I bought an intown house that was built in the 1950s that is only about 1100 sg ft. It is a 2 BR, 1 bath. Want to figure out a space for a half bath . What is the minimum sq footage required for a toilet and pedastal sink w/ adequate “maneuvering” room? Thanks.
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Well, 66" x 60" works pretty well, though 72" x 60" is better.
That lays out as 30" wide for the toilet, and 36" to get the sink in, or 36" and 36" spacing. You always want about 60" along the "long" axis of the toilet.
Now, you can do this in less space. A "cadet" or round toilet will let you shoehorn into 48" of front-back depth. You can go as narrow as 30+30" or even 30+24 (with a corner lav sink)--but, you will get consdierable grief from AHJ trying to get plans approved under 60" wide & 60" deep.
If you go with a two-wet wall layout, you really only need 36" wide, but you then "need" 21-24" of wall for the lavatory, 28" for the door on one side (2-0 door +2+2" casing, then 24-30" for the toilet. That gets you into a 36"x 84" space, which you might could mash down to 6'-6" (78") wet wall to wet wall. Note that two wet walls can complicate your plumbing life, though.
Now, that's real minimal footprints, too. You will absolutely need light & ventilation in such small spaces, and you have precious little wall and/or ceiling to get it into. Does not mean it can't be done, just that you really want to not start from the smallest possible footprint and try and shoehorn in all the bits afterward. If it's at all possible, figure out where to bring a window (or solatube or such like) an exhaust fan, the wall mirror, such, first. Then look at how to arrange the plumbing fixtures.
Thanks for such detail! That's exactly the info I need to make my plans. Appreciate you taking the time to help. This is my 1st attempt at planing an added bath.
Thanks for such detail! That's exactly the info I need to make my plans. Appreciate you taking the time to help. This is my 1st attempt at planing an added bath.
Yeah, well, not my first rodeo, and all that.
It's not at all hard to get a couple grand in fixtures, details, & such in even a half bath, so having a sharp pencil "up front" saves much grief later on.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Oh yeah, you said "in town" in the OP, have you checked on what your specific AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) requires?
As a guess, you will need a buildign permit, which means the plans will need a review. That means there's some standard against which the plans will be reviewed. That standard will define some things for you.
Like door swings, electrical minimums, venting & light minimums, minimum clearances & the like.
Going to your city's web page and checking under either Planning & Development or Building Permit/Review or some such similar can be very helpfull. At least, the number for the inspector or plan reviewer ought to be listed; the person on the other end of that phone line can often be very helpfull.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Appreciate you taking the time to reply.
I'm a Realtor, and have a buyer who's in escrow on a home built in 1918. Big brick 2-1/2 story in a nice area. But there was originally no bath on the first story. So some years back. someone took out a closet and turned it into a bathroom. Yes, a closet, and not a very big one at that.
There's just enough room for a toilet and what appears to be a sink actually intended for a boat. I've never seen anything like it. If I get a chance I'll have to take a photo - it's pretty cool really.
This same home has a vanity in the upstairs bath that is made from an antique oak dresser, not unlike the project shown in the most recent FHB. Karl Jung would be proud.
Jason
Thanks for the reply. I would enjoy a photo and the measurements of the bathroom.
I've seen one just like that. The history is that the realto convinced the homeowner selling the house to turn a 2'-6"x7'-6" closet into a master bath. 30'x30' shower in one end, a water closet at the other end and a wall mounted lav in the middle. The outswing louvered doors took took of access into this "master bath". The master bedroom was only 11'x11'. I'm sure the house price went up a lot because of the "master bath". What a joke!
My home built by my FIL in 1949 has a toilet and wall hung sink in a 34" x 60" floor space. The door opens outward. Maneuvering room is just adequate.
You may want to use a pocket door to reduce the impact of the door.
Up to a point bigger is better in bathrooms.
As far as practical limitations (code limitations are a different story) I agree with BigBill - my house (1929) has a half bath just a little bit smaller than his, and it is perfectly adequate. With a corner mounted wall sink, you can probably get down to 60" long and still be functional. I think mine is about 30" wide.
