How to add an extra toilet to house?

Really appreciate the thoughts. Adding toilet in living room really going to eat away my limited living room space. 😒

JacobZ

Hi @arun11australia,

It's a bit of a tough one because space is already at a premium and I just can't see any other options.

The unfortunate reality, if you want an additional toilet inside the building envelope, is that you are going to have to lose space somewhere. There's no way you could adjust a bedroom or the kitchen, and I can't see any way you could reorient the bathroom to install a partition and a second toilet. The only place that makes sense to me is the loungeroom/dining area or the laundry.

The only other way would be to build it outside, but as you mentioned, that would come at a fair expense when roofing is considered.

Unfortunately, I don't really see any other options with the space that is available.

Jacob

My skills with creating an image are nowhere near as good as many here but could this be workable

A couple more suggestions on the above plan, The vanity could also be rotated to behind the laundry trough giving better floorspace useage whils allowing for a mirror above it. Also you can get some good small vanity sinks that could be used in the toilet if there is enough space (depends on door size). I forgot to add that the loss of the small cupboard could be compensated for by using wall cupboards in the laundry.

thank you for your time. That seems like a only logical place to put the toilet in. I have bessor block partitions all throughout house including that laundry and toilet bath. Will it be too much work breaking and rearranging shower to add this extra toilet?

Thanks heaps

Ok so besser block walls are a lightweight brick which is I believe fairly wide. If you can source them in your state, you may be better served using a product we use in WA called fastwall which is a large and relatively thin clay brick which may give you some space back.

In doing this, you will need the assistance of a good builder as it will at the very least require an assesment of whether any of the walls that need changing are supporting walls. I, or for that matter anyone on the internet, can not give you specific advice, all we can do is suggest how it MAY be possible. The redirection of the plumbing for the shower is relatively minor, the installation of the waste for the WC is more of an issue but definitely doable and any change to the location of the vanity is reasonably simple.

edited to add a link to fastwall bricks…

https://www.google.com/search?q=fastwall+bricks&rlz=1C1ONGR_en-GBAU1166AU1166&oq=fastwall+bricks&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORiABDIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMg0IBhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBxAAGIAEGKIE0gEINjUxMGowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

MitchellMc

HI @arun11australia,

It would likely turn into a fairly large renovation. With bessor block walls, relocating things isn’t a small job, and moving the shower would also mean dealing with plumbing changes, waterproofing, and potentially retiling. Depending on how the shower is constructed and finished, it could become quite extensive.

My thoughts would be to avoid moving the wall if possible and instead look at fitting the toilet within the existing laundry footprint, similar to the layout shown in the image I've put together below.

You might need to remove the cabinet to the left of the toilet in order to achieve the necessary space. Also, you'll need to consult with a builder about requirements on a having a toilet that close to the kitchen. I've included one door, which will be necessary, and you might need to add a partition wall between the laundry and kitchen with another door. However, a single door and the required ventilation in the WC might be enough, but best to check.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Jason

Hi @arun11australia,

Just thought I'd add that if budget was tight, you might even want to consider no partition or door - just the toilet installed in the laundry as-is. You can see an example of this in the project Small laundry makeover by @annitakatee.

Jason

@MitchellMc

I did consider that option but realised one small problem with it, the laundry is no longer a laundry because there is nowhere to put a washing machine! You would also struggle to use the toilet with the door closed due to lack of leg room which is why I went for a side entry.

Hi @arun11australia & @MitchellMc

How would a compromise of all three options sound. Note that as stated before my drawing skills are nowhere near as good as others here. This option does away with the need to alter the bathroo but does steal a bit of space from the lounge/dining room and with adjustments to the cupboard size will leave space for the washing machine. There is still the option to increase storage space by using wall cupboards to replace that lost in the modifications and also the relocated cupboard can be made deeper for additional storage. There is also still the option to close off the laundry and add a door should regulations require it.

MitchellMc

Certainly an option @R4addZ!

