Where to the best place to locate the loo

Building Advice: A downstairs toilet might not be large but is most costly room per sq foot

The so-called ‘smallest room’ can do a lot if it is well-configured. Kieran reckons costs to provide one can be up to €20,000 in an existing home because of the labour and trades it takes.

Dear Kieran, I live in a three-bed semi-d in the suburbs. The house doesn’t have a downstairs toilet. Where is the best place to locate it?

I have a cupboard under the stairs (no real height in it) and backing on to it, from the dining area of the kitchen (the kitchen back wall), is a full-height storage closet. I also have a garage, which adjoins the house and is on the same side as the stairs, also partially behind the back kitchen wall. Would it be possible to install a WC by converting the under-the-stairs and kitchen closet combination, or are their requirements regarding a foyer? Or should I break through from the back wall of the kitchen and incorporate part of the garage to create a new WC and foyer?