Can You Install a Frameless Shower Screen Yourself in NSW?

Short answer: for most homeowners putting a screen into their own bathroom, yes. But there are a few rules worth knowing, and one of them (waterproofing) matters more than the glass.

The NSW licence rule, in plain English

In NSW, you need a contractor licence to "carry out, advertise or contract for" building or trade work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. That threshold has been $5,000 since January 2015, when it went up from $1,000.

Glazing, which NSW defines to include installing glass in "screens", is classed as trade work. It's not one of the specialist trades (electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, air-conditioning and medical gas) that need a licence at any value.

The licensing rules are aimed at people doing work for others: contractors, tradies, anyone you pay. A homeowner fitting a supply-only screen in their own home, well under $5,000, sits outside what those rules are designed to catch. NSW doesn't publish a line that says so in those exact words, which is why we say check with Fair Trading if you're unsure. But it's the reason supply-only shower screens are sold openly across NSW.

What about an owner-builder permit?

You don't need one for a screen swap. In NSW an owner-builder permit applies to work over $10,000 on your own home, and only where that work needs development consent or is complying development. Replacing or adding a shower screen is nowhere near that.

Waterproofing is the part that matters

The glass is the easy bit. The bit that can cost you money is the waterproofing underneath it.

Your shower floor, hob and the bottom of your walls should already have a waterproof membrane under the tiles. The National Construction Code requires shower walls to be waterproof to at least 1800mm above the floor, and the membrane on a hob to come up over the top of it.

Installing a shower screen shouldn't touch that membrane if you're careful about where you drill. But if your shower is leaking already, or you're pulling up tiles, that's waterproofing work. In NSW, waterproofing is also licensed trade work above $5,000. Fix the waterproofing first, then fit the glass. Our guide to drilling tiles for shower screen brackets covers how to fix brackets without putting holes where they shouldn't be.

Does DIY void the warranty?

This is one of the most common worries we see. One forum poster said: "We thought about doing it ourselves but then I guess they won't warranty it."

Two things protect you here:

1. Australian Consumer Law applies to the product no matter who installs it. Goods must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose and match their description. If a product has a major fault, you choose a refund or replacement. Those rights are automatic and can't be taken away.
2. Our hardware carries a 12-month warranty on top of those rights.

What neither covers is damage caused during the install: a chipped edge from setting a panel down on tiles, or a crack from overtightening a bracket.

When DIY makes sense, and when it doesn't

DIY is a good fit when:

• Your walls are reasonably plumb. Check with a spirit level; more than about 5mm out over the panel height is a problem. See what to do if your walls aren't square.
• Your shower is already waterproofed and not leaking.
• You're comfortable drilling tiles and you have a helper for lifting. A 900mm panel of 10mm glass weighs about 45kg. See how heavy 10mm shower glass is.

Get a professional in when:

• The shower leaks now, or you're retiling.
• Your walls lean badly, or the floor is far out of level.
• You'd simply rather not handle heavy glass.

There's a middle option plenty of people use too: buy the screen supply-only and pay a handyman or installer by the hour to fit it. You still save the measure-and-quote markup.

Still not sure? Send a photo through the Five-Minute Fit Check and we'll tell you straight whether your bathroom suits DIY.