Residential Concerns

Adding a half bath to the main level of your home can greatly improve the comfort and convenience of your living space. Even if you’re working with a small space, all it takes is a little creativity to bring your ideal powder room to life. In this post, Residential Concerns, one of the top bathroom and roofing contractors in the region, shares tips for designing a half bath/powder room.

Room Dimensions

Local building codes vary, but most half baths typically need 15 inches of space between the center of the toilet and other possible fixtures nearest to the wall, which leaves a minimum interior width of 30 inches. Keep in mind that most building codes call for 21 inches of space in front of any fixture. The International Residential Code states that 11 square feet is the minimum needed for a half bath.

Door Swing

Consider how your door will swing when designing your half bath. International building codes require a 32-inch opening. If your door opens into the bathroom, you may not clear the toilet or sink. Opening to an adjacent room may disrupt traffic flow in the area. Pocket doors may solve the problem–just ask your roof repair and bathroom remodeling contractor if that’s a possibility.

The Toilet

Consider the size of the toilet’s bowl and tank. Tankless toilets like in public bathrooms are an option, but require special plumbing. High tanks save floor space and so do corner toilets. Wall-mounted toilets can save you about 6 inches of space from where your toilet protrudes, but require a deeper wall, and in-wall tanks for outside walls are a bad call.

The Sink

Add a modern twist by investing in a smaller sink. Corner sinks and wall-mounted sinks give you more space. For hardware, single handle faucets are your best bet, as they work best with smaller sinks.

Turn to Residential Concerns for all your remodeling and roof replacement needs. Give us a call at (770) 304-1311 or fill out our contact form to get started.