Can I reuse old tiles to save on renovation costs? (Bathroom | Cost & Budget)

If you’ve been wandering around your bathroom lately staring at those old tiles thinking, “Hey, these still look alright… maybe I can save a few bucks by reusing them,” you’re definitely not alone. In Sydney, where renovation costs sometimes feel like they’re competing with house prices (and occasionally winning), homeowners constantly look for clever ways to trim their renovation budget. And reusing old tiles sounds like the perfect hack — simple, thrifty and a bit heroic, like giving your tiles a second chance in life.

But does it actually work? Can you genuinely reuse old bathroom tiles and still end up with a beautiful, durable and compliant bathroom renovation? Or is it one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but falls apart the moment the jackhammer touches the wall?

Let’s break it down in a practical, Sydney-specific way.

1. Is It Technically Possible to Reuse Old Tiles?

Yes — it is technically possible to salvage old tiles and reinstall them. But here’s where things get interesting: while the idea is possible, the execution is about as easy as trying to peel the shell off a raw egg. Most bathroom tiles, especially older ones in Sydney homes, are set using strong adhesives or thick mortar beds. Removing them without breaking usually requires surgeon-level precision… and a whole lot of luck.

In fact, professional tilers will often tell you that even with the right tools, only a small percentage of tiles come off clean and intact. And even those pieces might have adhesive stuck to the back, making them difficult to reuse without further processing.

So, yes — possible. But easy? Not even close.

2. Why Homeowners Consider Reusing Tiles in the First Place

Sydney renovation costs have climbed over the years, with labour, materials and compliance requirements all adding up. Tiles themselves vary wildly in price — from budget ceramic tiles at $25 per square metre to premium stone tiles that cost more than a weekend getaway in the Hunter Valley.

So naturally, when homeowners see a perfectly good tile that seems reusable, the dollar signs start dancing. Why buy new tiles when you already have plenty on the walls?

But here’s the catch…

3. The Hidden Costs of Salvaging Tiles

Reusing tiles isn’t “free.” It often comes with several hidden costs:

a. Labour costs

Removing tiles carefully is extremely labour-intensive. A demolition crew usually removes tiles quickly because they don’t care if they break. But when the goal is saving tiles, the demolition becomes slow, delicate and costly — sometimes more expensive than buying new tiles.

In Sydney, where professional rates reflect high skill levels and licensing requirements, slow labour = expensive labour.

b. Cleaning and prepping the tiles

Tiles reused from older bathrooms often need:

• Adhesive removal

• Surface cleaning

• Edge smoothing

• Inspection for cracks, chips and warping

This is tedious work and not something most tilers enjoy. Many won’t even take on the job because:

Old tiles = old problems.

c. Replacement tiles are usually unavailable

If your tile is even 10 years old, the chance of finding spares in the same colour, glaze or texture is close to zero. You may salvage 70–80% of the tiles intact, but unless you magically pull every single one off, you’ll end up with patchy gaps that need to be filled.

And mixing new and old tiles? That almost never looks right.

4. A Big Issue: Waterproofing Compatibility

Here’s where Sydney compliance comes into the picture.

Bathroom renovations require updated waterproofing that meets Australian Standards AS 3740. Once tiles are removed, the waterproofing membrane will be destroyed. So the tiler must:

1. Remove old tiles

2. Strip the old waterproofing

3. Prepare new substrate

4. Install new compliant membrane

5. Reinstall the tiles

By the time you get to Step 5, the cost of labour is already higher than simply installing new tiles.

So even if you reuse tiles, most of the cost savings disappear the moment waterproofing needs to be renewed — and it always does during bathroom renovations.

5. What About Reusing Tiles for Feature Areas?

Now we’re talking. Instead of reinstalling salvaged tiles in the bathroom, some homeowners repurpose them in creative ways:

• Outdoor garden paths

• Mosaic panels

• Laundry splashbacks

• Kitchen art

• Home décor pieces

These are fun, affordable, and give the old tiles a second life without requiring perfect removal.

So tile reuse is absolutely possible — but rarely in the original bathroom.

6. Environmental Benefits — The One Undeniable Win

In Sydney, we talk a lot about sustainability. Saving tiles from landfill is a positive environmental step. If your tiles are unique, vintage, or special to you, reusing them in creative projects makes total sense.

Just don’t expect budget miracles when trying to reuse them in a full bathroom reno.

7. So, Can Reusing Tiles Actually Save Money?

In a typical Sydney bathroom renovation?
Usually no.

Here’s why:

• Labour to remove tiles carefully is expensive

• Cleaning and preparing tiles eats time and money

• Matching old tiles is almost impossible

• New tiles are often cheaper than the labour required to reuse old ones

• Waterproofing resets the renovation process anyway

In most cases, you’ll spend more trying to reuse tiles than you would buying new materials.

But hey, if your tile is rare Italian stone from 1974 and was hand-polished by monks in the mountains… okay, that’s a different story. Otherwise, new tiles are the more practical and economical choice.

8. When Reusing Tiles Makes Sense

Tile reuse might be reasonable if:

• You only have a small damaged area to repair

• The tiles are extremely high-value

• The tiles are non-porous and easier to salvage

• You're restoring a heritage property

• You have a stash of spare tiles from the original installation

These are rare situations, but they do exist in Sydney’s older suburbs like Balmain, Newtown, Paddington and Annandale where some homes still carry heritage charm.

9. When You Should Absolutely NOT Reuse Tiles

Avoid reuse if:

• Your tiles are cracked or loose

• Your bathroom has moisture damage

• You’re upgrading waterproofing

• You want a modern look

• Your tiles are cheap and mass-produced

• Your renovation includes structural works

This is most renovation situations across Sydney.

10. A Practical Alternative: Mix-and-Match Renovation Design

Rather than fighting to save old tiles, many Sydney homeowners choose to:

• Update only specific sections

• Use feature tiles sparingly

• Refresh the shower or niche

• Retile the floor but keep the wall tiles

• Repaint to modernise the look

This creates the visual freshness of a renovation without the full demolition cost.

Final Thoughts

Reusing tiles can sound like an exciting money-saving trick. And yes, it taps into that thrifty inner voice we all have — the one that says, “Why throw something away if it still works?” But in reality, tile reuse in bathroom renovations is usually more expensive, more stressful and less visually pleasing than choosing new tiles.

For most Sydney homeowners, new tiles offer better value, better durability and a much easier renovation process — especially when paired with licensed waterproofers, tilers and renovation specialists who know the local standards inside out.

If you’re renovating a bathroom in Sydney and want clear, practical advice on how to balance cost, compliance and design, visit www.mb9.com.au to find out more information about kitchen, bathroom and house renovation services from MB9 Australia Pty Ltd.