CRF Services Ltd

Downstairs toilet installation and cloakroom refits

A downstairs toilet saves a trip upstairs for guests, children and anyone who finds the stairs hard work. CRF Services Ltd installs new downstairs toilets in understairs cupboards, utility corners and old coal stores, and renovates existing cloakrooms that have seen better days. This page covers how the work is planned and built; what it costs is covered separately in the [cloakroom toilet refit cost guide](/guides/cloakroom-toilet-refit-cost).

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Can you add a downstairs toilet?

In a lot of houses, yes. The space needed is smaller than people think: a short wall hung or compact close coupled toilet and a corner basin fit in a room not much wider than a door. The deciding factors are the same as any toilet: a waste route to the drains with proper fall, a cold supply, and a way to ventilate the room, either a window or an extractor fan.

Understairs spaces are the classic spot, as long as there is enough headroom where you stand and sit. Rooms on an outside wall are often easiest, because the waste can go straight out to the soil pipe or a drain. Where that is not possible, a macerator unit may be an option. Each house is different, so the survey is where the plan gets settled.

Headroom at the toilet and the basin
A waste route to the drain or soil pipe
Cold water supply, and hot water if wanted at the basin
A window, or an extractor fan vented outside
A door that opens without blocking the hallway

Can a downstairs toilet open into a kitchen?

Under current Building Regulations guidance, a room with a toilet should not open directly into a space where food is prepared. The usual answer is a small lobby, or two doors with a short space between, so there is a barrier between the two. In older houses where the only space is off the kitchen, that lobby can sometimes be built from part of a utility area. It is worth settling this early, because it changes the layout.

Refitting an existing cloakroom

Many cloakrooms work fine as a layout but look tired: a cracked basin, a toilet that runs on, a floor that has stained around the pan. A downstairs toilet renovation keeps the waste where it is and replaces the suite, tiling, floor and lighting. It is a short job compared with a full bathroom, but it still goes through the same steps of stripping out, preparing surfaces, tiling and fitting. If only the toilet itself needs changing, a toilet replacement may be all you need.

Getting the small room right

Small rooms show mistakes. A basin that sticks out too far, a door that hits the pan or a dark corner with no light all make a cloakroom feel cramped. Wall hung toilets and basins free up floor space and make cleaning easier. A short run of tiling behind the basin and toilet protects the walls, and a mirror and good lighting make the room feel larger than it is.

Grants for a downstairs toilet

If a downstairs toilet is needed because of a disability, the local council may be able to help through a Disabled Facilities Grant. Eligibility depends on the person's needs and a means test, and the council usually arranges an assessment first, so contact them before any work is booked. CRF Services Ltd does not process grant applications, but can quote for the work once the scope is agreed.

How to book

Send a photo of the space, its rough measurements and your postcode through the contact page. Danny will arrange a visit and give a written quote. Cloakrooms are part of the wider bathroom renovation service.

This work is part of our Bathroom Renovations service.

Common questions