Melbourne Renovation Horror Stories (And How to Avoid Them)
Everyone loves a before-and-after.
No one talks about the disaster in between.
We’ve seen it all — blown budgets, broken contracts, sloppy finishes, vanished tradies. And while these stories are painful for the homeowners who lived them, they’re gold for you.
Because if you’re planning a renovation in Melbourne, the best thing you can do is learn from what not to do.
1. The Builder Who Stopped Showing Up
Suburb: Reservoir
Project: Bathroom + Laundry combo
What went wrong:
The builder was great — for the first 2 weeks. Then came the excuses: sick tiler, broken ute, delayed delivery. Days turned into weeks. The job sat half-done for 2 months.
The bathroom was unusable. The laundry was a construction site. The client was left chasing texts and watching the budget spiral.
What could’ve fixed it:
A proper build schedule
Fixed contract milestones
A builder who manages their own trades (not just subs them out and hopes for the best)
2. The Kitchen That Didn’t Fit the Kitchen
Suburb: Taylors Hill
Project: Full kitchen renovation
What went wrong:
Cabinets were pre-ordered before final measurements were confirmed. Benchtop didn’t align with plumbing. Dishwasher drawer couldn’t open because it hit the oven handle. Nothing was checked, just installed.
They had to rip half of it out and start again. Lost 6 weeks. Lost $9,000.
The fix:
Never order before the space is fully prepped
Always do a site measure post-demo
Work with someone who plans AND builds — not just a supplier
3. The "Too Cheap to Be True" Quote
Suburb: Tarneit
Project: Bathroom upgrade
What went wrong:
The quote came in $7k lower than every other builder. Sounded like a bargain. Until demolition day, when they found old asbestos lining the walls.
That wasn’t included.
Neither was waterproofing.
Neither were tiles above 2m.
By the end, the job cost more than the most expensive quote — and the client still isn’t happy with the finish.
What you should know:
Cheap quotes are rarely final quotes
If something’s not listed — it’s probably not included
Ask what's excluded, not just what's included
4. The “We Don’t Need a Permit” Job That Got Shut Down
Suburb: Croydon
Project: Wall removal + open-plan kitchen
What went wrong:
The builder said permits weren’t needed to knock out the wall. They were wrong.
A neighbour reported the work. Council got involved. The project was shut down. The builder disappeared. The homeowner had to hire an engineer, re-submit documents, and spend thousands fixing work that should’ve been legal from day one.
How to avoid this:
Always check if structural work needs council approval
Make sure your builder knows local codes, not just construction
Never assume permits are optional
5. The Finish That Looked Good… for 6 Months
Suburb: Mulgrave
Project: Ensuite renovation
What went wrong:
Everything looked perfect at first. But within 6 months, grout was cracking, water was leaking near the vanity, and the mirror started fogging behind the glass.
Turns out the waterproofing wasn’t done to standard. It was cosmetic — not compliant.
Now the entire ensuite needs to be ripped out and redone.
Lesson learned:
Ask what’s happening behind the tiles, not just on the surface
Waterproofing and prep work matter more than what you see
A cheap bathroom that fails is never actually cheap
How Bluestone Build Co. Does It Differently
We’ve been called in to fix all of the above. But we’d rather help you avoid them in the first place.
Here’s what you get with Bluestone:
Fixed timelines
Clear, all-inclusive quotes
Fully managed trades
Council-compliant work
Waterproofing done by licensed professionals
Design + build handled under one roof
You’ll know what’s happening. You’ll know what it costs. You’ll know who’s on-site. And you’ll never be left chasing answers.
Don’t Be a Horror Story.
Let’s build it right from day one.
