Why We Use Mico Plumbing on Auckland Renovations
Why We Use Mico Plumbing on Auckland Renovation Projects
Quick answer: We source most of our tapware, vanities, showers and toilet suites through Mico Plumbing because their stock depth and trade support keep Auckland bathroom renovations on schedule and on budget — and because the fittings hold up in our climate.
Good tapware is the kind of thing you notice straight away when it’s wrong and barely notice when it’s right. Same with vanities, showers and toilet suites. They need to work, look the part, and still be doing both a decade later. So we’re consistent about where we source plumbing fixtures and fittings for our bathroom renovations: Mico Plumbing. This post covers what they carry, how our team works with them, and which products we keep coming back to on Auckland jobs.
The Short Version: Why We Recommend Mico
The practical answer comes down to three things — stock, trade service, and range. When a specific fixture is needed on a build, we can’t have the whole job waiting on a backorder. Mico’s branch network and online trade portal mean the fitting is usually where we need it, when we need it. For you, that shows up as fewer delays and more design options, not a shortlist driven by whatever happened to be in the warehouse.
There’s a fair question underneath all this: does it actually matter to a homeowner where the builder buys the taps? It does, and here’s the honest reason. A renovation runs on dozens of small deliveries landing in the right order. One backordered vanity can stall a tiler, who stalls the painter, who stalls your move-back-in date. A supplier with real stock depth is quietly one of the biggest things protecting your timeline — you just never see it working.
💡 Quick tip: Visit a Mico showroom early — before you’ve locked anything in. Bring your design ideas or a mood board and the staff can help you put a set together that works as a whole, which beats choosing fittings one at a time online.
“The fixtures are the part of a bathroom people touch every day, so I’d rather spec from a supplier who’ll actually have the matching piece in three weeks when we need it. A beautiful tap you can’t get hold of is no use to anyone on a live site.”
— Cici Zou, Designer (NZ Dip. Interior Design, Certified Designer), Superior Renovations
About Mico: Seventy-Odd Years of Bathrooms and Plumbing
Mico started in 1946 and has grown into New Zealand’s largest plumbing, bathroom and laundry specialist. By their own account they’re now running close to 80 years in the trade and 68 branches nationwide, including the Auckland flagship at 64 Cook Street (Mico — About). They’re part of the New Zealand Distribution group within Fletcher Building, which sits them alongside PlaceMakers and gives the operation serious supply-chain backing (Fletcher Building — Distribution).
What They Actually Focus On
Mico’s own line is that they’re not a jack of all trades — they concentrate on bathrooms, heating and laundry rather than trying to be a general hardware barn. That focus is part of why we like them for reno work. Their service promise includes keeping more than 500 core products in stock at any time, which is the sort of detail that doesn’t make a catalogue but does keep a build moving.
Why the Trade Relationship Matters to You
What matters most to us as a renovation company is the trade account structure — dedicated support, competitive pricing, and consistent stock allocation. Those aren’t glamorous. They’re what let us hold to the budgets we quote and the timelines we commit to. Their water-saving and WELS-rated ranges also line up with what more Auckland homeowners are asking for, whether that’s to trim the water bill or just because it’s the sensible choice.
How to Choose the Right Fittings for Your Bathroom Renovation
The range is broad, which is useful once you know what you’re after and slightly overwhelming when you don’t. A few things that cut the job down.
Settle Your Style Direction First
Modern and minimal, or warmer and more classic? Getting clear on this before you walk into the showroom narrows the field fast. In a Grey Lynn villa we’ll often lean warmer — brushed finishes, softer forms — where a new-build ensuite in Hobsonville can carry a harder, more contemporary edge. The house usually tells you.
Think About How the Room Gets Used
In bathrooms, water efficiency and surfaces you can actually wipe clean matter more than they sound. A family bathroom in Henderson getting used by four people at 7am has different priorities to a guest ensuite that sees a few weekends a year. Match the spec to the traffic.
Ask the Staff, and Check Compatibility Early
Mico’s showroom staff know the products properly — it’s worth using them. And confirm plumbing compatibility before you commit to anything: a fixture that looks right but doesn’t suit your existing layout is exactly the kind of thing that creates a mid-project delay nobody enjoys. Their trade team can advise on this, and it’s a five-minute conversation that saves a fortnight.
