Small bathroom jobs are some of the most common requests we receive. A towel rail that has pulled out of the wall, a mirror that needs hanging, a shower screen door that no longer closes, a vanity drawer that has collapsed, a toilet roll holder that wobbles. None of these jobs is big enough to call in a bathroom renovator, but they make a daily difference to how a bathroom works and feels.

We install and repair bathroom fixtures and accessories in homes and rentals across Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar, Yarragon and the surrounding district. We are a handyman service, not plumbers, so we focus on the non-plumbing fixtures and the fit-off work that comes around them.

Bathroom accessories we install

• Towel rails and rings. Single and double towel rails, towel rings and hooks, fixed into tiles, plaster or studs with the right fixings.
• Toilet roll holders. Wall-mounted and freestanding.
• Robe hooks. Behind doors, beside showers and on walls.
• Mirrors. Frameless and framed mirrors, hung on clips, cleats or adhesive systems depending on size and wall type.
• Mirror cabinets and shaving cabinets. Surface-mounted cabinets fixed securely to the wall.
• Shelves. Glass shelves, corner shower shelves and caddies, and timber shelving above toilets and vanities.
• Grab rails. Grab rails beside toilets, in showers and near baths, fixed into structural backing. See grab rails and accessibility.
• Shower curtain rails. Straight and L-shaped rails.
• Soap and toothbrush holders.
• Bath mats, non-slip strips and shower stools. We can apply non-slip treatments and set up shower seating.

Heated towel rails that are hard-wired must be connected by a licensed electrician. We can mount plug-in towel rails where a suitable power point already exists.

Drilling into tiles

Most bathroom accessories need to be fixed into tiled walls, and this is where DIY jobs often go wrong. Drilling tiles requires the correct bits, slow speed, care to avoid cracking, and attention to what is behind the tile: pipes, waterproofing membranes and studs. We locate pipes before drilling, use tile and diamond bits suited to ceramic and porcelain, and seal fixings with silicone so water cannot get behind the tile through the new holes. Where possible, we drill through grout lines or use existing holes.

Repairs to shower screens

Framed and semi-frameless shower screens develop problems over time:

• Doors drop and no longer close or latch.
• Pivot hinges wear and become stiff or loose.
• Rollers on sliding shower doors wear out and the door drags.
• Seals and wipers perish, letting water escape onto the floor.
• Silicone around the frame goes black or peels away.

We adjust doors, replace worn rollers and seals where parts are available, and re-silicone frames. Fully frameless screens with heavy glass, and broken or cracked glass, need a glazier or shower screen company; we will tell you if your job falls into that category.

Vanity repairs

Vanities suffer from the same moisture problems as kitchen cupboards, often worse. We repair:

• Sagging and misaligned vanity doors.
• Broken hinges and drawer runners.
• Loose handles.
• Swollen kick boards and end panels (after any leaks are fixed by a plumber).
• Loose vanity tops that need re-fixing and re-sealing.

See our kitchen cupboard repairs page for more detail on hinge and runner work.

Silicone and sealing

Bathroom silicone needs regular renewal. Black, mouldy or peeling silicone around showers, baths, basins and vanities is unhygienic and lets water get behind tiles and into floors and walls. We remove old silicone completely, clean and treat the surfaces, and apply new mould-resistant silicone. See silicone and caulking.

Grout and tile repairs

Cracked tiles, loose tiles and failing grout can be repaired as part of a bathroom refresh. See tiling and regrouting.

Bathroom refreshes

If your bathroom is in good working order but looks dated, a refresh without renovation can be very effective:

• Regrouting and re-siliconing for a cleaner finish.
• Replacing towel rails, holders and hooks in a matching finish.
• New mirror or mirror cabinet.
• New vanity handles.
• Painting the ceiling with a mould-resistant bathroom paint.
• Adjusting doors and replacing worn seals on the shower screen.
• Replacing a cracked or stained toilet seat (seat only; toilet suite replacement is plumbing work).

Tapware, toilets, basins, showers, baths, waste pipes and anything connected to water must be done by a licensed plumber. Exhaust fans, lights and heaters that need wiring are licensed electrical work.

Mould and ventilation

West Gippsland’s cold, damp winters mean many bathrooms struggle with condensation and mould, especially in older homes with no exhaust fan or a fan that vents into the roof cavity. Mould on ceilings and walls is often a ventilation problem. We can clean and paint affected ceilings with mould-resistant paint, replace silicone and recommend that an electrician install or upgrade an exhaust fan ducted to the outside. Keeping the bathroom door open after showers and running the fan for at least fifteen minutes helps significantly.

