Minimum size for a downstairs toilet

kate83

I would really like a downstairs toilet but the only place I could have it is in my hallway, to the side of the front door. The trouble is the space available is only about 74cm wide by about 150cm long (door would open out onto hallway).
Is this too small?

moonrakerz

Get a stool, put it in there and pretend !

It sounds a bit on the narrow side. I put a loo in a hallway, but mine was 3 feet wide.

You will need to measure the units you intend to put in there and make sure they will all fit. Loo, wash basin and if you are using a Saniflo you may need a bit of extra room for that as well.
Can you get all the plumbing into the hallway ? Can you get the waste out ?

Is there a window ? If not, you will need to install an extractor fan.
Do you have electricity to hand for light, fan (& Saniflo). ?

A lot to consider - but well worth it if you can manage it !

Glamazon

Ours is in what must have been the cupboard under the stairs - it's the toilet with just enough room either side and the sink and cupboard are built into an alcove that already exists in the wall.

Atelier

The problem with a long and thin cloakroom is that the space you use when sat on the toilet clashes with the basin and you need to push the toilet to one side

A good way to minimise this is to go for a corner toilet which in your case would provide a distance of 1m coming diagonally from the corner. Enough for one of the compact corner toilets + leg room infront of it.

HTH

kate83 wrote: »

I would really like a downstairs toilet but the only place I could have it is in my hallway, to the side of the front door. The trouble is the space available is only about 74cm wide by about 150cm long (door would open out onto hallway).
Is this too small?

kate83

Sounds like it might be possible then - do you need to get the council out to inspect the work?

stilernin

kate83 wrote: »

I would really like a downstairs toilet but the only place I could have it is in my hallway, to the side of the front door. The trouble is the space available is only about 74cm wide by about 150cm long (door would open out onto hallway).
Is this too small?

Kate, I came across this post and thought it was one I'd started and forgotten about!! But no, you have beaten me to it. This is exactly what I have been thinking about for my house.........

The cupboard next to my front door is 95cm x 95cm so a bit squarer than the space you have. I have been in showrooms with my tape measure and am thinking about a corner toilet. A tiny basin should fit into the other corner, hopefully.

One design of toilet I found on the internet, which you might think about, is a toilet which has a small basin on top of the cistern. The waste water runs into the cistern to be reused. Australian I think, they are looking at many ways of reusing water. It looked a bit odd, but if it is your only option it could be worth a look.

My stumbling block is that the gas and electric meters, alarm system and initial phone wires are all in this cupboard. Can any one give me a ball park figure for moving these? The meters would just go to the other side of the front wall. Not sure about where to relocate the alarm system yet - I suppose I could leave it in there.

Kiran

Unfortunately moving a gas meter is stupidly exspensive, there are a number of posts on here which have discussed the monopoly that the gas transporters have. The quote for moving the meter is however free, so it may be worth the enquiry.

Is there any possibility of boxing them in or do they eat up too much space in the cupboard? I have recently started work on my downstairs bathroom and had to redesign some of the area due to the location of a gas meter. The only way they come out and do it for free is if it is damaged or you are changing the type of meter you have.

stilernin

Kiran wrote: »

Unfortunately moving a gas meter is stupidly exspensive,

Is there any possibility of boxing them in or do they eat up too much space in the cupboard?

No chance of not moving it I'm afraid, so I'll just have to get a quote

Are we talking mega bucks?


Eeek! I've just done a search and seen horrendous quotes! Will have to think long and hard about this.

shykins

we boxed out meters in by using tongue and groove cladding and made it so we could remove the panel for the meters to be read still

our space only measures 130x100 cms but we couldnt use part of the end due to the meters so is even smaller really , the smallest toilet we found was B&Q which just fits in and we have a tiny corner sink but it does the job

HTH

gwapenut

shykins wrote: »

we boxed out meters in by using tongue and groove cladding and made it so we could remove the panel for the meters to be read still

our space only measures 130x100 cms but we couldnt use part of the end due to the meters so is even smaller really , the smallest toilet we found was B&Q which just fits in and we have a tiny corner sink but it does the job

HTH

Are you allowed the electricity meter and circuit breakers in a downstairs toilet if they are boxed in? I would have hoped so but common sense tells me it may not be allowed as you're not normally allowed mains sockets within a certain distance of a sink.

But boxed in may be ok?

I'm pretty sure bathrooms and meters are NOT allowed because of all the steam in the air but would hope the rules are more relaxed for toilets - any pointers on the web anywhere?

shykins

well al i can tell u is that we have had loads of meter readers come and not one has commented they shouldnt be in there and our builder didnt seem to think there was a problem

they are the opposite end to the sink and boxed as i said so no water could get to them

HTH