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machir

Remodeling small basement bathroom help

2 years ago

Hi,

I would appreciate any suggestions on the following bathroom remodeling dilemma:


Our basement is fully finished and we use the space a lot. The back right corner has a small bedroom used as a guest room, next to it, continuing along the side of the house is another small room that my son uses. He is away at college so it mostly empty these days and next to his room is a small, half bath. The closet for his room runs behind the bathroom and it is the full width of the bathroom.

We have been thinking of adding a shower in that closet space which would need to open into the existing bathroom which would necessitate redoing the rest of the bathroom.

One question is whether or not it is possible to do that in the existing space. The bathroom is 54 inches wide and 48 inches deep, can the sink and toilet be relocated in that space while opening up the back wall for access to a shower?

Another question is, once we are doing this work and possible expanding the bathroom space, should we also enlarge the two bedrooms? They are currently about 8.5 feet deep from the exterior wall of the house to the interior wall with the entry doors.

This is complicated by the fact that three feet outside the doors into these rooms, is a soffit that is 9" deep so if we moved the interior wall and doorways into that area, the taller members of the household would have to duck their heads to get into those rooms. But is it worth the expense and hassle to enlarge those rooms by only two feet? There are also three support pillars in the space under the soffit which makes it trickier.


And if we don't enlarge the rooms, can we even do the shower project?



So we have basically been going around in circles on these questions.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am adding a diagram of the space, please let me know if you need any further clarification.

P.S. Each square = 1 foot.

Comments (11)

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Is there another way into the guest bedroom? Or do both rooms have to be accessed off the hallway?

    machir thanked Madden, Slick & Bontempo, Inc
  • 2 years ago

    Hi, thanks for responding. Right now there is no other way to get into any of the rooms, they are all accessed off the hallway.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    The bathroom situation is certainly doable but your are most likely on a slab so the floors will need to be jackhammered with trenches to move the plumbing.

    machir thanked Debbi Washburn
  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Doing refit plumbing is a hassle in a basement but totally doable I think the bathroom as it is is alot of wasted space why not do the door to enter there as you show and move the vanity so you can access the shower from there and not have a closet or just wardrobe in the bedroom. I think doable since the toilet I think could stay Of course you will need to ask a plumber and be prepared for a big mess but can be done

    machir thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 2 years ago

    Patricia wrote: I think the bathroom as it is is alot of wasted space why not do the door to enter there as you show and move the vanity so you can access the shower from there and not have a closet or just wardrobe in the bedroom. I think doable since the toilet I think could stay .

    Do you mean something like this? How much space do I need between the front of the toilet and a sink/vanity? I just measured more carefully and the end of the toilet is 28 inches from the back wall which leaves about 30 inches or so of space between the toilet and the other wall.

    I have this memory of needing 24 inches clearance in front of a toilet, is that correct?


    Thanks again for your help!



  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Here's one possibility. Your son's room stays the same size but the guest room expands an extra 3 feet. The original closet in your son's room beocomes a 36 x 48" shower. You may be able to just turn the toilet to face the wall on the right. I've done that in a couple of remodels but you would have to check with your plumber to be sure. Either way, it's not moving far. I suggested Ikea Pax units for the closet space because they don't use up a lot of space and I think they are nice.





    machir thanked Madden, Slick & Bontempo, Inc
  • 2 years ago

    Thank you, this looks great! I really like this idea.

  • 2 years ago

    I like maddens layout too, but they have drawn your bedrooms as 12 feet wide and they are closer to 10 feet wide. Make sure furniture and closets will work.

    You could just do one large bedroom.

    machir thanked Karenseb
  • PRO
    2 years ago

    You are absolutely right! I saw 12'3" instead of 123"'. My mistake. I'll look at it again tomorrow.

    machir thanked Madden, Slick & Bontempo, Inc
  • 2 years ago

    Looks great! Thank you!