Accessibility in bathrooms

For older residents and people recovering from surgery or with mobility needs, bathroom safety is critical. Grab rails, shower seats, raised toilet seats, lever-style accessories and non-slip surfaces all reduce the risk of falls. We install these to suit your needs and, where an occupational therapist has made recommendations, follow their specifications. See grab rails and accessibility.

Rentals and property managers

Bathrooms are high on every rental inspection checklist. We regularly attend to loose towel rails, failed silicone, sagging vanity doors, broken toilet roll holders and mould on ceilings for landlords and property managers in Warragul and Drouin. See property managers.

How to get a quote

Send photos of the bathroom showing the fixture or problem, and tell us what you would like installed or fixed. If you have already bought the accessories, let us know the brand and model so we can check the fixings. We will reply with a written scope and free quote. We do not publish prices.

Areas we serve

Bathroom fixture installation and repairs in Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar, Yarragon, Nilma, Darnum, Rokeby, Buln Buln, Neerim South and Longwarry. See our service areas and services.

A typical bathroom visit

A common job looks like this. A homeowner in Warragul has a main bathroom with a towel rail that has pulled out of the plaster, mouldy silicone around the bath and shower, a shower screen door that drags, a vanity door hanging off one hinge, and a new mirror cabinet still in its box.

Assessment

We check what the towel rail was fixed into (often plastic plugs in plaster with nothing behind them), look at the shower screen rollers and seals, check the vanity hinges, and find the studs and any pipes in the wall where the mirror cabinet will go.

Repairs and installation

The towel rail is refixed into a stud or with heavy-duty plasterboard anchors, and the old holes are patched. The shower screen door is lifted, new rollers fitted and the door adjusted to close and latch. The vanity hinge is replaced and the doors aligned. The mirror cabinet is fixed securely to the wall at a height that suits the household.

Silicone

Old silicone around the bath and shower is cut out, residue removed, surfaces cleaned with a mould treatment and dried, and fresh mould-resistant silicone applied. We advise you not to use the shower until the silicone has cured, usually overnight.

Finishing

The bathroom is cleaned down and we run through everything with you.

Choosing accessories that last

Bathroom accessories vary a lot in quality. Cheaper fittings often have thin mounting plates and small grub screws that work loose quickly. When choosing towel rails and holders, look for solid brass or stainless steel construction, a sturdy mounting plate and concealed screws. Matte black and brushed finishes show water marks less than polished chrome. Mounting heights matter too: towel rails are usually set where everyone in the household can reach them, and toilet roll holders slightly forward of the toilet pan. If you are unsure, we can suggest heights before we drill.

Ensuites and second bathrooms

Ensuites and small second bathrooms often have less ventilation and more condensation than main bathrooms. They also tend to get less attention, so problems build up. We often include an ensuite in the same visit: renewing silicone, replacing a corroded towel ring and adjusting the shower door. Doing both bathrooms at once usually saves you a second call-out.

Powder rooms and laundries

Powder rooms and laundries benefit from the same work. In laundries, we install hanging rails, shelves, hooks and cupboards, re-silicone tubs and benches, and adjust cabinet doors.

Older bathrooms in period homes

Many older homes in Warragul, Trafalgar and Yarragon still have original bathrooms with solid render walls, older tile styles and ceramic accessories built into the tiling. Ceramic soap holders and toilet roll recesses crack over time and are hard to match. We can remove broken ceramic fittings and patch the area, then fit surface-mounted accessories that suit the style of the room. Old render walls behave differently to plasterboard when drilled, so we take extra care with fixings and use anchors suited to masonry.

Wall types and fixings

Getting the fixing right is what stops accessories pulling out. Tiles over plasterboard need fixings that grip the board or reach a stud. Tiles over fibre cement sheet hold screws better. Brick and render need masonry anchors. Hollow walls can take spring toggles or cavity anchors for light loads, but heavy items and grab rails must be fixed into studs or noggins. We check each wall before choosing the fixing, so the rail you lean on stays in the wall.

Working tidily in occupied homes

Bathrooms are small and shared, so we keep work quick and tidy: tiles and fittings are protected while drilling, dust is vacuumed as we go, and the room is left usable at the end of the day wherever possible.

Frequently asked questions