What CapnMac said and be sure you account for door swing. Both past the toilet and the lav depending on the layout.
Neil (CagIV) will pipe in soon with how much space to leave in front of the toilet. I'll let him explain.
About 3' X 5' is about as small as you can get away with IMHO.
Definitely calls for an outswing door.
I'd tend to want to use a vanity rather than a pedestal sink, so you'd have some storage for TP and such.
Congress.
Thanks for the info.
OK, lets have a contest. who's got the smallest water closet?
this one in my house was a coat closet under some stairs. since the only other bathroom on the main floor was in the master we wanted to cut down the traffic through our bedroom. it measures 34x60 at the longest point.the sink I found in a plumbing supply measures 12x15
the bigger butts might have to use another bath, so far no complaints
The dial-up folks are just gonna love the size of those pictures!
Resized photos for dialup. You're right - that's one teeny bathroom!
Jason
Don't forget to put the toilet seat down before you stand on it and bend over to use the lav.
Do you people ever wash your hands, or is an optical illusion that you have to squat on the toilet to use the sink?
many blue colar here more than likely wash before...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Either way it looks like they're squattin' on the john to do it.
use the kitchen... easier...
saw the pics a 3MB and didn't even go there...
missed the resized till now..
yup yur right about the squat...
kitchen it is...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
no, theres plenty of room. must be optical illuusion. ever been in an airplane lav?
>> Do you people ever wash your hands, or is an optical illusion that you have to squat on the toilet to use the sink? <<
it's called multi-tasking
60x48 will work for a powder room with a pedestal. No smaller.
24'' door, 19'' from the wall to front of the sink.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise.
You're welcome.
If you lived in Toledo you could use the powder room.
Take a look at a corner toilet and a corner pedestal. Opens up a few more possibilities and would be a novel idea.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Why use two fixtures when one will work.http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/tubs-toilets-showers-sinks/toilet-lid-sink-007768And with an outswing door I suspect that you could fit this in 3x4, maybe a little smaller.http://www.tradekey.com/selloffer_view/id/62470.htm
Wow! I like that little Wanjia (from China) arrangement. Where are the products available? What about dimensions and specs?
I don't know anything about it.I found it googling looking for a sink/toilet combo. I remembered seeing one in the past. The toilet lid sink is not what I was thinking about.Anyway the Tradekey site appears to just be a builten board of companies offering products.You need to contact Wanjia for details.Maybe since that was posted they have a US distributor.
Thanks for the idea. I'll ck into it.
36"x72" with a 2/6 door
mark
A 2-4 door is rather minimal but fully workable for a "powder room". Some of the national builders actually install 2-0 bathroom doors. Great example of what people are getting when they buy a house from one of the megabuilders. Kinda excludes the 400#ers :-) though.
Thanks!
Some random information:
Let's talk about code minimums for a minute. I can only give you the code requirements for my state, but your state likely has very similar codes, although the numbers might be a little different. Codes is where you have to start, assuming you are going to do this "legally" and assuming your state has building codes.
So, rather than a bunch of text that I have to type, look at these diagrams.
As an aside - you haven't said how you want this powder room laid out. As you have probably gather by now, there are 2 basic layouts:
1) Lavatory and water closet side by side on one wall with the door on one of the other 3 walls.
2) Water closet on one wall and lavatory on the opposite wall, with the door on either of the 2 remaining walls. In this case the door normally swings out.
BTW - lavatory is "plumber talk" for sink and water closet is "plumber talk" for toilet. Some areas call the whole room a water closet which generally refers to a 1/2 bath.
Pedestal sinks are often used in tight situations as they are more compact than a base cabinet with a counter top sink on top. Corner lavatories can be utilized too, but be aware that they are significantly more expensive assuming a wall hung unit.
Good options. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Wall mount sinks are pretty small and darn inexpensive. I usually get them for less than $30 IIRC. Gerber toilets can do 10-14" rough-in.