Changing the downstairs WC in a new build to a utility room

kunkj

Thanks LittleMax for the step-by-step of your experiences! Its encouraging to hear people who've had a similar line of thinking. My kitchen is also a U-shape, with the door in the middle of one of the long walls, and windows in the middle of both of the short walls. So much unusable space! Tonnes of natural light though....

xylophone no room (or budget) for an extension right now, unfortunately! For a wc with only a small sink and a loo its very spacious, a washing machine would fit where the sink is easily and accessibly!

oystercatcher interesting tactic on the adult children's part haha

greyfox yarghhhhhhhhhhhh just looking at it gives me palpitations. Its like some terrible DIY SOS: Final Destination mashup. I don't want to know what you had to Google to find that _pale_

lewishardwick

If it's a small 'cloakroom' type room you will probably only need to have power run into the room. Removing the sink and toilet wouldn't be particularly difficult. When you start removing any tiling etc the cost can add up.

How about taping across the door handle for a few weeks/months. Force yourself to use the upstairs loo. See how you get on? If you genuinely don't miss it. Remove the loo/sink cap off the soil pip and then lob your washing machine in there. All the plumbing exists so use it. Just figure our your power needs.

Then if/when you come to sell, a quick word with the local EAs will determine if a loo would be better. £150 for a loo & sink from B&Q. A few hours work max.

greyfox

kunkj wrote: »

greyfox yarghhhhhhhhhhhh just looking at it gives me palpitations. Its like some terrible DIY SOS: Final Destination mashup. I don't want to know what you had to Google to find that _pale_

It was on the "Have a look at this" thread from a couple of years ago. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3403965 post #14968.

saajan_12

Your enjoyment and preferences for your home matters more than what MIGHT be the next occupant's, whenever that'll be. Soon it'll be don't buy that comfy couch because it might look bad in marketing photos when you sell.

Besides one loo won't affect your house value much - the would be having space for it, which you do and it's an such an easy conversion as you'd leave (capped) plumbing there!

[Deleted User]

oystercatcher wrote: »

I have a disabled friend, unable to climb stairs and she cannot visit either of her adult children because both houses are without a downstairs toilet.

It's just possible they consider that an advantage though LOL !

An outdoor 'utility shed' may well be the best solution if it is possible.

They could always put a commode in the utility room

LittleMax

Forgot to say - for power we have run an extension lead from a socket in the hall next to the cloakroom door. It was a quick easy fix, until we could sort out something more permanent. But it goes under the corner of the door fine and then round behind the machine so you don't even notice it. So we are not bothering to do anything more permanent. But our alarm box is in there so we knew there was power if we had needed it.

We will definitely reinstate the loo before selling. Otherwise it will alert buyers to the fact the kitchen is so impractical. That's why we have stored the sanitaryware in the loft - so no cost to replace.

I'm pleased to know we are not the only ones who saw this as a solution. Much better sending guests upstairs and not having to turn the volume up on the TV when they need to spend a penny - our loo was right next to the living room!

zagubov

Sleazy wrote: »

They could always put a commode in the utility room

It seems daft to have an en-suite bathroom when a better arrangement would be a utility room with a WC with a basin on top. Having a laundry room downstairs isn't very practical, and having a wc just off a living room sounds like a mad idea. One wonders if the people that design modern houses actually live in them.:)