💡 Quick tip: Matte black tapware has held strong across Auckland bathrooms for a few years now — but check the finish warranty for your water type. It’s a look that dates slower than people expect when it’s specified well.
If you’re weighing up the full scope of your project, our team behind Auckland bathroom renovations can walk you through where fittings sit in the wider budget. And if you want a rough number before you talk to anyone, the bathroom renovation cost calculator gets you a ballpark in a couple of minutes.
The Fittings and Brands We Keep Coming Back To
Mico carries Methven, Englefield and American Standard alongside their own lines, which covers everything from entry-level to premium. A few we specify regularly, and why.
Methven Kiri Satinjet Shower
A wall-mounted shower using Satinjet technology — high-pressure feel, lower water use. It’s water efficiency without the miserable trickle, and the design suits most contemporary Auckland bathrooms without demanding a particular aesthetic. Pairs well with matte black or brushed nickel if you want to push the look further. (Methven Kiri Satinjet, Mico)
Englefield Valencia Wall-Hung Vanity
Wall-mounted, soft-close drawers, ceramic basin. The wall-hung format buys back visual floor space, which earns its keep in Auckland apartments and tight ensuites where the room hasn’t got space to feel crowded. The Valencia comes in floor-standing and slim-top options too, so it flexes to a smaller footprint if the room’s tight. (Englefield range, Mico)
American Standard Acacia Evolution Toilet Suite
A dual-flush suite with a clean, modern profile. Not a statement piece, and not trying to be — it’s the sort of reliable, efficient spec that holds up through years of family use. Confirm plumbing compatibility with your installer before ordering. (Acacia Evolution, American Standard NZ)
How This Plays Out on a Real Job
Take a 1970s Auckland bathroom being brought up to date. We’ll typically run a water-efficient Methven shower system with a clean chrome finish — contemporary without being aggressively so — paired with a wall-hung vanity to keep the floor reading open. The pipework and fittings behind the wall are sourced the same way, which matters more than it sounds: consistent specification front to back is what holds up in Auckland’s humidity. The fittings you see are maybe a third of the plumbing story; the rest is behind the GIB, and that’s the part that determines whether the bathroom is still watertight in ten years.
“People fixate on the tap and the tile, and fair enough, that’s what you look at. But the fittings that decide whether your bathroom’s still sound in ten years are the ones you’ll never see. Specify those properly and the visible stuff takes care of itself.”
— Dorothy Li, Design Manager, Superior Renovations
For a sense of how fittings and finishes come together across a whole room, our contemporary bathroom project in Wattle Downs — a moody grey scheme with a custom tiled shower and freestanding bath — shows the level of spec detail we work to.
Popular Mico Categories for Renovations
| Category | Key Products | Why It Works for Renovations |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom fixtures | Vanities, basins, toilets, showers, baths | Wide range from budget to premium, with durable, low-maintenance options. |
| Kitchen tapware | Pull-out taps, gooseneck mixers, filters | Modern designs with real everyday function; water-saving models trim the bill. |
| Laundry solutions | Tubs, tapware, drainage | Compact, practical options that suit smaller Auckland homes. |
| Pipes & fittings | Copper, PVC, drainage | The work behind the wall — the part that decides long-term performance. |
Important note: A pull-out spray kitchen tap sounds like a minor upgrade until you’ve lived with one — then it’s the thing you’d miss most if it went. Worth the small premium on a kitchen reno.
How Superior Renovations Works With Mico
Our relationship with Mico is built on something plain: they reliably have what we need, when we need it, at pricing that makes sense for the projects we run. Trade accounts give us competitive pricing and priority stock allocation, which is what lets us hold budgets and timelines. For you, that reliability shows up as fewer hold-ups and a genuine range to choose from.
We’ll be upfront — no single supplier does everything, and we’ll spec elsewhere when a project calls for it. But for the bulk of bathroom fittings on an Auckland reno, Mico’s the one that keeps the job moving. That’s the whole reason they’re a partner rather than just a shop we sometimes use.
