LITTLE ROCK — Can you help us with a luxury issue? I feel a little guilty asking this, but my wife and I have saved up for years to build a dedicated laundry room, and I want to make it very fancy. What do you suggest for a plumbing showstopper that would make this room special and functional?
Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande, HGTVPro.com host and syndicated columnist for Scripps Howard News Service, recently offered advice on this subject.
“Don’t ever feel guilty when it comes to ‘over-the-top’ plumbing projects,” Del Grande wrote.
“Half the fun working with water is finding creative and beautiful vessels that can carry clean water into a home and then safely drain the used water back out. I don’t want to overanalyze this, but basically we’re moving small rivers through our homes with our plumbing systems. To me that sounds romantic, so why not build a dream laundry room foryour wife?”
Laundry areas have moved out of the unfinished basement these days and now have their own dedicated room that’s easily accessible to the entire family.
Such rooms can incorporate the washer/dryer, storage cabinets, laundry sinks, ironing boards and, of course, hampers.
Del Grande built a laundryroom addition in his house by taking up some garage space. “I can tell you firsthand that it has made our lives a lot easier,” he said.
If you’re looking for one item that can add a real “wow” factor to a laundry room it would be a large, colorful, cast-iron laundry sink with a quality faucet. “Some cast-iron laundry sinks can be as big as 4 feet long,” Del Grande said, “and that’s great for things like washing the dog.” Because cast-iron laundry sinks come in different mounting styles, Del Grande compiled a list to help you pick the type of sink thatworks best for you:
Top-mount self-rimming: This type of sink will fit just about any countertop, and simply drops into a hole that is cut to fit the sink. This type of sink works well with laminate countertops, and can be easily changed out during future remodeling jobs.
Tile in/flat edge: This sink is for use with tile counters, since the flat edge of the sink and the perfectly square corners are the same thickness as standard countertop tiles. If you choose tile for your counter, this is the best type of sink to install.
Under-mount: Just like the name says, it mounts under the countertop to make a nice, deep basin with a custom look. Thistype of mount is best suited for solid stone or man-made stone countertops. Make sure you like the style and color, because once the sink is installed, it’s locked into place by the countertop.
Wall-hung: These are usually the big, bad boys of laundry sinks. Because they hang on the wall, they can be longer than standard countertop sinks. Many of them can incorporate drain boards and wall-hung faucets as well. While in the past they may have looked like janitor sinks, today’s wall-hung laundry sinks are available in many beautiful styles and colors.
“Don’t forget to spend the extra money on a quality faucet that will match the type of sink you decide to install,” Del Grande advised.Some laundry sinks even accommodate two faucets with separate sink bowls; this way you can soak delicate clothes and still have a free sink to use. Keep in mind, though, that a new laundry room will come with a highend price tag.
And always consult local contractors and codes before getting started on the project.
HomeStyle, Pages 31 on 07/24/2010