Removing an ensuite

[Doodlydoo]

Does anyone know if removing an ensuite is a big/expensive job? It isn't original, it has been added into the room at some point - I've attached a screengrab of the floorplan. There's a toilet, sink and shower cubicle. It's in a house I'm interested in and I'm trying to gauge if we can afford to do all the works I'd want doing before making an offer.

It depends, but as you're on here asking you will probably be going down the paid route.

If you're capable of basic DIY it's actually really easy. Remove the white goods (or avocado/plum, I wont discriminate), cap the water lines if they are plastic and remove the walls/turn it into a wardrobe etc. If the lines aren't plastic it's a little bit more complicated but youtube is a wonderful tool.

If you're paying it will vary depending on who wants the work and how much they want to charge. Be a couple of grand id assume but i thats just a guess because Id be wanging my sledgehammer and hoolie bar around like im in a smash room

As above. Assuming the walls of the en suite are stud rather than load bearing then you could do it yourself with minimal building knowledge. Be as simple as taking out the white goods and pushing some push fit caps over the water feeds. Toilet waste would need removing outside to stop the smell of sewage coming up. Then you just replace a few floorboards and put your choice of carpet / flooring into. Few weekends of your time DIY.

If paying a trade it will depend on what part of the country. Should be minimal materials needed so just labour and make good. I’d expect a plumber to need two days tops to sort it so £400 a day or so labour. If you need to pay other trades to make good such as a floorer or plasterer then I’d guesstimate 2.5k all in.

Thanks everyone, this is really useful! I do like the idea of wanging a sledgehammer around! I feel like I could make a good go of taking it out, but would need a professional to come and make the wall good again - sounds like a plan!

Is it because it's dated, you don't like them or because it makes bedroom 2 an odd size?

I wouldn't particularly like an internal shower but an extra toilet is useful for middle of night.

Just wondering if you can ditch the shower and make a double wardrobe for bed 2?

Would you be looking to make bedroom 2 bigger?

All 3! I don't mind an en suite in a bigger room, but I hate the thought of sleeping with my head 10 ft from a toilet. This one is very grotty and old and I think I would rather get rid. Interesting idea on turning it into a wardrobe though, I hadn't thought of that!

You could have the square where the toilet and sink are as a big walk in cupboard off bedroom one and the other half for bedroom 2 extended across the dead space behind door..

Could reduce the amount of putting right if it has skirting or cornicing around it

But depends how much space you'd gain in its place.

I would expect to spend no more than £5k for this work. You say you don’t like the grotty toilet, could you not just get a new suite installed to replace?

Unless you are confident in your abilities then this is something that I wouldn’t do myself - instead get a reputable tradesperson in to do it. Not only the plumbing do you have to consider, it’s also the electrics as well.

Personally, i’d just get the en suite refurbished…

Removing the white goods etc isn't that difficult.

I'd be tempted to keep it though and make it nice.

I get it though, we used to have a lovely en suite that was in a proper room, well away from our bed, with a window .... I loved it.

We know have one that while it has a window is too close for comfort when DH has his morning ablutions.....

You could make it into a lovely walk in wardrobe. Leave the soil pipe etc in place so someone can convert it back easily.

We turned a small bathroom into an airing cupboard and put the hot water tank in there.