two references from clients whose projects were the same scope, not just any client.
- Read the contract properly, or have a professional read it for you. This is where surprises live.
Getting started
We offer a free on-site consultation. We come out, walk the home with you, and give you our honest read on scope, cost and timeline before any contract is discussed. If the numbers do not work for you, that is fine. We would rather have that conversation early than late.
Want a fixed-price quote for your renovation?
Tell us about your home and what you want to change. A real person will reply in writing within one business day.
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