Adding Toilet to house

samuki

I would like to get peoples' opinions on having an extra toilet on a 3 bed property.
There's room downstairs in the entrance hall to install a loo and basin. However due to the location of front door, kitchen, piping for water and soil stack/sewer I believe this would significantly add to the expense due to digging to sewer and adding waste pipe, plumbing water etc.
As we currently have a separate toilet and bathroom, the alternative is to install an additional toilet in the bathroom which is actually quite spacious. The layout of the toilet/bathroom means we could have the toilets back-to-back thus using the available soil stack (I hope this makes sense). My assumption is this would also be cheaper than the downstairs loo option.
My questions are:
- Would having 2 toilets upstairs appeal just as much as having a downstairs loo?
- Are my assumptions as far as cost reasonable? (i.e. cost for upstairs loo would be significantly lower than downstairs loo)
- Would the simple fact of having 2 loos increase the value of the property?
Any advice and tips are welcomed.

themacster

Depends if you want the convenience (!) of having a loo downstairs rather than having to go upstairs all the time, or just for when 2 people want to use a loo at the same time. I'd have thought having one in the bathroom would be a plus point anyway - means you can do all your business in the one room rather than having to go from one to the other.

Yes, upstairs would be much cheaper than downstairs due to easier plumbing and drainage, plus you may need to add ventilation if you put it in downstairs (is there a window?).

I doubt you'd get any increase in value. If it looks like a bodged add-on it could put people off, plus many would likely refit the bathroom anyway. Is there a basin in the toilet at present?

I'd go for a toilet in the bathroom.

MX5huggy

samuki wrote: »

My questions are:
- Would having 2 toilets upstairs appeal just as much as having a downstairs loo?
No a downstairs toilet is more convenient

- Are my assumptions as far as cost reasonable? (i.e. cost for upstairs loo would be significantly lower than downstairs loo)

Yes but are you doing the work yourself? then its really a time issue more than a cost issue.

- Would the simple fact of having 2 loos increase the value of the property?

May be but it is your home do what works for you
Any advice and tips are welcomed.

A bit of message

muckybutt

If theres room downstairs as you say, then rather dig out to fit a soil pipe install a sanitop unit.

The sanitop units will take toilet and sink water away to where ever you sewer pipe is, vertical pump 5 meters horizontal pump 100 meters. Waste water is pumped away via a 2" pipe which can easily be placed under floorboards and easily discharged into the soil stack.

They retail at about £350 from plumbers merchants.

http://www.saniflo.co.uk/Sanitop.aspx

Avoriaz

In your shoes I would look at it like this.

Do you need a second loo? If not, don’t bother.

If you do need a second loo, do you plan to stay in the house? If yes, then install it where it suits you best. In the bathroom sound fine although a downstairs loo is very handy.

If you plan to sell the house and move in the near future than a second loo downstairs is probably a better option as it is more normal and more convenient.

However I wouldn’t worry too much about the added value. I doubt if where the second loo is sited will make a huge difference.

Check with a few local estate agents.

You could consider a pumped sewage toilet downstairs. The waste is macerated and pumped along a small bore pipe. It is called Saniflow or something like that.

27col

Do what ever you want, but do it for yourself and not on the off chance that it might improve the selling price. As far as I'm concerned you cannot have too many wc's. I really hate using separate toilets, especially as they rarely seem to have any washing facilities in them.
From what you have described it would be much easier to double up your existing arrangement upstairs. My wife prefers to use one of the upstairs toilets as she says that it gives her a bit of exercise going up the stairs.

keystone

As far as I'm concerned you cannot have too many wc's.

27col likes curry!

Cheers

amcluesent

I hate dolls-house size loos, where they've just boxed in with drywall and every noise comes through loud and clear into the lounge/kitchen/whatever.

keystone

amcluesent wrote: »

I hate dolls-house size loos, where they've just boxed in with drywall and every noise comes through loud and clear into the lounge/kitchen/whatever.

Faaarrrr too much information!

Cheers

Owain_Moneysaver

samuki wrote: »

I would like to get peoples' opinions on having an extra toilet on a 3 bed property.
There's room downstairs in the entrance hall to install a loo and basin.

I think I'd put it in its own little room ... having it in the hall might be a bit off-putting. :rotfl:

Convenient though if the JW's come visiting

Ben84

Having two toilets is a big plus for me when looking at a house. Main reason is that if you only have one and it breaks it's really inconvenient. As for everyday life, I do like having a toilet not in the bathroom as some people spend forever in the bathroom. I really doubt it would be the single deciding factor, but all positive aspects to a house add up.

I have one pet hate however, toilets without a sink in them. Why would anyone do that? It's hardly a convenience having a downstairs loo if you have to go hunting for a sink elsewhere in the house every time you use it. Besides, if the water and drains are already being run to the room and the plumber is there, does it really cost that much more to buy a small sink and a tap?

As for the toilet itself, I think it's worth buying a water saving one. They tend to be quieter, plus it looks like sooner or later everyone may have water meters as standard. The environmental issues count too.