By Chris Roulstone, Director, Roulstone Renovations (QBCC Licence No. 1314759). Last updated 20 August 2026.
If you are planning a home renovation in the Redlands, the first question is usually the hardest one to answer: what is it actually going to cost?
As a realistic 2026 guide, a full renovation of a typical three- to four-bedroom Redlands home may fall between $250,000 and $450,000+. A kitchen may cost $30,000 to $55,000, while a standard bathroom renovation may sit between $22,000 and $40,000. Your final figure will depend on the condition of the house, structural work, approvals, selections, and how much of the home you are changing.
Roulstone Renovations has more than 20 years of building experience across Redland City. We know the post-war timber homes, Queenslanders, lowset brick-and-tile houses and bayside properties found throughout Cleveland, Capalaba, Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Ormiston and Redland Bay. This guide explains the numbers honestly so you can work out what is realistic before you commit.
Planning a renovation? Tell us about your home, your priorities and the budget you have in mind. We will meet you on-site, explain what is achievable and outline the right next steps. Book Your Free On-Site Consultation.
Explore our full home renovations in the Redlands, kitchen renovations and bathroom renovations to see which service best matches your project.
No two renovations have the same scope, so price ranges are more useful than a single average. The figures below are indicative 2026 budgeting ranges for Brisbane and South-East Queensland and are not fixed quotes.
Indicative 2026 range: $30,000-$55,000+
What it may include: Cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, plumbing, electrical work and finishes. Custom joinery or layout changes increase the price.
Indicative 2026 range: $22,000-$40,000+
What it may include: Demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fixtures, plumbing and electrical work. Premium finishes or moving services cost more.
Indicative 2026 range: $250,000-$450,000+
What it may include: Multiple rooms, new kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, painting, services upgrades and possible structural reconfiguration.
These are budgeting estimates, not fixed quotes. Ask whether GST, design, engineering, certification, planning applications, temporary accommodation, specialist reports, landscaping and hidden repairs are included in any proposal you receive.
A focused renovation updates selected parts of the home without substantially changing its structure. That might mean repainting, replacing flooring, refreshing fixtures, upgrading lighting or renovating one key room. It can make a tired house feel cleaner and more current, but it will not solve an awkward floor plan, ageing services or a lack of space.
At this level, the work may include a new kitchen, one or more bathrooms, flooring, internal painting, custom joinery and changes to selected walls. The project becomes more complex when plumbing is relocated, load-bearing walls are removed or electrical and plumbing systems need significant upgrading.
A full renovation rethinks how the entire house works. It may include reconfiguring the floor plan, opening living spaces, rebuilding wet areas, replacing services, installing new windows and doors, renovating inside and out, or combining the existing home with an extension. For a typical Redlands home, this is where the $250,000 to $450,000+ guide becomes relevant.
The important comparison is not simply price per square metre. It is what the scope includes. One quote may include engineering, demolition, site protection, cabinetry and complete finishes, while another may leave major items as allowances or exclusions.
Cost per square metre can be useful for early comparisons, but it is not a substitute for a properly scoped quote. Renovating an empty bedroom is very different from rebuilding the same area as a kitchen or bathroom, so a single rate can be misleading when it is separated from the scope.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is comparing two bottom-line prices without comparing what each builder has actually included. A cheaper figure can quickly stop being cheaper when engineering, demolition, cabinetry or final finishes have been left out.
Redland City has a broad mix of housing. Post-war timber homes and Queenslanders can involve out-of-square framing, sub-floor access, old services, asbestos-containing materials or timber repairs. Lowset brick-and-tile homes may look straightforward but can become complex when you start removing walls or changing openings in masonry construction.
Moving a non-load-bearing wall is not the same job as removing a structural wall and installing a beam. Home extensions and second-storey additions add foundations, framing, roofing, weatherproofing and engineering. The more the existing structure changes, the more design, approval and construction work the project requires.
Properties closer to the bay may require more attention to corrosion-resistant materials, drainage, exposure and relevant planning overlays. Sloping blocks, tight side access and limited space for deliveries or waste removal can also add labour and time.
Tiles, tapware, appliances, cabinetry, stone, windows and doors can be specified at very different price points. Making selections early gives the builder more certainty and reduces the risk of allowances that do not reflect what you actually want.
Living in the property may be possible for some staged projects, but it can slow work and require additional protection, temporary services and sequencing. For extensive renovations involving the kitchen, bathrooms and services, moving out is often safer and more practical.
It depends on the work. Painting, replacing flooring and other genuinely cosmetic changes will not usually require building approval. Structural work, extensions and many substantial alterations generally require building approval through a licensed private building certifier. Plumbing and drainage work may require separate compliance or approval, while planning approval through Redland City Council may also be needed if the proposal needs to be assessed under the Redland City Plan.
A private certifier can advise whether the work needs building approval, planning approval, a referral or plumbing and drainage approval. The certifier assesses the building work, arranges required inspections and lodges the relevant documents with Council.
The sensible path is:
Roulstone Renovations manages the design, engineering, approval and construction process as one coordinated project, so you are not left chasing separate consultants and trades. See how our renovation process works from the first conversation through to handover.
Official guidance: Redland City Council - Private Building Certifier
A note on DIY and licensing In Queensland, individuals and companies generally need the appropriate QBCC licence to contract for building work valued above $3,300, with different rules for certain specialist work. If you intend to undertake or supervise building work on your own property valued above $11,000 including GST, you generally need an owner-builder permit. Always check the current QBCC requirements for your exact scope.
Official guidance: QBCC - When you need a licence | QBCC - Owner-builder permits
Before we talk about tiles or tapware, we start with what is not working in the home. It might be a closed-in kitchen, bedrooms in the wrong place, ageing services or living areas that do not connect to the backyard. Those problems define the project. Decorative selections come later.
Older homes can hide problems that cannot be confirmed until demolition. A contingency gives you room to deal with genuine problems behind walls or floors without compromising the rest of the build. It should sit outside the contracted scope and only be used when needed.
When we assess an older Redlands home, we allow for the possibility of outdated wiring, asbestos-containing materials, and timber repairs. That does not mean every home will have these problems, but ignoring the risk is not honest budgeting.
A prime cost, or PC, item is an allowance for an item not finally selected when the contract is prepared, such as tapware or appliances. A provisional sum is an allowance for work whose exact cost cannot yet be determined. If the actual cost is higher than the allowance, the contract price changes. Ask what each allowance covers and whether it reflects the standard you expect.
A lower quote is not better value if it excludes demolition, approvals, engineering, painting, cabinetry or final connections. Read every inclusion, exclusion and allowance. A clear scope is one of the strongest protections against avoidable variations.
A fixed-price contract is most reliable once the design, engineering and selections are clear enough to price properly. Roulstone Renovations provides clear fixed pricing before construction begins and manages the trades, approvals and handover under one team.
The suburb name alone does not determine cost. The existing house, site and scope matter more. However, local conditions still shape the work.
Asbestos, lead paint, sub-floor services, termite damage, uneven framing and preserving character details.
Masonry openings, roof integration, slab penetrations, dated services and opening enclosed layouts.
Exposure, corrosion resistance, drainage, access and property-specific overlays or planning constraints.
Staging, multiple wet areas, extensive services, custom joinery and the cost of temporary accommodation.
Roulstone Renovations works throughout Cleveland, Capalaba, Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Ormiston, Redland Bay and surrounding Redlands Coast suburbs.
Renovation often makes sense when the existing structure is sound, the layout can be improved and you want to preserve the home, block or character. Rebuilding may be worth considering when the structure has major defects, the orientation and layout cannot be corrected economically, or the desired result requires changing almost everything.
Do not compare a renovation quote with the advertised base price of a new home. A meaningful rebuild comparison also needs to consider demolition, design, approvals, site works, service connections, external works, selections, rent and finance during construction. The right answer depends on the property and the result you want.
A full renovation of a typical three- to four-bedroom Redlands home generally ranges from $250,000 to $450,000+. The scope, condition of the home, structural changes, and finish level can move the final price significantly.
A mid-range kitchen renovation generally costs between $30,000 and $55,000, with premium custom kitchens running higher. Cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, and layout changes are major cost drivers.
A standard bathroom renovation typically ranges from $22,000 to $40,000. Moving plumbing, premium fixtures, complex tiling, and structural repairs can increase the cost.
Extension costs vary too widely for one square-metre rate to be reliable. Size, foundations, roof integration, wet areas, design, engineering, approvals, access and the condition of the existing home all need to be assessed before the work can be priced properly.
Cosmetic work usually does not require building approval, but structural changes, extensions and many major alterations do. A private building certifier can confirm whether building, planning, referral, plumbing or drainage approvals apply to your proposal.
Construction on a full home renovation may take around four to eight months, depending on scale and complexity. Design, engineering, and approvals can add another two to four months before building starts.
Allowing 10-15% outside the contracted scope is prudent, particularly for an older home. This provides a buffer for genuine hidden conditions or considered upgrades without relying on an unrealistic starting budget.
It may be possible during a smaller or carefully staged project. For full renovations affecting kitchens, bathrooms, power, water or most living areas, temporary accommodation is often the safer and more efficient option.
An online guide can help you establish a sensible starting budget. It cannot account for the structure behind your walls, the constraints on your block or the standard of finish you want.
Chris and the Roulstone team handle the process from the first on-site conversation through design, approvals, construction and handover, with a clear fixed-price contract before work begins.
Tell us what you want to change, where the home is located and the budget you are working with. We will give you honest advice about what is achievable and the best way to move forward.
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