Anyone put a downstairs loo in under their stairs?

[andweallloveclover]

Just that really. We have quite a nice sized space under the stairs and currently use it for storage. We have been contemplating putting a downstairs cloakroom in there and wondered if anyone else had done this?

Is there anything we need to consider before we do it?

How difficult was this to do?

Was it costly?

Thanks

The only issue, unless your house is listed, is making sure you’ve got enough space to make it compliant with buildings regs, and at a practical level that you can get the waste out, hot and cold water in and can install some form of ventilation

https://adara.co.uk/articles/downstairs-toilet-building-regulations/

Is there an external wall and where are the nearest toilet waste pipes?

If you can run plumbing to it then no issues - have you asked a plumber to come out to see what can be done and cost?

We actually did the opposite when we purchased and renovated a buy to let property - there were 3 toilets in total so we stripped out and converted the loo under the stairs into a laundry room….

Yes, there is already water connected to it as it currently houses a utility space and I think (but im no expert) that it would be easy enough to run the plumbing to connect to the waste. We haven't had a plumber out yet although that's the next step. But we look at the space and can't really see any reason why it couldn't be done.

Thanks

We did. Years ago so I can't remember how much it cost and anyway costs of any work have risen so much in the meantime

It has been so worth it. If someone is having a shower or bath, there's no waiting to use the toilet. Anyone sleeping in the second reception which doubles as a guest/convalescent room has a toilet they can use. Comes in handy when out in the garden.

Was it easy enough to do? To connect the waste etc?
Thanks x

It was in our case but it will always depend on the plan of the house and the drainage system.

Also, in our case there are lots of houses built to the same plan in our city so we had a good chance of finding a plumber who'd done the same job before. In fact we used one who'd been recommended by a work colleague.

I would say it's definitely worth asking a plumber, or more than one.

Quite recently! I’m wondering why we didn’t do it years ago, it’s great.

Fairly easy, and we got a toilet with the sink in the cistern so it uses grey water to flush and takes up less space.

Thanks for this. Sounds like a good idea. We have been thinking of doing it for a while. The space seems perfect for it.

Thank you. I'm going to call our usual plumber and ask if he can stop by and take a look next time he is in the area.

Our house had this when we moved in so can't give any costs but it's great. So handy when you have small kids and someone else is in the bathroom, when someone is visiting who can't do stairs easily - or who you don't want going upstairs 😉 Go for it.

We had considered it but added it to an extension we were putting across the back of the house. So we put in extra drawers to make it more usable storage space instead.

but 4 other houses, at least, in our road of 8, have done. The boilers were there already so some plumbing, but more needed. Creating a soil pipe connection to sewer. As well as hot and cold water connections for loo and sink, and sink waste pipe. Electrics for a light and fan. Fitting the suite and tiling and flooring and painting. Probably at least a week of work - but probably not much more than that for a decent team.

If there isn't toilet waste nearby or an external wall then it might not be possible at all.