Gransnet forums

House and home

Extra toilet

(45 Posts)
Nansypansy Sun 10-Apr-16 19:07:52

I just wanted to share with you all how pleased I am to have spent around a grand creating a downstairs saniflow loo from my understairs cupboard. Most people said it wouldn't be possible, but I just kept asking and found someone that said it would..... It's in a teeny weeny space and the wash hand basin is part of the cistern (which fascinates everyone)! ..... So now I don't have to traipse upstairs every time anymore. Money well spent!!

chelseababy Sun 10-Apr-16 19:10:34

Congratulations! I wouldn't be without my tiny understairs loo!

Teetime Sun 10-Apr-16 19:26:34

Your extra loo will pay dividens ... enjoy.

Auntieflo Sun 10-Apr-16 19:54:32

Oh Nancypancy, I am jealous. I have seen those clever loos with a hand wash basin incorporated, and want one, but as our upstairs loo is quite new, I haven't got the nerve to change it, just yet., but would like to as our bathroom and loo are separate

annsixty Sun 10-Apr-16 20:05:13

They are very useful and clever but aren't they noisy? My friend created one in a dormer bungalow, taking part of the landing and one of the bedrooms and if it was flushed in the night it woke everyone up.

Charleygirl Sun 10-Apr-16 20:24:09

If it works for you, good luck. When I was house hunting in 1996, a downstairs loo was top of my requirements and it has been a Godsend.

ninathenana Sun 10-Apr-16 21:39:44

We don't flush when we use the loo in the night so as not to disturb others. Is that shocking?

mollie Sun 10-Apr-16 23:13:56

I know someone else who did this a few years ago with great success so I'm not surprised. My mum would dearly love another 'facility' but she has a metal circular staircase in an open-plan living room so that's not a solution for her and a good reason to think ahead...

Indinana Sun 10-Apr-16 23:23:44

No nina that's not shocking - or if it is then we're guilty too smile. We never flush in the night if it's just a wee. Good for the environment too - saves water smile

Elrel Sun 10-Apr-16 23:35:11

Nina - not shocking, keeps the house quiet and saves water.

Alea Mon 11-Apr-16 09:39:06

We were staying with cousins in a Scottish farmhouse where the upstairs bathroom was next to their bedroom and, concerned about disturbing them in the night with trips to the loo, asked their "preference".
We were told

If it's yellow, let it mellow,
If it's brown, flush it down "!! !
grin

Thingmajig Mon 11-Apr-16 10:01:38

We have a downstairs loo which we extended into our (also downstairs) bedroom to make a wee en suite shower room. I love it and the upstairs loo gets ignored! We left the door into the utility room so visitors use downstairs too.

We are now looking to move house and a new one must have the same facilities ... funny what seemed like a luxury when we moved here 2 years ago has become a necessity!!! grin

We don't flush during the night either. smile

rosesarered Mon 11-Apr-16 11:10:44

Flushing at night depends on your plumbing.when staying with friends in an old cottage recently, it was like World War 3 breaking out when we flushed!Our own toilets may be flushed anytime, and though very near the bedrooms are very quiet.

rosesarered Mon 11-Apr-16 11:12:00

Bet you are glad you went ahead with it now Nansy Pansy smile

rubylady Mon 11-Apr-16 11:29:44

It's on my list of getting things done, hopefully through occupational health if I can. I have been in touch with them but had to cancel recently so have to re book them. I would love a downstairs toilet and it would help out so many of my problems.

sherish Tue 12-Apr-16 07:48:31

I love having a downstairs loo. It's especially good for GC when they'replaying outside. It's also been handy when we've had workmen in. I have found it invaluable when I couldn't walk very well.

annsixty Tue 12-Apr-16 08:27:03

That is why mine is invaluable sherish my knees are so bad now I think I would have to live upstairs? that face is because I wouldn't be able to cook and that is wishful thinking. Ready meals and a microwave in the bedroom hooray.

Gagagran Tue 12-Apr-16 08:38:32

I think the people who had our toilets installed must have been challenged in the height department as the W.C.s are so low. Having troublesome knees I find them increasingly uncomfortable to get off! DH kindly fitted adjacent sturdy towel rails to help in the heaving off but a decision has now been reached.

We are going to replace them with high-rise loos! Can't wait! We have fitted "elephant's feet" to our bed but obviously can't do that with the toilets so this is the best option.

The joys of growing old! wink

Greyduster Tue 12-Apr-16 08:58:19

When we moved, top of our must have list was a downstairs loo. So many times we would come in from a long walk and would be fighting each other for the bathroom! We now have loo overkill, having three, so no-one has to cross their legs! Gagagran the toilet in our bathroom is quite low compared with the others. It's part of the suite that was put in when the house was built and I think there must have been a fashion for lower profiles then. You do certainly notice it when you sit down!

Charleygirl Tue 12-Apr-16 09:04:04

Gagagran when I had my bathroom refitted in 2011 I had a higher loo seat fitted and liked it so much I had similar fitted to the loo downstairs. What a difference it has made and I notice the difference if I go to a friend's house or to a loo in a cafe. I can get off the loo without any problems now.

Nelliemoser Tue 12-Apr-16 09:29:28

I have (very vaguely so far) been looking at property near to my daughter for some time. Finding places with a downstairs toilet or even space for one seems really difficult. I would not like to be without a downstairs loo. Our first house was a 1948 built post war semi and that had a toilet just inside the backdoor. It was not elegant but very useful.

annsixty Tue 12-Apr-16 09:47:14

Another positive for a downstairs loo is that it is so much easier to toilet train children. No scooting upstairs with a child who is "doing it" as you go. They can go themselves much earlier than they would if the stairs are in the equation.

Nonnie Tue 12-Apr-16 10:36:36

I'm another who doesn't flush in the night.

We had a saniflo in our en suite 2 houses back and it was noisy but better than the cost of putting in all the plumbing for a standard one. I suspect they have made them quieter now.

This reminds me of when DS was small and we went to see a friend who had issues about us having more than her. DS kept insisting on using the downstairs loo when she didn't have one. He just wouldn't accept that he had to go upstairs and I didn't want to say she didn't have one because of her sensitivities. i often wonder if she remembers it.

Lyndyn Tue 12-Apr-16 10:42:27

In 1995 we had our kitchen refitted, we also changed our small front bedroom into the main bathroom, so we could change and extend the old bathroom into the 'back 'bedroom, so we then had three doubles. BUT we also had a larder in the old kitchen, which partially went under the stairs so we made that a downstairs toilet. What a life changer with two daughters who spent half a lifetime in the bathroom! But also we all cleaned our teeth downstairs in the morning, so the stairs travel was substantially reduced. However I never could train then to take up their belongings placed strategically on the stairs!

We now live in a bungalow with an ensuite. We are extending the kitchen and the pantry is part of the plan, with a utility room too, it has taken us a long time, but we have what we need now! I so missed my pantry..........

lizzypopbottle Tue 12-Apr-16 12:36:03

I live in a bungalow too. No stair climbing for me to get to the loo. When I finally get some money, I have such plans for remodelling my house. On the list are: New CH boiler, kitchen refit to incorporate my small dining room, reinstate the utility room, possibly install a door to the outside in my bedroom so I can sit outside in the morning on sunny summer mornings... the list goes on but the money is elusive ? It's nice to dream though.