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The Block 2025 Week 1 Bathroom Reveals: What Reality TV Teaches Us About Real-World Compliance
Andrew Galea Andrew Galea

The Block 2025 Week 1 Bathroom Reveals: What Reality TV Teaches Us About Real-World Compliance

This week's Block 2025 bathroom reveals delivered high drama, construction chaos, and some hard-learned lessons about Australian building standards. While Robby & Mat claimed victory with their "Goldilocks bathroom," the week exposed critical compliance issues that every homeowner should understand before starting their own renovation.

The statistics are sobering: up to 70% of buildings constructed since 2000 experience leaks, with 24% having waterproofing defects. The Block's struggles mirror real-world construction challenges where time pressure and material choices create costly problems. Multiple teams were forced to rip down entire sections of tiles due to incorrect adhesive choices, while nearly every team was criticized for vanity heights that were too high - a problem that could have been easily avoided by following established best practices.

Under AS 3740-2021, proper surface preparation and compatible materials are mandatory, not suggestions. When teams rushed installation or used incorrect products, they paid the price with expensive do-overs that could have been avoided with proper compliance from the start. The lesson for homeowners is clear: The Block's drama makes good television, but proper compliance makes better bathrooms that function beautifully for decades without costly repairs.

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