Utility room fitting in Exmouth

Thinking about utility room fitting in Exmouth?

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

Landlords letting larger family homes across Devon sometimes add a utility so tenants have room for laundry, coats and cleaning kit without filling the kitchen with appliances. We work throughout Exmouth (EX8) and across the wider Devon area.

What we cover for utility room fitting in Exmouth

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For utility room fitting in Exmouth it usually covers:

Washing machine supply, waste and isolation valve, tested for leaks
Worktop over the washing machine and dryer, supported clear of the appliances
Stacking kit fitted where the washer and dryer sit one above the other
Free survey visit to check water, waste, power and outside wall positions
A vent to outside for a vented dryer, or a drain hose for condenser models
Utility sink and tap plumbed in, with new supplies and waste where none exist

Guide prices for utility room fitting in Exmouth

Typical utility room fitting prices for homes in Exmouth, including VAT and adjusted for the South West. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.

Guide prices for utility room fitting in Exmouth
Typical project	Guide price
Utility units and worktop fitted (fit only)Three to six units, laminate worktop, panels	£1,200–£3,100
Utility room supplied and fittedUnits, worktop, sink, washer and dryer connections	£3,100–£7,200
New utility plumbing for a sink and washing machineSupplies, waste and valves where none exist	£410–£1,000

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 Exmouth

Across Devon you will often find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier. Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house.

What rules apply to utility room fitting in Exmouth?

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 Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Getting the most from your utility room fitting

If the utility will be in the garage of your Exmouth home, make sure the space stays above freezing in winter for the pipes and machines.
Plan the sockets in your Exmouth utility so each appliance can be switched off at an accessible switch without moving the machine.
Ask for an isolation valve on the washing machine supply that can be reached without pulling the machine out from under the worktop.
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 Exmouth

How much does utility room fitting cost in Exmouth?

Utility room fitting in Exmouth typically costs £1,200 to £3,100 including VAT for fitting three to six utility units and a worktop you have bought, based on prices in the South West. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Exmouth do you work in?

All of them. Our Devon coverage takes in the whole of Exmouth, including the EX8 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Exeter. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

We also carry out utility room fitting in these towns near Exmouth: