More houses than its neighbours
Compared with Parramatta itself or Harris Park, Granville has a higher share of freestanding houses: Federation and interwar cottages, post-war fibro and weatherboard, and 1950s and 1960s brick. There are walk-up units too, particularly near the station.
For house owners, that means no strata approval and more room to change the layout.
The post-war layout
A very common Granville arrangement is a small bathroom with a bath and basin, a separate toilet in its own tiny room next door, and the laundry at the back of the house.
That layout made sense in its day. Now it usually means two cramped rooms where one good one would fit.
Removing the wall between the bathroom and the toilet gives one properly usable room with space for a walk-in shower, a toilet and a decent vanity. If the house has only one toilet and a large household, a separate toilet has real value and it may be better to keep it — we will talk through both.
What older Granville houses hide
Asbestos. Post-war houses are the era for asbestos cement — in wet-area wall linings, eaves, fibro additions and floor underlays. A sample is tested before pricing. Removal is done by a licensed asbestos removalist with clearance.
Waterproofing. Older bathrooms often have no functional membrane. Water damage in the wall framing is common.
Floors. Many older houses sit on suspended timber floors. That makes moving plumbing easier, but joists under an old shower may be damaged.
Pipes. Galvanised supply pipes are common and often corroded.
Repairs that cannot be assessed until the room is open are shown as a stated allowance in the quote.
Walk-up units
The walk-ups near the station share the features of walk-ups across the area — small bathrooms, masonry walls, slab floors, no lift. See small bathroom renovations and the Harris Park page.
Two councils
Granville is split between City of Parramatta and Cumberland councils. For a renovation inside the existing bathroom it rarely matters, since that work is generally exempt development. It does matter if the house is heritage listed, if a structural wall is involved, or if the bathroom is being extended.
Laundries at the back
Many Granville houses have a laundry at the rear, often untouched for decades. Renovating it alongside the bathroom shares trades and waterproofing, and costs less than doing it separately. See laundry renovations.
What it costs
House main bathroom: roughly $24,000–$36,000 before asbestos removal. Combining with a separate toilet costs more but usually adds more value. See the 2026 cost bands.
Nearby
We also work in Harris Park, Parramatta, Westmead and North Parramatta, plus Merrylands, Clyde and South Granville.
Call 02 4601 3371 or send the room details through.
Other suburbs we cover
Questions people ask before they commit
Which council covers Granville?
Granville is split between City of Parramatta Council and Cumberland Council. For a like-for-like bathroom renovation inside an existing house it rarely matters, because that work is generally exempt development. It matters more if a heritage listing, a structural change or an extension is involved.
Should I combine my bathroom and separate toilet?
In many older Granville houses, yes. The separate toilet and small bathroom side by side are the classic post-war layout. Removing the wall between them usually gives one properly usable room. Keep a separate toilet if the household is large and it is the only one.
Is asbestos likely in a Granville house?
It is possible in any house or bathroom renovation from before about 1990 — in wet-area linings, eaves, floor underlays or fibro additions. Granville's post-war housing is exactly that era. A sample is tested before pricing and removal is done by a licensed removalist.
What does a Granville house bathroom cost?
Roughly $24,000 to $36,000 for a main bathroom taken back to frame in 2026, before any asbestos removal. Combining the bathroom and toilet adds cost for the wall and extra finishes.