Worth Knowing
Mico’s presence on ArchiPro, New Zealand’s leading architecture and design platform, is a fair signal of how they’re regarded by designers working at the higher end of the market — their bathroom and plumbing range gets specified regularly on high-end work.
➡ Book your free in-home consultation with Superior Renovations
➡ Get a ballpark with our bathroom renovation cost calculator
➡ Request a free feasibility report for your project
Where does Superior Renovations buy bathroom fittings for Auckland renovations?
We source most of our tapware, vanities, showers and toilet suites through Mico Plumbing, one of our trade suppliers. Their branch network, online trade portal and deep core-product stock mean fittings arrive on schedule, which keeps the wider build moving. We spec other suppliers where a project calls for it, but Mico handles the bulk of standard bathroom fixtures on our Auckland jobs.
How long has Mico been in business?
Mico started in 1946 and, by their own current account, is approaching 80 years in the trade with 68 branches nationwide. They are New Zealand's largest plumbing, bathroom and laundry specialist and part of the New Zealand Distribution group within Fletcher Building, which sits them alongside PlaceMakers. Their Auckland flagship is at 64 Cook Street, Auckland Central.
What brands does Mico stock?
Mico carries Methven, Englefield and American Standard alongside their own product lines, covering entry-level through to premium specification. The range spans vanities, basins, baths, toilets, showers, kitchen tapware, laundry fittings, and the pipes and fittings that run behind the walls. That breadth is part of why it suits the variety of renovation projects we handle across Auckland.
Does Mico have a showroom in Auckland?
Yes. Mico's Auckland flagship showroom is at 64 Cook Street, Auckland Central. It's a properly styled space rather than a warehouse display, so you can see how fittings look and work together before committing. We'd recommend visiting early in your project with a mood board or your design ideas — the staff can help you assemble a set that works as a whole.
Are Mico's products water-efficient?
Many are. Mico stocks water-saving tapware and WELS-rated fixtures across the range, and their Methven Satinjet showers deliver a high-pressure feel on lower water use. If trimming your water bill or reducing consumption matters to you, ask the showroom staff to point you to the WELS-rated options — they'll steer you to eco-friendly picks that don't compromise on the look or the experience.
Can I buy from Mico directly, or only through a builder?
Both. Homeowners can browse, check stock and order through the Mico website or in-store, and the Cook Street showroom is open to the public. Trade accounts add competitive pricing, priority stock allocation and technical support, which is what our team accesses on your behalf. Many clients browse independently to settle their style direction, then let us handle the ordering and coordination.
How much does bathroom tapware and fittings cost in a renovation?
Fittings are one line in a larger budget. As a guide, a mid-range Auckland bathroom renovation runs about $26,000 to $35,000, and a full overhaul $40,000 to $60,000, with fixtures and fittings a meaningful but not dominant share. Premium tapware, freestanding baths and designer vanities push the fittings figure up. Our bathroom renovation cost calculator gives you a ballpark before you commit to anything.
Should I choose fittings before or after the design is finalised?
Settle your style direction early, but confirm specific fittings alongside the design rather than in isolation. A fixture that looks right on its own can clash with your layout or existing plumbing, which creates mid-project delays and extra cost. We'd suggest a showroom visit early to narrow the field, then lock the final spec with your designer and installer so plumbing compatibility is confirmed before anything is ordered.
Why does it matter where my renovation company sources fittings?
Because a renovation runs on dozens of deliveries landing in the right order. One backordered vanity can stall the tiler, then the painter, then your move-back-in date. A supplier with real stock depth quietly protects your timeline in a way you never see. It also means your choices aren't limited to whatever's in the warehouse that week — you get the design you actually wanted.
Further Resources for your bathroom renovation
- Featured projects and Client stories to see specifications on some of the projects.
- Real client stories from Auckland
Need more information?
Take advantage of our FREE Complete Home Renovation Guide (48 pages), whether you’re already renovating or in the process of deciding to renovate, it’s not an easy process, this guide which includes a free 100+ point check list – will help you avoid costly mistakes.
Download Free Renovation Guide (PDF)
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