Turning an ensuite into a walk in wardrobe

amdublin

I have an ensuite off my bedroom which I have never used (it's freezing cold with no radiator and no electric shower)

I want to turn it into a walk wardrobe.

Anyone every done this???

Or anyone turned a box room into a walk in?

Any suggestions/ideas. Could I do it with Ikea stuff??? Or should I pay someone??? Any recommendations?

Atlantic Dawn

The quality of the ikea wardrobes with the sliding doors is very good and they are relatively easy to assemble once you have a cordless screwdriver. The main problem with the Ikea stuff is the sizing is all 50cm/75cm/100cm widths so to get it to fit exactly taking up all the space is not likely unless your room follows those dimensions. If you were to get a carpenter in they could make wardrobes that will take up the exact space, however cost will be multiples of the Ikea stuff.

amdublin

Thanks for this AD. I'll have to get my measuring tape out and look at the Ikea option...

Lisha

Woukd you be removing toilet and sink yourself. ?
I'd be prioritising making sure plumbing would be well sorted do no yeuchy smells in the future.

Is it well insulated? What j mean Is is it too cold to store clothes? Beware if too cold about mould etc?

More on topic though Amdublin id prefer a good walk in wardrobe rather than a poor ensuite. Best of luck with it

Calahonda52

Is it big enough for a walk in w.robe?
I doubt it.
Re the heat stick a wall mounted 2 or 3 kw fan heater on the wall with timer switch outside.
Why the issue with shower, low pressure?
Can u access pipes from above .
I would be reluctant to lose it as en suite

Kevin McCloud

Horse out all the ware, blank all the pipes. Get a handy chippy to make up shelving, shoe racks etc.

Greenmachine

If it's cold now. Sure that area will be cold still when the wardrobes are fitted. Do you intend to block off any existing windows or improve the insulation.

amdublin

Greenmachine wrote: »

If it's cold now. Sure that area will be cold still when the wardrobes are fitted. Do you intend to block off any existing windows or improve the insulation.

No I was not thinking of anything like that. It may still be cold but at least I won't be trying to shower in it or going to the toilet at 3 am.

amdublin

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Is it big enough for a walk in w.robe?
I doubt it.
Re the heat stick a wall mounted 2 or 3 kw fan heater on the wall with timer switch outside.
Why the issue with shower, low pressure?
Can u access pipes from above .
I would be reluctant to lose it as en suite

The shower issue is no hot water on tap - need to remember to use the immersion and all that jazz. I like the convenience of an electric shower.

I'm not really losing an ensuite because I haven't used that room.for 9 years. So rather than losing I see it as gaining.

Won't be big enough for unit in the middle or anything but will be big enough for shelves and hanging unit to line two walls at least.

Rather than a "walk in wardrobe" be probably end up more of a "step in wardrobe"

amdublin

Lisha wrote: »

Woukd you be removing toilet and sink yourself. ?
I'd be prioritising making sure plumbing would be well sorted do no yeuchy smells in the future.

Is it well insulated? What j mean Is is it too cold to store clothes? Beware if too cold about mould etc?

More on topic though Amdublin id prefer a good walk in wardrobe rather than a poor ensuite. Best of luck with it

The sink shower and toilet are gone for the last year. The toilet big pipe is still there but all taped up.

funnily enough when it was not in use I used get awful smells every now and again (stagnant water?) and i had to put on the water and bleach down sink shower and toilet. No smells since all removed.

dodzy

Is your ensuite adjoining the main bathroom? If so, I'd take A feed from that rad and install one. If not, I'd take a small section of flooring up and see if central heating pipes are visible, and I'd tap in there. If it's as cold as you are making out, I'd heat it, irrespective of what I was going to use it for.

renandstimpy

Reason for smells in sink shower toilet when not been used is because over time all water in p trap that stops smell coming back up evaporated over time ... happens regular in houses left idel. .. I say go for the robe as your not using it anyhow but would definitely sort heat issue

gutteruu

I always agree with doing these things. Storage versus an unused room is a no brainer. Adds value to the house too. Personally, I would remove the door and leave it open or get a vented panel door. This will free up a lot of room, allow air and heat into the room to stop mould and saves you having to install heating.

The standard width units like Ikea etc can be used and maybe ask a carpenter if they could panel up around the gaps. Might be a cheaper option if theres only small gaps around them but agree with carpenter first as they'll have to match woods etc. I would make absolutely sure your sewer is sealed better than "taped up". The dodgy flammable gases are less dense and rise to top so that joint is very important if upstairs.

dodzy

gutteruu wrote: »

I always agree with doing these things. Storage versus an unused room is a no brainer. Adds value to the house too. Personally, I would remove the door and leave it open or get a vented panel door. This will free up a lot of room, allow air and heat into the room to stop mould and saves you having to install heating.

The standard width units like Ikea etc can be used and maybe ask a carpenter if they could panel up around the gaps. Might be a cheaper option if theres only small gaps around them but agree with carpenter first as they'll have to match woods etc. I would make absolutely sure your sewer is sealed better than "taped up". The dodgy flammable gases are less dense and rise to top so that joint is very important if upstairs.

A functional, heated en-suite is worth a hell of a lot more than "storage" if it ever comes to resale value.

amdublin

dodzy wrote: »

A functional, heated en-suite is worth a hell of a lot more than "storage" if it ever comes to resale value.

I agree.

But for me for living in the house the storage has more value than the unused room now. I don't intend selling this house ever tbh.

amdublin

Thanks everyone some great advice.

Buona Fortuna

Hi AmDub.

How about one of the sliding robes guys. We had one put in and he fitted out the wardrobe area with shelves, hanging, drawers, you name it.

dodzy

amdublin wrote: »

I agree.

But for me for living in the house the storage has more value than the unused room now. I don't intend selling this house ever tbh.

Cool. Dimensions of the room?

chickenbone

You're taking the piss.

dodzy

chickenbone wrote: »

You're taking the piss.

who is?

chickenbone

dodzy wrote: »

who is?

Tis a joke. By removing the ensuite you're literally taking the piss away.

amdublin

dodzy wrote: »

Cool. Dimensions of the room?

I'll get them tomorrow and post them up dodzy

dodzy

amdublin wrote: »

I'll get them tomorrow and post them up dodzy

I'm just curious to see what kind of space you're looking at. Sliders are good but you would need a good long room, unlikely in a typical ensuite. You'll most likely be looking at bulk shelving and perhaps some double hangers. I'd leave it open plan too. No point in wasting money on doors.

PeteFalk78

Look at getting a rad in there before going any further.

Kevin McCloud

If the walls of the ensuite are non load bearing one could horse them down and fit sliderobes.

amdublin

It's roughly 5ft x 6.5ft

dodzy

amdublin wrote: »

It's roughly 5ft x 6.5ft

It's not a bad size really. A lot of ensuites would be smaller. I'd keep a door at the entrance and just throw shelving in along with hanging rails. Measure up exactly and head to ikea. One of the staff members will throw you up a 3D drawing on PC ( or you can do this at home through their integrated site planner ). You can chop and change as per the measurements you input.

It'll give you a starting platform at least, and a costing for materials.

5T3PH3N

Browsing reddit and saw this, easy way to use ikea stuff
http://m.imgur.com/a/QBAY1

amdublin

Now THAT is exactly what I want and EXACTLY what I could do myself.

A lot of food for thought!

Jimmy_M

Using the rail like that is a good idea...the length of the rail dictates the length of the whole unit - so fitting the standard unit widths into a non standard space isnt an issue.