Bathroom off kitchen - is just one door okay?

[CoffeeMum]

We want to convert the utility room [directly off the kitchen] into a bathroom [ie. loo + basin + shower cubicle].

Is it okay to do this, given that there is only one door between the two rooms? There's no chance of adding an extra door either, unfortunately - it really is directly off the kitchen.

Thanks in advance

Think it is now allowed by Building Regs, but personally wouldn't do this, not very nice. I'd prefer a utility room.

Would it be your only bathroom? Not sure I would want to wander through the kitchen ,post shower. I think a utility better, keep all the washing and crap out of your kitchen

I know what you mean Ponks, but it would really only be a loo for emergencies, and ahem, longer visits to the loo would be discouraged!

cyb - it's as a second bathroom, we have a family bathroom with bath on the first floor, but with two DC yet to be potty trained, regular visitors etc, it's just a nightmare trekking upstairs all the time. I'm totally unbothered about coming out of the shower into the bathroom - in fact, would gladly do it for the convenience of second bathroom. Also, i've never really 'got' utility rooms, we've never used it as such, so wouldn't miss it IYSWIM - really feel a second bathroom would improved our quality of life though!!

Thanks both!

You need only one door providing there's a basin in the bathroom. There are many older, cottage-type houses that have the bathroom off the kitchen, so it wouldn't be an unusual arrangement.

I think a ground-floor loo/basin/shower is a good idea, especially if there are children with muddy boots, etc. The only caveat I'd offer is to check where the sewer pipes are, if you haven't already done that, because it can be expensive/difficult to put in a proper loo if there isn't a nearby sewer pipe. I wouldn't suggest a Saniflo or similar macerator - they're well known for having problems if not used carefully.

Thanks hugglymugly, that's good advice about the sewer pipes. We haven't checked that out, but we feel so in need of this second bathroom that we'd be willing to make other financial sacrifices to get the proper loo put in. Good to know Saniflo etc isn't considered too good - you don't really want anything to do with your loo being dodgy do you?!

I think it's a good idea and believe only one door is needed. Friends recently had this done and I'm about to convert an understairs cupboard into a loo - though there will be an additional firedoor between that and the kitchen.

Thanks for advice about Saniflo Huggly - builders are recommending but seeing as we are having a load of stuff done including moving soil stack, digging foundations for rear extension etc I don't see the problem in locating the main drain for a proper loo.

I have a loo off my dining room (an extension and the loo is the old outside loo iyswim) which is straight onto the kitchen which doesn't have a door. My rule is that no one is allowed to poo in it :o

Our shower is also downstairs - it's taken me a while to get used to but if I remember to bring my towels back down, it's fine. I walk through the kitchen to go upstairs and it's fine :)

I hadn't seen your 18:18 post when I posted, but I found that having a nearby loo when I was potty training my DC was very useful.

As for the sewer pipes, you can get an idea from checking where the soil stack is for your upstairs loo. It's usually on the outside and is a larger diameter than the rainfall pipes from the guttering. If it's nearish to the utility room it probably wouldn't cost a great deal to connect up. If it's on the other side of the house, see if there's a manhole near to the utility room.

Or, alternatively, get in a plumber for a quote - a good one will spot any possible problems.

It used to be the law cat64 but it was changed a while ago. I had to have two doors when I fitted a new bathroom about 10 years ago but now you don't

I've been trying to find something definitive about the change in the regulations, but to no avail. I "know" about the current one-door regulation because I browse a uk diy newsgroup, where I read about all manner of interesting stuff, and where this topic has been raised several times in the past.

However, netizens of that newsgroup are putting together a wiki, and here's the link to the Saniflo page: wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Saniflo. It's worth clicking through for "the proof", which will give some idea why they have problems.

And although it's nothing to do with bathrooms, it's worth scrolling down and reading the next article on the same page about how it's not always a good idea to ignore instructions, especially if you're using expanding foam in your canoe in your hallway.

My one and only bathroom/loo is only a door away (straight off the kitchen) so when you've had a shower you have to walk through the kitchen then dining room then living room before you even get to the stairs!
The other thing is that the back door that leads out to the side of the house goes from the kitchen too, and is clear glass, so the neighbours when coming out of their identical side door can see me half naked!

Hahaha @ the expanding foam and canoe story.