Creating an En-suite | FREE En-Suite Help & Guidance

Creating an En suite

A busy family needs more than just bedrooms, so if you’re always queuing for the loo, you might want to consider sacrificing a little space and creating your very own en suite. By maximising space you could enjoy the privacy of your very own bathroom, and best of all you’ll be adding value to your property.

Should I put in an en suite?

Generally adding an en suite will add value to your house, but before you decide you should think practically about the space you’ll be losing, if the bedroom loses too much comfort as a result of the renovation you could detract from value. If you have a small house or would lose a bedroom, building an en suite may not be the best option for you, but you could consider a loft conversion or an extension. It is important that your en suite keeps the feel of the rest of the house, so you should pay particular attention to the design and to decorating the walls so that it fits seamlessly in with the rest of the house.

How much space will I need to build an en suite?

En suites don’t have to be big, with clever design you can fit in all the amenities you need in as little as two metres squared for a bathroom and even less for just a shower room. Although you will be losing space in your bedroom it could very well be worth it.

How much does building an en suite cost?

Building at en suite usually costs between £5,000 and £8,000. This varies a lot depending on where you buy your WC, shower, basin and bath from and how much of the fitting you intend to do yourself. If the plumbing requires a new soil stack then plumbing costs will increase. When budgeting for your en suite it is important to also remember the cost of finishing touches, tiling and flooring are important aspects of creating your dream bathroom.

How do you build an en suite into a bedroom?

If you plan on building an en suite using the space of an existing bedroom the job can be as simple as erecting a stud wall for the desired room. This is usually timber, strengthened with steel and then clad using plasterboard, cavity filling with mineral wool is a good idea to prevent sound travelling. Of course then you need to work the plumbing, this could involve moving the soil and vent pipes to create a new waste-drain-system. It is wise to hire a professional plumber. You will also need to consider ventilation, as a build up of moisture could cause condensation and damp problems; to avoid this you may want to install an extractor fan.

Are there any building regulations to consider when building an en suite?

Ventilation is an important part of building regulations for bathrooms, your en suite will need to have external ventilation, this can be an opening window, or an extractor fan. In smaller spaces a small ventilation duct could also suffice. Building regulations are now also starting to consider water efficiency: therefore bathroom manufacturers have to declare how much water their bathroom appliances use. Also be aware that bathrooms cannot lead directly onto a kitchen or living room and if the only bathroom in the house (which presumably won’t be the case if you’re building an en suite) it will need another door besides the bedroom access.