Help me stop dithering over where to put a downstairs loo please.....

[Wormshuffler]

For 6 months now I have been changing my mind about this and I have got to make a decision!!

Options are.....

Option 1 In the under stairs cupboard...... there are millions of pipes in there that would need re routing plus the electric meter and electric fuse box, it would also mean a small brick built non supporting wall would need taking out.

Option 2. A new small extension in the side return near the front door, ( which would need planning permission) the side return is already built on further down so not blocking it off more than it already is, but... the gas meter in there plus the external soil pipe and a man hole.

Option 3. In the back of the garage accessed off the dining room incorporating a corridor to give access to the garage from inside the house, so it would go, door into corridor then door into toilet. With another door off corridor into garage. There is already a soil pipe in there from the ensuite.

The cheapest and least hassle option is option 3, but is it weird going through the dining room into the garage and toilet?
Doing either of the more expensive options would mean I can't afford other things like sky lights, fitted wardrobes and re doing the ensuite that I would like to do.q

I need to get building regs plans drawn up for this and a dining room extension but want to be sure what we actually want before getting planning consultant around.

Please help!!!

[soontobeslendergirl]

I go for the garage option. I'd see if i could squeeze an extra shower in as well. It would give you the flexibility for people (children/people with garding muddy boots) to get into the loo from outside so not tracking dirt through the house. And if you had a dog, you could bring it in via the garage to get rinsed off before coming into the house.

[soontobeslendergirl]

that was meant to say gardening btw :o

[bouquetofpencils]

Garage option sounds fine to me.

[Chickenpops]

No the garage option sounds awful to me! Garages are grotty, I wouldn't want a toilet in there

Understairs cupboard is the best option

[soontobeslendergirl]

Chicken poops I am sure that it isn't actually in the garage. It will be a piece of the back of the garage closed off and lined/floored to fit in with the rest of the house, i think the OP just means that it will more separate from the house than the understairs cupboard or by the front door.

as an aside, I know lots of houses have the loo by the front door, but I always feel a bit weird using them and it seems less private.

[Wormshuffler]

Thanks, yes in a totally enclosed bit, door through dining in to corridor, 2 doors off there, one to the loo, one into the garage, the door into garage being lockable external type.

I really am about to forget the whole idea, it all seems so complicated! Would be easier to move house !!

[ajandjjmum]

Will you want random visitors (children?) traipsing through your Dining Room into the loo?

Personally I'd go for the small extension, but understand it will have implications on what else you can do. Maybe cut back on areas that could be fitted when budget is available?

[soontobeslendergirl]

Yes, move :)

Personally, if it was me, I would take a whole section of the back of the garage even if it meant no door into it from the inside, and have a utility/toilet or shower room. I'd get a pulley fitted for drying washing. Can you tell I love my pulley? :)

[littlecrystal]

You are lucky to have so many options. No. 3 sounds perfectly fine to me.

[KirstyJC]

I would go without a downstairs loo at all as none of these options sounds ideal. If you already have a second loo in your ensuite then I wouldn't bother. It sounds like an awful hassle just to save 30 secs walking up some stairs!

(Obv that assumes you don't need a downstairs loo for essential medical/mobility issues of course, in which case ignore me).

We only have 1 toilet in our 4 bed house, upstairs, and tbh it isn't a problem at all. I thought it would be, but is really isn't, even with 5 of us.

[Milkymickey]

If you plan to stay at least five years, build it wherever suits you.
If you have even a slight chance of needing to sell in the next few yesrs, have an eye to selling, which prob means building under the stairs - conventional - or a well designed garage option that doesnt look in any way cheap or dodgy.
Get an architect in for an initial consultation - as you would maybe need it for planning - and he/shemight give you ideas.or a builder.
We had four builders and three architects in for initial chat and our eventual extension uses their best ideas!

[burnishedsilver]

Do you really need a dinning room? Is it an every day room or a Christmas Day room? You might have space to play with there.

[Wormshuffler]

The dining room is used everyday, it is being extended to give more space for toys and teenagers, we are having a new kitchen too with space for a nook to eat in, so I suspect the dining table will be used less, in which case I would get rid of dining table eventually and hand the room over to the kids entirely, so it would be a toilet off a playroom?
Not planning on moving ever! that doesn't mean I would want to build anything which would put off potential buyers though.
Isn't it a bit cheeky getting free advice from architects? you're right when you say I'll need some plans for building control etc.
Thanks very much for all the ideas keep them coming!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

do you have floor plans of your home ( maybe from when you bought it ) that you could post - to see if anything springs up as a good place ?! Would be best to see upper and ground floors ( to see where plumbing and waste pipes already are ) otherwise option 3 sounds a good move - it's only a loo ! It really shouldn't be so stress full ! Sorry it's driving you potty ! ( oh that was nearly a joke !) it's worth taking time to consider properly as this is your home !!!!

[Twitterqueen]

Option 2. I do think it's weird having to go through your dining room and then a corridor to get to the loo.

Extending the side return would be the most convenient (ha ha - see what I did there?) and 'normal' option.

Can you get to your garden from the garage? For me, if I'm in the garden and need a pee I don't really want to traipse through the house.

[Wormshuffler]

I'm on a tablet..... what's the best way of putting a picture on here please?

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

it should say choose file under the text box - just add a pic from your library from there ?!

[Mandy21]

We have under stairs loo and I definitely think its worth it as don't have to clean upstairs. We still have electricity meter in there, plus fuse box, and lots of pipes that my H very cheaply boxed in. The boxing, plus the wall, was all painted the same colour and it looks very nice.

I'd go for Option 2 therefore rather than 1 or 3.

[Wormshuffler]

Thanks for everyone's input.......we had an architect around who thought the garage option is the best, which is good, I have now had an official type person make the decision for me so I'll stop dithering and get on with it all now !

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Personally I find it very odd to see loos tacked on to the front of a house, even though it's common enough in houses of all ages.

I also loathe under stairs loos unless they are quite big ( I feel like an animal weeing in a corner )

So the garage option sounds best to me