Utility room fitting in Basingstoke

What prompts utility room fitting in Basingstoke?

Dog owners and keen walkers around Basingstoke often ask for a utility with a deep sink, a coat cupboard and somewhere to leave muddy boots and wet jackets.

In a Basingstoke house where the garage is already used for storage rather than the car, some people fit a run of units and the laundry along one wall. Our Hampshire coverage reaches every part of Basingstoke (RG21) and out towards Alton.

What is in a typical job?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Worktop over the washing machine and dryer, supported clear of the appliances
A vent to outside for a vented dryer, or a drain hose for condenser models
Base, wall and tall units fitted, levelled and fixed to the wall
Extract fan fitted to clear moisture from washing and drying
Washing machine supply, waste and isolation valve, tested for leaks
Free survey visit to check water, waste, power and outside wall positions

What should you budget for utility room fitting in Basingstoke?

The figures below are guide prices for Basingstoke, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South East. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in the South East usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

What should you budget for utility room fitting in Basingstoke?
Typical project	Guide price
Utility units and worktop fitted (fit only)Three to six units, laminate worktop, panels	£1,400–£3,400
Utility room supplied and fittedUnits, worktop, sink, washer and dryer connections	£3,400–£8,000
New utility plumbing for a sink and washing machineSupplies, waste and valves where none exist	£460–£1,200

Fit-only and supply-and-fit ranges cover units, worktop and standard sink and appliance connections, with new plumbing where none exists as a separate line; extract fans, dryer vents and new circuits are quoted on top. Prices include VAT at 20%.

Kitchens in homes around Basingstoke

In and around Basingstoke, homes range across Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and thatched and brick cottages. Terraces in Southampton and Portsmouth often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war estate houses tend to have a compact rectangular room suited to an L-shape.

Water across Hampshire is mostly hard, largely from chalk sources, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter can help. Dense terraced streets can be very tight for parking, and New Forest lanes and village roads may limit the size of delivery vehicle.

Do you need approval for utility room fitting in Basingstoke?

Fitting a utility room needs no planning permission in England, though a new dryer vent through the outside wall of a flat may need planning permission and the freeholder's consent. Adding sockets to an existing circuit is not notifiable, but a new circuit is, under Part P. Approved Document F sets an extract rate of about 30 litres per second for a utility room, so a new fan should be sized to meet it, and if an open-flued boiler shares the room, a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out a spillage test once a fan is fitted.

Homes within the New Forest or South Downs national parks, listed cottages and conservation areas may need consent for a new extractor vent or alterations to historic features.

Planning ahead

If your Hampshire home has an open-flued boiler in the utility, ask for a spillage test by a Gas Safe registered engineer once an extract fan goes in.
If the utility will be in the garage of your Basingstoke home, make sure the space stays above freezing in winter for the pipes and machines.
Leave room behind the washing machine for the hoses; pushing it hard against the wall can kink them and stop the water draining properly.
Under-stairs spaces can take a washer and dryer, but check the headroom, the ventilation and room to pull machines out before committing.

Questions about utility room fitting in Basingstoke

How much does utility room fitting cost in Basingstoke?

Utility room fitting in Basingstoke typically costs £1,400 to £3,400 including VAT for fitting three to six utility units and a worktop you have bought, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Can you measure up in Basingstoke before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Basingstoke. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

Can a worktop go over a washing machine and dryer?

Yes, and it is one of the most common utility layouts. The worktop is supported by units, end panels or a rail at each side rather than resting on the machines, with a small gap above them for vibration and so they can be slid out for servicing. Standard front-loading machines usually fit under a standard-height worktop, but we check the appliance heights against the plan first.

Does a utility room need an extractor fan?

Yes, in most cases. Washing and drying put a lot of moisture into a small space, so extract ventilation is strongly advised: Approved Document F sets a rate of about 30 litres per second for utility rooms in England and Wales, and the building standards in Scotland and Technical Booklet K in Northern Ireland cover ventilation too. An extract fan ducted outside is the usual answer, with a window helping but not replacing it. A vented dryer needs its own duct as well.

Does a condenser or heat pump dryer need an outside vent?

No. Condenser and heat pump dryers do not need an outside vent, so they can go where a vented dryer cannot. They collect water in a container that has to be emptied, or they can be connected to the waste so they drain automatically, which is easy when the dryer sits beside the washing machine. They still give off some warmth, so the space needs air around it. A vented dryer needs a duct to an outside wall.

Utility room fitting near Basingstoke

The same service is available a short drive from Basingstoke, including: