Laundry and Utility Room Essentials

Here are a few tips to create a functional and efficient utility room.  They come as standard in all our new build properties and though it’s not always the most inspirational room in the house, a well-planned utility room is a real bonus.

Location: 
Noise, humidity and plumbing are the main considerations.  Not all homes have a separate area and if that’s the case, the washing machine and tumble drier area easily hidden by kitchen unit doors. In smaller spaces, you can choose to stack your washer and dryer on top of each other.

Work Flow:

Think about what you will use the room for - sorting clothes, washing, drying, and folding. Arrange the work surfaces and appliances to facilitate that flow. Shelves for detergents, hanging space for air-drying and a sink for handing washing delicate items are also useful. A stainless steel sink single bowl, chrome mixer tap and stainless steel drainer are perfect for the job.

Lighting:

You need to be able to see what you’re doing.  A utility room with natural light is great, but you’ll also need lighting over work areas so that you can see just how mucky your clothes are!

Surfaces:

We always try and use work surfaces and cabinets to compliment kitchen. Ceramic flooring is easy to clean in case of spills.

Add some style:

Just because it’s a functional room, it doesn't need to be boring. How about some colourful wallpaper or back-splash?

Added extras:

Built in ironing board

TV (for whilst you’re doing the ironing)

Energy Saving Heating

There are a range of basic energy considerations for any new home, these include:

• A high level of insulation 
• Choosing local materials in the construction
• Using materials from sustainable sources
• Choosing energy-saving building materials
• Installing energy-saving household equipment.

1. Heating controls

The cost of replacing an old boiler can be prohibitive, so the next best option is to upgrade your heating controls. These will vary depending on the type of heating you have. Some of the options available are:

• Timer – turns your boiler on or off at the times you set
• Room thermostat – measures how warm your room is and adjusts the boiler operation
• Programmer – lets you set different times and temperatures for different days of the week
• Thermostatic radiator valves – allow you to adjust the temperature of individual radiators and turn them off completely
• Smart heating system – allows you to control your heating remotely via an app.

2. Room thermostat

Your thermostat should be placed in a room that is used often with a good through-flow of air. This is because the thermostat will turn the boiler off once the room it’s situated in reaches the correct temperature. You should also make sure it’s not blocked by curtains or furniture and away from electric fires, TVs and lighting.

3. Heat the rooms you use

This seems obvious, but setting the thermostat (radiator or room) lower in areas of the house you don’t use will save energy and money.  Keeping the temperature low all the time is thought to use more energy than turning the heating on and off when you are actually using a room.

A programmer lets you set different times and temperatures throughout the week so you can customise the settings to fit your lifestyle. There is normally an override button that you can use if your usual routine changes so that you don’t have to completely reset the programmer.

4. Radiators

You can help your radiators work more efficiently by making sure they aren't covered by furniture or curtains. Radiators work by convection, drawing cold air in the bottom and producing hot air out the top.

Your radiator thermostat (TRV) will help you control the temperature of the room.  Find the level that’s comfortable for you.

Sustainability and energy saving is always a priority with our new homes. Each home in our most Chesterhill Wood, comes with a high-efficiency condensing gas boiler and is insulated beyond local authority requirements to keep bills to a minimum.  Windows are timber frames with Low “E” double glazing for heat retention.
recent development at