Laundry

More on Laundry Renovations

Laundry renovations can be as extensive as you desire and as minimal as your budget allows. There are many aspects that need to be considered when planning a laundry renovation.

Laundry Layout and Design: The laundry layout should allow for maximum efficiency at work. It should be practical and easier to work with. The main purpose of the laundry is to wash, dry and fold. The layout should allow for easy access to all these three points in the laundry. Also, consider where you wish your washer, dryer, and iron table placed. Where to build the storage if you want any. A bench top can also be added to maximize the folding and working area in the laundry.

Ventilation in the Laundry: Laundry area may accumulate moisture over time and damage the walls, flooring, appliances, and even the linen placed inside. Therefore, proper ventilation is vital to the layout and design of the laundry. It is best to have an open window or a hopper vent in the laundry to allow light and fresh air to cross ventilate the room. However, if you are in a strata set-up or a small house where direct access to outdoors is impossible, proper ducts need to be installed for this purpose.

Storage and Shelving: The laundry storage is vastly a matter of need and choice of the clients. If you think you need more cabinets, shelves and storage in the laundry, you might consider choosing water resistant materials for cabinetry. You may also opt for covering all your appliances inside the cabinets but it needs proper ventilation ducts to eliminate the accumulation of moisture. Shelving in the laundry also serves the purpose of storing the folded linen, and washing products. Commonly, the overhead or eye-level cupboard, benchtop cabinet, ironing board cupboard, a tall broom cabinet, and base cabinets are used in a laundry for managing the space efficiency.

Laundry Benchtop: A laundry benchtop can serve as an iron table, a storage space or a linen folding area. For durability, a heavy natural stone like marble or engineered stone like Caesar stone or Quantum Quartz may be used for the laundry benchtop. However, if you are tight on budget, you may go for more cost-effective options.

Plumbing: Modern/ contemporary laundry designs rule out the hoses and washer outlets. Therefore, if you are renovating the laundry, you may choose to completely hide these two fundamental yet untidy parts of the laundry. For a more neat and clean look in the laundry, it is best to cover the plumbing with cabinet doors, or place them at the invisible places. The plumbing in the house has to be in conformation with the he Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), which is the technical standard for all plumbing and drainage work in NSW. Builders at Ranieri Building Group make sure that the renovation does not challenge the codes of plumbing and spare you the legal problems.

Accessories: Accessories include racks, extra small storage for laundry products, retractable clothesline, linen hanging foldable stands, laundry bins, hooks and hangers etc. These items equip the laundry and make it more efficient and productive. They also help organize your laundry and make it easier.

Laundry Waterproofing: Australian Standard AS3740-201 (Waterproofing of domestic wet areas) regulate the waterproofing standards for the walls adjacent to the laundry basin and the floor. Hire Ranieri Building Group to renovate your laundry and waterproof it according to the given standards.

Laundry Flooring: Three factors you must need to keep in mind while planning a laundry flooring is that the material used must be

• Water resistant
• Durable
• Easy to wash/clean/mop

Tiles, ceramic or porcelain are best choices for a laundry floor. They are easy to clean & wash, durable and are water resistant. Grout between the tiles may need to be refurnished over time which is a cosmetic renovation. Therefore, using tile floor is a cost-effective solution for laundry renovations. Using them behind the bench top or washing machines is also practical.

Choosing Appliances: The choice of the appliances depends mainly upon the budget you have. High end brands offer durable and quality machines but there are many mid-range choices available too. The basic appliances every laundry needs are:

• Washing machine: you may choose a top load or a front load washing machine. The capacity varies with sizes. Consider buying energy efficient appliances to save you extra electricity bills.
• Dryer: While choosing dryers, the options available are condenser, heat pump and vent dryers. Heat pump dryers are most expensive but most energy efficient. Vent dryers need an outdoor outlet and the condenser dryers need to be piped outdoors for venting the water stored in the tank inside it.
• Iron: If you are adding ironing to the laundry, you may choose a steam iron, or a classical electric iron with a choice of titanium, stainless steel or a non-stick soleplate. Make sure to buy an energy efficient brand because iron uses significant amount of electricity which affects your electricity consumption.
• Combo of washer/dryer: For the smaller laundry space, a small family or for those living in an apartment building, going for a combo of dryer and washing machine is practical. It saves space, energy and provides the complete laundry needs in just one piece.

Appliances have an Energy Star Rating and Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) rating that needs to be considered while purchasing the appliances. Ranieri Building Group renovations do not include the purchase of appliances, however, we support you in the installation of appliances and help you decide brands you might consider buying.

Laundry Tub: Best suited in large laundry spaces, laundry tubs gives you the facility of soaking the spoiled clothes. To add in an extra facility, twin tubs may also be installed to access the sink while you have soaked the clothes in one of the tubs. A laundry tub is not a necessary part of laundry but much useful for families with toddlers and kids.

Tapware: For the tapware, consider installing an adjustable spout tap to wash or soak clothes of all sizes, or a tap with a spray function for spot cleaning. Tapware need not be too expensive but durable.