Brick Outhouse/Lean to Help

[lucyinthe]

Hi, may be a long shot but just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation... We've just moved into a new house which has an old coal shed/Lean to building just outside back door, kitchen is very small so I want to put our washing machine tumble drier and freezer out there. Plan was to put them in as it is, but now I'm wondering if it's worth getting it boarded or plastered? OH and I are disagreeing he thinks it doesn't need it but I would like it to be a little bit cleaner and tidier than it is!

Any help or opinion would be much appreciated, I've attached pics to show what I mean.

I agree with you OP what's the point of putting a washing machine and dryer in a room that's going to be endlessly grubby? Surely you will end up with grubby clothes.
It's worth checking how damp it gets in there too as you may need to get something done about the damp first. Getting it borded out should not cost to much and will make it all look much better with a coat of paint over the top too.

Good luck in your new house

If you're incorporating it into the kitchen then it will be better plastered. However is it a single skin 'extension' because if so and it's part of the kitchen it'd be a good idea to get it insulated too.

Plus some freezers need to be kept above freezing to work (I think) and if you are buying one for an outbuilding/garage you need to buy one that is suitable

For your own comfort, I'd insulate the floor at the very least - even if it makes a step - it'll always be more comfy!

Plaster will make the already small space even tighter. Check you have space for what you want to put in it! You could paint the bricks to clean it up a bit, and a simple floor.

Hi everyone thanks for all your responses, we've a plasterer coming round tonight to give us a quote, had a look into fridge freezers that can be kept outside and looks like new beko models can all be kept in garages and outhouses without heating or insulation.

Also think carefully about how you will feel about going out in the rain/snow/midnight to mess about with washing or grab something frozen

An insulated door from the kitchen into it or a covered walkway might be something to aim for in the future

We have a single skin lean to garage cone general junk store (long down side of house, could get 3 cars in if we cleared it out), half flat roof and rear half corrugated plastic sheet stuff.

Our big old Electrolux fridge & companion freezer (circa 1999) have lived in it quite happily for 11 years. Additional new LG chest freezer added 5 years ago. Washing machine (John Lewis brand) been out there 9 years and old AEG tumble dryer 11 years.

All going well...so far. South East England.

It is probably single brick thickness walls and very cold! Think freezing feed to washing machine. I think you should heat it or you will have endless problems in cold weather. I would add a thermal skin - breeze blocks for example and insulate all the pipes.

Your DH presumably won’t be going in it! Make it habitable and then it’s usable. In my view it’s grim as it stands. Better still incorporate it in a new kitchen instead of making do .