Help with moving bathroom - very large window

[happygilmore]

We're just about to complete on buying an end victorian terrace (in a block of 3). The bathroom is in a double room and the back and I think we are going to move it to the boxroom at the front of the house.

The windows at the front are all identical across the three houses and have a lintel across the top and bottom (is it still called a lintel at the bottom, hopefully you know what I mean). The boxroom window is tall for the room and starts almost from floor level. I think this is too big for a bathroom window, but it will look odd given the symmetry of the other windows across all 3 houses if we change it, I think. Also, not too sure how easy it will be to change the bottom lintel/and again how odd that will be to change.

Any tips/insights on what will look best please. I hope I have described it well enough!

[PigletJohn]

Don't alter the outside. Fit cafe curtains or shutters if you like.

Windowsill BTW

[PigletJohn]

And where will you put the soil pipe?

[happygilmore]

Soil pipe is going to have to move to the front, can't see any other way round that (I know it's a little big but can't see what else we can do?).

You don't think that the low window will look odd inside i.e. the window near the toilet?

I do see what you're saying about altering the outside though, I think it will look wrong if we do.

[PigletJohn]

Victorian terraces usually have the sewer at the back.

[happygilmore]

So worst case scenario street and side needs digging up? That is what we're planning for, so I hope that's what you mean.

Just to check again, you don't think the window going to floor level and quite near toilet will look odd internally? I do like shutters and think that may be a good idea for the front of the house if it will look ok.

Thanks for your help.

[PigletJohn]

I think that partially covering the window on the inside, with a shutter or half-curtain, will be OK and far better than spoiling the front of the house.

[happygilmore]

Thanks I think you're right on reflection. As it's one of three you can really see the symmetry between the houses and it seems a shame to ruin that (pity what the other windows are like though..)

Can I ask you about the sewer - if it is at the back, it's just(!!) a case of pipe from the front to back, is that right? We will own it all, so a bit disruptive but possible to do if that is the case.

[noddyholder]

Moving soil pipe is a big job I have done it in a victorian terrrace

[PigletJohn]

As you are end of terrace there is a chance it passes between you and the neighbours. Look for manhole covers and look underneath.

Those parts of sewers which take the outflow from more than one home passed into ownership of the water companies in the last year. Look up "common sewer" on their website.

[happygilmore]

I know it's not the most straightforward, but it makes sense for this house. Surveyor agreed - the boxroom isn't really useable as anything other than a study (which we don't want/need), the current bathroom is in too big a room and needs replacing anyway. We would much prefer to have another double bedroom, which we will use. Also, the ensuite above the bathroom has a saniflo which has some problems, it will be connected to the new soil pipe which will solve these (an expensive way of doing it I know!).

I've been told less than 10k hopefully to do it all, which is affordable for us.

[happygilmore]

Surveyor couldn't find a manhole on the property although the (large) garden is very overgrown at the back so it is possible there is one there. He said he thought the drain was running right to left i.e. from our property to the neighbour's. Still waiting on map from water company.