Mitchell

thanks Mitchell, thanks @R4addZ

Removing kitchen pantry (the only one we have) near laundry, seems like the only good option without shifting around with the walls. Will get some builders visit/quotes and go from there.

Thinking one more thing - I have the photo of outside where the entertaining area is. what if I just do a the toilet 1.5 x 1.5? Will I still need to have the roof adjusted with it?

Because initially we were planning to do toilet bathroom and laundry just altogether under the entertaining area connecting back door but some builders told us that roof will have to come with it so we dropped an idea but what if we just do the toilet 1.5 x 1.5 whatever the smallest requirement is. will that still require the roof shuffling?

EricL

Hello @arun11australia

I believe it will be more involved and require more permits to build outside your house. I think the roof will still need to be modified due to the minimum requirements of the toilet. I propose going with the suggested internal modifications that our members have suggested so that the alterations will be to a minimum.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

thank you Eric and thank you everyone for your input.

You usually can build out under the eaves with some caveats like any windows not being within a certain distance of the boundary but the width of the eaves isn't enough to fit the toilet under. So either way you still would have some major modifications to get a toilet out there. However you could move the laundry trough over but that would involve moving the external wall and then you would need to create a walkway to the outside and things get complicated from there on. I may have another idea working down these lines if we can go out under the eaves, I will try and mock it up when I get back (have to go out for an hour). In the mean time, is the washing machine currently between the trough and some cupboards or work top and can that cupboard/worktop be smaller (I'm thinking we can put the washing machine where that is).

Ok so this is possibly the final workable option that I can think of. If we push out under the eaves we can gain a little space which would allow the toilet to go where the laundry trough is and possibly where the washing machine is currently. We would then have to lose the cupboards as shown and Bunnings do a small laundry trough which could go next to what I believe is the pantry leaving the corner for the washing machine. Again using a cupboard over the washing machine and with a front loading washer, you could put some worktop space above the washing machine also.

looking at the scale of things, the toilet may be workable a touch smaller than shown. I have a toilet off my laundry and the inside dimensions are 0,92 wide and 1.55 longand if the scale shown by the width of the fridge recess is anything to go by, there will be adequate space as the toilet looks a bit wide and a good bit deeper than needed. It may also be possible to put the door in the side of the toilet which could then give additional space for overhead cupboards where the door is currently shown and if any floorspace can be recovered due to incorrect scaling , you may even get some slimline floor cupboards in.

EricL

Hello @arun11australia

Please allow me to add to the suggestions made. I suggest removing all the cabinetry in the laundry and leaving just enough space for the washing machine. You might have enough space for a toilet and shower room. I recommend installing a sliding cavity door so that it does not take up any space in the laundry or toilet/shower room. I propose installing two 900 pantry cabinets on your outside wall for kitchen use, linen and comforters and one side for your cleaning cupboard. You actually have room for a 450mm pantry cabinet if you want to fill the entire wall.

If you can provide us with your laundry room dimensions, I can give you a more accurate layout and tell you if everything will fit.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

I thought I would do a new version to show a side door and it would be a good idea to steal @EricL s idea for a cavity sliding door. I wish you could use Erics idea but unfortunately the pantry part of it would be where the wall to the lounge is so there would be no pantry available. The washing machine would be in the corner.

If you post the measurements for the room as requested by EricL. can you also give us a measurement of the distance from the external wall to the inside edge of the metal at the outside of the eaves. The reason I ask is that if you kick out under the eaves, it looks like you could (By using a smaller trough) be able to straighten out EricL's design whilst leaving the existing pantry which means you gain a shower.

Thank you heaps.
Eric's 3D layouts are looking propromising.
here is roughly drawing and inside photo

extending outer wall from that sink will be structurally difficult I am guessing as it is a soli double bessor block wall. And i am sure roof foundation would be relying heavily on to it. But i may be wrong

Some more photos

EricL

Hello @arun11australia

Thank you for sharing those photos, please give me some time to re-draw the laundry/bathroom area. As soon as I've finished, I will post the new renders here.

Eric