Tag: Floor Drain

Floor Drains


Up until recently we have never had floor drains.

Now we have them in bathroom, laundry and the walk in shower.

I’m quite impressed and would definitely specify them for another build.

Having had one washing machine overflow in the past I think they are a great idea to give you added security against internal flooding.

Some things to plan

So what does it mean if this is the way you want to go?

      • For them to be fully effective the floor needs to slope down to the drain at least 1:80 (13mm in 1m), preferably 1:60 (17mm in 1m).
      • The normal procedure is to cast the slab in the room 25mm below the main slab.
      • A cement grout bed is then laid on the slab, at the appropriate fall to the drain, before waterproofing and then tiling.

Shower Drains

If you are going to have a walk in shower it can be neater to have a rectangular floor drain like this one.

This example has a stainless steel finish but you can also get covers with a tray that you can fix matching tiles in. All you can then see is a narrow slot.

 

For similar posts see  Plumbing in the Selection Category.

More plumbing information and 24 pages of Check Lists in the ‘Selection / Pre-Start Guide’

 

Planning the Laundry

In England the washing machine and dryer are generally in the kitchen.

As a consequence the laundry in our first house we built was tiny. It was just big enough to fit the washing machine, dryer, laundry trough, and a walkway about 800mm wide to the back door.

After ten years in that house we decided that the next laundry would be bigger.

Our current house has a laundry that includes room for washing baskets, and a linen press. We also have room to store the ironing board, brushes and mops. I am still not sure however I have got everything the laundry right.

I have tried to list all the things below you might want in this undervalued room besides having a home for the laundry appliances and the trough:

  • Baskets for dirty linen and clothes baskets.
  • Room for baskets of laundry brought in from the washing line before they are folded
  • Storage of soaps, detergents, toilet rolls.
  • Room to set up an ironing board.
  • Rail for ironed clothes.
  • Airing rack.
  • Laundry press.
  • Television, to watch while doing the ironing.
  • Hooks for gardening clothes and a boot storage rack.
  • Pet food storage.
  • Dog basket.
  • Storage for mops, buckets, brushes, and a vacuum cleaner.

I am not saying you need to have room for all these things but its worth considering what space you want.

Other things to think about are

  • Installing a floor drain to protect the rest of the house in case of floods.
  • Putting the machines on a plinth to save all the bending over.
  • Making sure a drier can be vented to the outside.
  • Plumbing to allow grey water to be collected for garden watering.

Do you have any tips for laundry planning?

 

See Electrical Planning for Electrical fit out of your Laundry

 

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