Installing a downstairs bathroom, advice please

lynnemcf

My father has had a stroke but does not want to move out of his home. Problem is, the bathroom is upstairs. Would it be very expensive to have a bathroom (toilet and shower) installed downstairs? Would he need to get premission/plans? I have phoned round 20 builders today and no one has answered their phone.

margaretclare

I don't know, but it's an excellent idea. Is there space within his home? What would be a good idea would be what's called a 'wet room' - there's no step up to the shower, all the walls are washable. There was one in a farmhouse B&B where we stayed last year and it was really good. Have a look at this: http://wetroom.org/

Best wishes

Margaret Clare

Counting_Pennies_2

http://www.saniflo.co.uk/ It could be made easier using saniflo if plumbing is a problem, give them a call and maybe they can recommend a fitter, etc.

I think the problem is calling a builder, builders tend not to like these types of jobs, we are having our garage converted, and we had many people refuse to quote.

Alternatively you could speak with bathroom companies and ask them if they have contractors that could do it all. I think Dolphin bathrooms are in Magnet showrooms.

Nicki

I know that if your father is in receipt of any disability related benefits - attendance allowance or DLA - then you can apply for a grant of up to £25k from your LA to pay for work on the house to adapt it to his needs. This is not means tested. You should be able to get details of how to apply from your LA's website.

I would not recommed a wet room - we paid a fortune to have one put in our bathroom but it never worked properly, and kept flooding through the ceiling downstairs with only the slightest amount of use. We heard afterwards that they are notorious for this, and that very few builders actually know how to instal them. Your floor needs to be at a precise gradient in the right direction so that water runs into the drain, and you can't screw anything into the floor, because this punctures the waterproof membrane, so it makes it difficult to have anything else in the room such as a toilet or pedestal sink because its hard to fit that in a way that it doesn't leak without using screws, which will cause your floor to leak. If your dad has difficulties getting into a shower cubicle (and the lip is not really very high on modern ones) there are special disability showers and baths which may be more suitable. If your dad has an OT she could probably advise on what is most suitable.

ginger_nuts

my parents got a downstairs bedroom and shower room because mum wasnt able to climb the stairs . They got most off it paid for , however they had to pay part themselves because dad was not disabled ,or they could have had a smaller bedroom .They opted for a larger bedroom (for both of them ) .There grant allowed for two double sockets in the bedroom but not a radiator .So they paid for that themselves .There shower was level access and had a folding seat fitted . They got a grant to tile the shower area only ,they decided to tile the whole room and paid the extra

angeldelite

both my grandparents had 1 put in their houses... so i know u dont need planning permission

Glad

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pennineman

We had a shower and toilet put in downstairs in 1988 but was part of a garage extension at the side of the house - we took some of the garage space for the toilet and shower as had enough room to do that.

It is fully tiled with non-slip quarry tiles on the floor. There is no shower cubicle - the floor is carefully graded to slope to the drain. Only problem was a leak through to the garage but I traced that to a messy finish which I sorted easily enough.

Over the last 18 years it has been worth what we paid for it many times over. First when Penninewoman's mum stayed with us as she was disabled, and ultimately maybe for me though I'm OK at present.

And just so good to have what is a wet room although not designed as such back in the 80s.

Just get a good builder.

bigchasbroon

Hi I am a builder and last year I did a job for a family who had a disabled son, because he was registered disabled we were able to charge zero VAT on the wet room we built. This was a saving of several hundred pounds. They also built an extension. a portion of the extension was charged at zero vat also to compensate for the living space lost due to the new wetroom.

not all builders are aware of this so you may have to tell them. you should also have a building warrant prior to making alterations of this kind.