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Having laundry in the garage may also depend on where the OP lives. If in a colder state, it may not be practical, unless he decides to build a room in the garage and heat it (or if the garage itself is heated). Otherwise, you have to worry about pipes freezing in the Winter, not to mention how unpleasant it might be working with the laundry in an unheated garage in the dead of Winter in, like, Wisconsin or something.
You have to have vents for heating run in there, or provide auxiliary heat. This of course adds to the cost.
Reps to all thoughts and ideas. Here's more details:
- Never below freezing. Attic access from either room and can (fairly) easily run new ducting to a register for heating, if desired, though I may just leave it unheated, depending on advice of contractor/inspection requirements.
- Current W/D are in the same location as the new garage room. Yes, they are in the dirty open spidery garage. Wife not too happy about that situation.
Moving them to the living room carve-out would mean running electric/water through new walls or attic. Drain line would have to be set in the new slab pour. Probably going to do this anyway, to put water/power/drain to a new kitchen island, depending on size/suitability of current washing machine drain line.
- Would rather not do stackable. I don't want to replace my current W/D, and I don't want to limit myself or future buyers to stackables with a too-small room.
+ Good points on noise. Didn't think about that.
- Do want utility sink. Don't care as much about shelving to fold. We don't fold in the laundry room, and future owners can replace or cover utility sink with a folding surface if desired.
- Biggest concerns / balance are between losing living room space and noise vs. losing garage/parking space (and the concern this would cause when selling). Most people around here fill their garages with crap and park on their driveways. We garage our cars, and the new carve-out of the garage would not prevent that (small cars).
We garage our cars, and the new carve-out of the garage would not prevent that (small cars).
But you need to consider that future owners may not have small cars. I've built three garages for my homes. I drive smaller cars, but always planned one large enough for at least one full sized pickup including door swing. A cramped garage is more likely to end up being storage.
We sold our home with a small two car garage, shortened with the laundry room carve out. I think they need to consider their needs,
OP, did you consider moving to a more suitable house?
I live in socal and bought in during the downturn. Prop 13 keeps my property taxes nice and low. Moving to another house would cost MUCH more than renovating.
Plus, my neighborhood can't be beat!
Planning to sell at retirement (if ever) and move overseas.
Our laundry set-up is in the garage in a separate alcove with a folding laundry table to work off. There are cabinets over the w/d area and a place to hang up laundry on hangars. All of our neighborhood homes were built that way. Works great, nice and quiet.
Maybe a wildfire will help with the remodel (and you'll get all you want/need)- JK!
They are no laughing matter- and hopefully you're not in the "line of fire"! LOL!
With more details I see this (new) laundry room being rather expensive for what it is- and the fact that it's already there.
Maybe a wildfire will help with the remodel (and you'll get all you want/need)- JK!
They are no laughing matter- and hopefully you're not in the "line of fire"! LOL!
With more details I see this (new) laundry room being rather expensive for what it is- and the fact that it's already there.
I wish.
My house is on the edge of a fire danger area. Fires burn up to the edge of the neighborhood about once a decade, but the wind pattern is such that no house has ever burned in 60 years of fires.
Actually, I was quite disappointed that my home didn't burn two years ago, when the fire came right up to the edge of my back yard. I could've gotten free demolition, free site remediation from the state, and a huge wad of insurance cash to rebuild, and also to rent while the rebuild was going on. Not to mention getting rid of all the old junk inside.
I'm sure, as soon as I get it remodeled just the way I like it, it'll burn down.
If you intend to spend another decade in this house, my advice is to make it right for you. A decent laundry room is something that makes life in a home easier.
I think you should talk to a designer or architect before making firm plans if you can manage it. And do keep us posted.
Mine is in the garage and I love it there. Very little noise filters into the house. If it were to ever develop a leak, you will be thankful it is there.
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