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Property/DIY

Tiny WC - Rehang door to open outwards or sink over toilet?

45 replies

DataColour · 05/06/2017 14:18

Recently moved into our house and the separate toilet does not have a sink in it. I quite like the fact that it's separate and would like to keep it that way as it's the only toilet in the house, and it's good to be able to use it if somebody is using the bathroom.
The toilet is too small to have a sink in it. The only options are to make the door open outwards and risk hitting somebody coming out of the bathroom or put one of those sink over toilet combos. Neither are ideal, but need to choose one of them. Which would you go for?

I think I prefer option 1 as opening the door outwards would make the toilet seem more spacious as well as accomodating a sink and I don't think it'll get in the way of the bathroom that much.

Option 2, I worry about splashing and having to lean over the toilet to wash hands.

WWYD?
Floor plan attached.

Tiny WC - Rehang door to open outwards or sink over toilet?
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Wolfiefan · 05/06/2017 14:19

Bi fold door? But make sure the hinge runs pretty much the length of the door or you could see through the gaps!

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Gunpowder · 05/06/2017 14:19

I'd put in a sliding door.

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SueGeneris · 05/06/2017 14:19

I would have the door opening outwards.

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user1479289699 · 05/06/2017 14:20

I have this same floor plan in my childhood home - the wc door opens outwards and it's not a problem at all. Sink is as soon as you walk in on the left. Noone ever hits anyone walking out of the loo - you don't really need to open a door the entire way to get out of somewhere anyway! and keep it shut when it's empty.

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nbee84 · 05/06/2017 14:21

Door to open outwards. I know your toilet is upstairs but my downstairs loo in my current and previous house had doors that open outwards, never had a problem hitting anyone.

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YellowLawn · 05/06/2017 14:21

I would (and have) go with a cistern sink.
it's not akward to use and frees up a lot of space.
another option we explored was getting a small corner sink behind the toilet but went with the cistern sink as plumbing was easier that way.

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YellowLawn · 05/06/2017 14:22

or do both Wink

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Redglitter · 05/06/2017 14:24

The flat I've just moved from had an outward opening door. Made much more sense. The bathroom in my new house is quite small I'm considering re hanging the door

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JamAndBread · 05/06/2017 14:24

Option two sounds a bit grim. Definitely option one.

A sliding door won't work as it has no where to slide to and a bifold door sounds a bit flimsy for a toilet door.

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StereophonicallyChallenged · 05/06/2017 14:26

Don't use bi-fold!! I've tried them failed and have now had a smaller width door put into mine.

Could you try a smaller toilet (smaller footprint) with a mini sink to the left and a narrower door?

Can't see how you'd put a sliding door in from the diagram, but if you could, that would also be better than bi-fold imho.

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DataColour · 05/06/2017 14:26

ohh that's quick! Thanks for the replies!

If you did hang the door outwards, would you hang it so that it opens towards or away from the bathroom? I was thinking away, towards the stairs. So basically same hing, but hang outwards.

YellowLawn It's interesting to hear that. My other worry is that because the toilet is quite narrow anyway, there won't be room to move aside the toilet to use the sink and my DCs, 6 and 8 and my elderly parents would struggle to straddle the toilet to use the sink....

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DataColour · 05/06/2017 14:28

DH is dead set against a sliding door (I don't think there is room anyway) or a bifold door, can't convince him otherwise.

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ophiotaurus · 05/06/2017 14:28

Hang the door so it opens outwards.

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Anotherdayanotherdollar · 05/06/2017 14:30

My downstairs loo door opens outwards. I think many do in new builds as it's more accessible? It's never been a problem.

I don't like the sound of a loo with no sink, how many door handles etc do you have to touch before getting somewhere to wash your hands? didn't look at floor plan

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ophiotaurus · 05/06/2017 14:31

I would hang on the same hinge. It's more logical if you are coming up the stairs to use the toilet.

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squeaver · 05/06/2017 14:32

Perhaps this is too much work, and you did say that you prefer having the loo separate, but... do you need a shower AND a bath? Could you knock down the wall and grab the extra space in the hall, then put in a whole new bathroom with a shower unit in the bath?

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squeaver · 05/06/2017 14:33

Otherwise, yes, hang the door on the same hinge opening outwards.

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NotCitrus · 05/06/2017 14:37

Open outwards, hinged where it is. Remind people to leave it just ajar when not in use.
Our bathroom is tiny but doesn't seem small as the door opens outwards. Tempted to rehang kids' bedroom doors to open onto the landing, too.

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YellowLawn · 05/06/2017 14:37

our downstairs toilet is in the old doorway that led into the garden. so it's very narrow. a sink in front of the toilet was never an option.

when putting in a sink in front of the toilet, measure measure and measure again, including the u-bend and plumbing that you don't end up knocking knees or having to go in sideways. or have people using the sink to pull themselves up.

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DataColour · 05/06/2017 14:38

squeaver I think that might be a consideration if nothing else will work, as I am adamant that there needs to be a sink next to a toilet! But I also like having a separate shower cubicle, not having to step into a bath. Plus the bathroom had been recently done by the previous owner and is immaculate so I am loath to rip it all out.

Anotherdayanotherdollar too many haha! But the toilet and bathroom is next door to each other and I use one hand for wiping and other hand for opening door (TMI!!), so keeping contamination to a minimum. Don't know about the rest of the family though

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YellowLawn · 05/06/2017 14:40

our example.

Tiny WC - Rehang door to open outwards or sink over toilet?
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DataColour · 05/06/2017 14:43

Do you remember where you got that one from YellowLawn? It looks goo. I was going to get the one from B&Q as it had a short projection and was reasonably priced, but they have discontinued it. Your one looks similar in size.

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LorLorr2 · 05/06/2017 14:44

We have an awkward toilet door that's too close to another door, bumps do happen, but it's not a big problem and we're just used to it! We're in the habit of just taking extra care in the area.

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YellowLawn · 05/06/2017 14:44

yes, it's the one from b&q. we had to look up stores that have it in stock as they wouldn't deliver or do ckick&collect to nearest store.

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blueskyinmarch · 05/06/2017 14:45

My downstairs loo door opens outwards. Never even thought about it hitting someone. No one has ever been endangered by the door. I think it is the way to go.

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