Utility room fitting · Devon
Utility room fitting in Torquay
Need utility room fitting in Torquay? Tell us about the kitchen and we will arrange a free, no-obligation survey to see what the job really involves.
What prompts utility room fitting in Torquay?
Dog owners and keen walkers around Torquay often ask for a utility with a deep sink, a coat cupboard and somewhere to leave muddy boots and wet jackets.
When a new kitchen is being planned in Devon, moving the laundry to a utility often makes room for deep drawers or a dishwasher in the kitchen itself. We work throughout Torquay (TQ2) and across the wider Devon area.
What does the job involve?
After the survey visit we write the scope down. For utility room fitting in Torquay it usually covers:
- Free survey visit to check water, waste, power and outside wall positions
- 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
- Utility sink and tap plumbed in, with new supplies and waste where none exist
- Base, wall and tall units fitted, levelled and fixed to the wall
How much does utility room fitting cost in Torquay?
The figures below are guide prices for Torquay, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.
| 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 Torquay
You will find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows throughout Devon. 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.
Regulations for kitchen work in Torquay
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.
Worth knowing before the fit
- Before choosing a dryer for your Torquay utility, check whether there is an outside wall close enough for a short, straight vent duct.
- If your Devon 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.
- Plan the sockets in your Torquay utility so each appliance can be switched off at an accessible switch without moving the machine.
- A worktop over appliances needs support at each side and a gap above the machines, so they can be slid out for servicing.
Questions about utility room fitting in Torquay
How much does utility room fitting cost in Torquay?
Guide prices in Torquay are about £1,200 to £3,100 including VAT for fitting three to six utility units and a worktop you have bought. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.
Do you cover all of Torquay?
Yes. We work across Torquay, including the TQ2 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Paignton and Newton Abbot. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.
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.
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 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.
Nearby places we cover
The same service is available a short drive from Torquay, including:
- Utility room fitting in Paignton
- Utility room fitting in Newton Abbot
- Utility room fitting in Totnes
- Utility room fitting in Exmouth
- Utility room fitting in Exeter
- Utility room fitting across Devon