Old and new side by side
St Marys grew substantially after the Second World War, when workers' housing went up near the wartime industrial sites and the railway. Much of that early housing was modest fibro or weatherboard. Later decades brought brick and brick veneer homes, then units, villas and townhouses closer to the station and the shopping centre.
Next door, Claremont Meadows is largely a newer area of brick veneer family homes.
That spread means the bathroom brief in St Marys can range from a straightforward modern refit to a job that starts with asbestos removal and new floor joists.
Post-war fibro cottages
A bathroom in a St Marys fibro or weatherboard cottage is often:
- On a timber floor over a low subfloor
- Lined with fibro sheeting, which in homes of that era frequently contains asbestos
- Tiled over the sheeting with no membrane
- Plumbed with galvanised pipes and an old waste
- Poorly ventilated, with a small window
These jobs start with asbestos testing. If asbestos is present, a licensed asbestos removalist removes it before general demolition. Then the frame and floor are checked. Rotten or undersized joists under the old shower are common, and they are repaired before new sheeting goes on.
The quote shows asbestos removal and any floor repair as separate lines, so it is clear what the room needs and why.
1960s–1980s brick homes
The more common St Marys bathroom sits in a brick or brick veneer home on a slab. Separate toilet, built-in bath, shower recess with a hob, dated tiles. Pre-1990 homes are still tested for asbestos before demolition, as wet-area sheeting behind tiles can contain it.
The value approach is to keep plumbing positions, remove the hob, tile to the ceiling, fit a wall-hung vanity and a ducted fan, and waterproof properly. See main bathroom renovations.
Units, villas and townhouses
St Marys has many units, villas and townhouses, a lot of them rented. Bathrooms are compact and often due for renovation between tenancies.
For strata properties, owners corporation approval is needed before work touching waterproofing or plumbing. Landlords usually want a tight program and durable finishes: porcelain tiles, a solid vanity top, quality tapware and a good exhaust fan. See small bathrooms.
Investor-friendly scope
For rental properties, a sensible scope is:
- Full waterproofing — leaks in a rental are expensive and disruptive
- Porcelain floor and wall tiles in a neutral colour
- A shower with a fixed glass panel, no sliding track to break
- A vanity with a ceramic top and drawers
- Chrome tapware with quality cartridges
- A ducted exhaust fan with a timer, which reduces mould complaints
Heat and ventilation
St Marys summers are hot and humid storms are common. A bathroom without proper ventilation grows mould quickly, particularly in older homes with little ceiling insulation. A ducted exhaust fan venting outside is the most important addition in almost every St Marys bathroom.
Cost and program
As a 2026 guide:
- Brick or brick veneer home bathroom: $20,000 – $30,000
- Unit, villa or townhouse bathroom: $16,000 – $24,000
- Fibro cottage bathroom with asbestos removal and floor repair: $26,000 – $40,000
Three to four weeks for a standard bathroom; allow longer where asbestos removal or structural repairs are needed. See the cost page.
Nearby
Kingswood, Penrith, Jamisontown and South Penrith, Glenmore Park and Emu Plains, plus Claremont Meadows and Werrington.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder; licence and insurance details are provided on request. Call 02 4703 9332 or send the room details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
What housing is typical in St Marys?
A mix of post-war fibro and weatherboard cottages, brick and brick veneer homes from the 1960s to the 1980s, and many units, villas and townhouses. Claremont Meadows, next door, is largely newer brick veneer housing.
Is asbestos common in St Marys homes?
In post-war fibro cottages and pre-1990 homes, asbestos-containing materials are common in wall and ceiling sheeting, eaves, wet-area linings and old floor coverings. Testing before demolition is essential, and removal is carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist.
Can a bathroom in a fibro cottage be renovated?
Yes. The bathroom is tested for asbestos, the old linings are removed safely, the timber frame and floor are checked and repaired, and the room is rebuilt with modern wet-area sheeting and a membrane.
What does a St Marys bathroom renovation cost?
As a 2026 guide, $20,000 to $30,000 for a brick veneer home bathroom, $16,000 to $24,000 for a unit or townhouse, and $26,000 to $40,000 for a fibro cottage bathroom that needs asbestos removal and floor repairs.