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Original poster

Would you extend just for a loo?

33 replies

Boredinthehouse12 · 13/02/2021 00:19

I’ve just bought a tiny 2 bed in the SE. It’s has a small upstairs bathroom and no downstairs loo. I think it would be a good idea to extend the hallway to include a Simple toilet and basin, but the other half thinks not.

Any thoughts? I’m not sure what the cost would be but the job would involve knocking down the hallway wall and extending into the garden, about a metre or so.

Is this a complete waster of money?

Would you extend just for a loo?
OP posts:
iknowimcoming · 13/02/2021 00:30

Yes, waste of money IMO sorry

Original poster
Boredinthehouse12 · 13/02/2021 00:42

I’ve never lived anywhere without a downstairs loo so I guess that’s why a guest toilet is just important to me. I’m not sure how I feel about people trekking upstairs to use the tiny bathroom

OP posts:
Flickoffboris · 13/02/2021 00:42

It'll cost a fortune and, still be a small 2 up 2 down, you'll probably go waaayy over ceiling price.

LunaHeather · 13/02/2021 00:48

It sounds like a waste of money to me but that's individual choice.

Beebumble2 · 13/02/2021 00:50

The cost will far out way the benefit. (I nearly wrote ‘convenience!).
We costed up something similar for a porch and WC, still very small. The only 3 builders that were prepared to quote came in at between £25,000 and £40,000. They really weren’t keen to do the job. We found a different solution without extending.

Original poster
Boredinthehouse12 · 13/02/2021 00:55

I think that settles that then!

@Beebumble2 thank you for the numbers. I’m not sure why I thought it would be a cheap job.. say under 5k, but based on your quotes, it would definitely be a waste of money.

OP posts:
Beebumble2 · 13/02/2021 00:58

We thought our quotes were ridiculous, we planned on around £15- 20,000 completed. However, we also wanted it to match the property and wanted reclaimed bricks, timber and roof tiles, so probably would cost a bit more.

LoveFall · 13/02/2021 01:01

I may be unique, but I doubt it. Having the second loo would be a huge selling point for me. I have colitis, but many people have issues like that, and not having to bang on the door and kick out your partner from the single loo in an emergency is a huge advantage.

Practically speaking, it would also be useful if you, for example, broke a bone and couldn't climb stairs.

If you are viewing it only from an investment perspective, perhaps not worth it, but for livability it may be.

jambeforeclottedcream · 13/02/2021 01:08

@LoveFall

I may be unique, but I doubt it. Having the second loo would be a huge selling point for me. I have colitis, but many people have issues like that, and not having to bang on the door and kick out your partner from the single loo in an emergency is a huge advantage.

Practically speaking, it would also be useful if you, for example, broke a bone and couldn't climb stairs.

If you are viewing it only from an investment perspective, perhaps not worth it, but for livability it may be.

This

I have a condition which means if I need the loo I need the loo! And someone hogging the only loo is not a good thing

Also for general getting ready when you both have to be out of the door at the same time

Also when people come and visit means they aren't traipsing upstairs to go to the loo

ConeHat · 13/02/2021 01:15

I'm surprised your quote is so high? I did a two story full length extension with pitch roof, plus front porch for loo for 65k built. I'm SE too. I basically built something the size of a two bed house in the extension

Sycamoretrees · 13/02/2021 01:39

If I could afford it I definitely would, perhaps you need to get some quotes before you decide?

lboogy · 13/02/2021 02:35

I would extend. If makes the quality of your life better then go for it. Not everything done to a home is about house price appreciation. A house is supposed to be a home.

Carryingon · 13/02/2021 05:38

Can you not extend more to include a shower room utlity room and larger kitchen? To make it worth it?

custardbear · 13/02/2021 05:43

Is there enough space to put in a washing machine / dryer too so it could be a utility/loo combo?

muppette · 13/02/2021 05:45

It would be useful to see the rear and side elevations of the house to give you an idea of price.

I'd say it would be a valuable addition but might be worth making the extension altogether a bit bigger.

Beebumble2 · 13/02/2021 07:54

The builders who did turn up and quote, 3 out of 20 approached, said it was economies of scale. So getting a bigger extension would probably be cheaper per m2.
The architects plans and planning permission were already in place.

soundofsilence1 · 13/02/2021 07:58

I assume it is not possible to move your front door and use the end of the hallway for a cloakroom?

MrsJamin · 13/02/2021 08:14

How big is the garden? If you really want a loo I'd try and get more living space that would benefit you in other ways too. We have what we call a lootility, utility and loo room combined which works well for the space it takes up. Plus it looks like you could do with more dining space?

MillieEpple · 13/02/2021 08:25

We put a very tiny extension on and they really arent cost effective if you are wanting to re-sell. We could have had twice the size extension for a very similar price but there was nowhere to put it. We did it as we aim to live here a long time and it was a quality life thing even if financially it was daft.

So i agree if its part of a bigger extension it could be worth it.

Is there a cupboard under the stairs? You could fit a maserating toilet in there?

KihoBebiluPute · 13/02/2021 08:32

It would be disproportionately expensive compared to the benefit achieved. I don't think that's the way to go.

Either think bigger and plan a much larger extension to give a loo and another full-size downstairs room - which would obviously cost more but would bring the cost-benefit ratio to something more reasonable - or rethink your plans to instead find a way to include a downstairs loo within the existing footprint. Under the stairs in that little corner of sitting room maybe?

user85963842 · 13/02/2021 08:36

I would do it if I lived with someone, I'd never buy a house with one toilet unless it was just me, I wish there was a filter on Rightmove to narrow down by number of toilets!

If it's just you I wouldn't do it just for guests, how often are you having people over you want to spend X thousand so they don't go upstairs?

NachoNachoMan · 13/02/2021 08:44

Could you move the kitchen door to the other side of the stairs, off the living room instead of off the hallway? And then squeeze in a toilet at the end of the hallway - I can't tell from the plan if this is feasible, though. I think you'd have to either have a concertina door or possibly one that opens outwards

BringMeThatHorizon · 13/02/2021 08:49

Could you move the entrance door down the side of the house a bit and then put a loo in that front section of the hallway?

MotherExtraordinaire · 13/02/2021 10:15

I wouldn't. But I'd also reduce the size of the hallway. It's dead space and could be living space.

lastqueenofscotland · 13/02/2021 10:52

Honestly it’ll cost a fortune. They would need to demolish and rebuild a load bearing wall looking at those plans, lay foundations, build external walls to current regs, add the additional plumbing. Then the finish so plaster/floor/tiles/ the loo. You’d not get it done for under five figures.