UTILITY AREAS

1. UTILITY AREAS Laundry/Mud Rooms, Foyers, Garages Stairways, Basements Mechanical & Storage Areas

2. Laundry Areas... The activities involved in laundering are: sorting, preparing clothes for washing, washing by hand or machine, air- or machine-drying, folding, and ironing. It might also incorporate sewing/mending. When planning the laundry area, keep in mind that it is an area of water usage, dirty clothes, lint, odors, and appliance noise.

3. Location of the laundry... With the advent of indoor plumbing, the laundry left the back porch and moved to the basement, where the pipes were easier to tap into. The basement also provided the "perfect place" to accommodate drips from the wringer on the washer, and a "handy place" to hang clothes to dry on rainy days and in winter months. But laundry facilities in the basement were a long distance from where the dirty clothes actually accumulated. Homemakers tired of climbing up and down flights of steps, and the inconvenient location. During the 1970's architects began designing homes with the laundry in a closet or hallway off the kitchen, or in the garage. In new homes, the laundry can be placed anywhere the homeowner finds convenient, although there does remain some concern over broken water hoses and lack of floor drains. There are advantages and disadvantages to all laundry locations.

4. Location of the laundry... Because there are numerous tasks and equipment associated with the laundry area, some people find it an unattractive part of the home. The room itself, although it might be kept well-organized, may not be a room you choose to have in a highly visible location. A laundry room may be quite attractive if cabinetry is used to store supplies and smaller equipment. A basement laundry may be spacious and hidden away from view, but often unattractive.

5. Location of the laundry... The laundry to the left is incorporated into the kitchen. To the right, the laundry is in a deep closet. Above and to the left are laundry facilities near the master bedroom. They can even be in a large walk-in clothes closet. The laundry area above is in the basement.

6. Laundry Equipment... A stacking washer and dryer is a space-saver. They are usually smaller and less expensive. They do not provide a folding surface, and the washer is usually front-loading. A standard side x side washer and dryer is 36” tall, and the top can be used as a folding surface. They come in small to extra large capacities. There are under-the-counter washer and dryer models. They have a small capacity and are not widely used. Front loading washers save water compared to the standard side x side models. The appliances to the right are raised to eliminate stooping low to load and unload clothes. The drawers underneath provide storage.

7. Laundry Equipment... A laundry sink is ideal placed next to the washer. It can be used for hand-washing or pre-soaking and stain removal. A variety of laundry accessories are available to aid sorting of clothes. Some people need a space to hang and dry clothes inside…perhaps those that would shrink in the dryer.

8. Laundry Equipment... A wide variety of options are available for pressing and storing pressing equipment. Accessibility of pressing equipment depends on the amount of use it gets.

9. Drawing laundry room floor plans... The narrow, rounded end of the board always faces left for a right-handed person and faces right for a left-handed person. Make sure an outlet is available on the square end of the board. 15” 54” (compact boards in drawers and cabinets are usually 3-4’ in length) Full-size washers and dryers are each 30” square. Stacking models take up that much less floor space. Front loading washers use less water. Allow 48” clearance in front of appliance for front door swing and maneuverability. Allow 22-24” clearance over top of un-stacked appliances. 30” Folding Area Sink W D 30” Sorting area to side of sink The washer should be beside the sink; the dryer should be beside the washer with no space left between. A folding area should be beside the dryer. The dryer door should hinge opposite the folding area. A place for hanging clothes could be over the folding area or a few steps away.

10. Mud room... The idea of a mud room originated on the farm. It was a place for the farmhands to wash up, take off shoes, and hang up clothes before coming into the house. A boot wash or even a shower was common. The urban mudroom is the back door or entryway from the garage. The mud room provides coat, shoe, backpack and briefcase storage, as well as a seating area for removing shoes and boots. The mud room is often adjacent to the kitchen or laundry room, for quick cleanup at a sink. It is especially appreciated in homes with children.

11. Foyers... Although a foyer is not a living area, it does give the first impression of your home to your guests. The primary function of the foyer, however, is as a service area at the main entryway into the home. • Whether small and simple or spacious and elegant, the foyer functions best if there is: • a floor covering good for wet or dirty footwear • a small table for purses, keys, or mail • a closet for guests coats and purses • a place to sit and remove shoes is desirable • a mirror for guests to check their appearance

12. Staircases... Whether simple or grand, the staircase is needed for traffic between different levels of the home. They are potentially dangerous, especially for very young and aging residents. Staircases should always have a handrail on at least one side. Closed stringers and closed risers Closed stringer on left side and closed risers Recommended: 4” risers outdoors, and not exceeding 6-7” indoors; less than 11” tread creates a steep and treacherous staircase Open stringers and open risers; open risers are more dangerous; young children and pets may fear these steps

13. Staircases... Interior ramps should have a maximum slope of 1“ rise to 12“ length. because many people in wheelchairs cannot push themselves up a steeper incline, and a steeper slope can cause a wheelchair to tip over backwards. The length of a ramp usually prohibits it’s use in a home. A spiral staircase takes up less room, but is expensive to build and difficult to move furniture up and down. Handrail Newel Post Balusters or spindles A “closed” staircase has solid walls on both sides. An “open” staircase has a banister (handrail, balusters, and newel post combined) along one or both walls.

14. Drawing the staircase... The area at the bottom and the top of the staircase, as well as where the staircase turns is called a “landing”. The landing area should measure a minimum of 3’ square. The total of lines C and D should be 11’ 11’ total length for stair area in a full staircase (8’ ceiling heights) 36” min., 42” best

15. Standard minimum garage sizes: the width of the single car garage is 10’, with an 8’ wide garage door. The width of a double car garage is 18’4” with a 16 ‘ wide garage door. Both single and double garages must be 20’ deep. Garages... A minimum garage size allows for little or no storage. In the planning stages, determine how much storage area is needed and for what?... Lawn mowers, snow blowers, bicycles, leaf blowers, lawn edgers, ladders, yard tools, lawn chairs, hoses and sprinklers, hand tools, lawn and garden chemicals, flower potting supplies, picnic hampers, automotive supplies, paint supplies, garbage and recycling containers, workbenches, outdoor toys, etc.

16. The two car garage may have one 16’ or two 8’ wide doors as shown here. It might measure 25-26’ square. Garages... 22’ for one 16’ door; 26’ for two 8’ doors 10’ 20’ 12’ A 12 x 26’ garage allows for storage in front of the car, and car doors don’t hit the wall when opened The 10 x 20’ minimum-sized single car garage does not permit room for storage. The car doors cannot open fully without hitting a wall. There is just enough rear clearance for the garage door to close. A 6’ wide car has only 2’ on each side. 22-26’

17. Basements... Walkout basements and improved window options allow for easy escape and safe bedrooms on the lower level. Although still the primary place to locate mechanical areas, today’s basements have improved lighting and waterproofing. The lower level provides additional space for specialty rooms such as an office, family room, bar, home theater, home gym, game room, wine cellar, etc.

18. A traditional home comfort system has two parts: an outdoor unit, such as an air conditioner or heat pump, and an indoor unit. The furnace is the indoor unit that heats and circulates warm air through your home in the winter, and in the summer, it takes the cool air from the outdoor unit and works as a fan to circulate it throughout your home. The indoor and outdoor units are designed to work together, and would economically be placed within a close distance to each other. Mechanical Areas... FUR WH Like furnaces, hot water heaters are operated by electricity or gas. The hot water heater comes in various sizes, commonly from 20-80 gallon capacities. The average family of 4 often requires a 40 gallon minimum. The water heater should economically be placed close to where the water enters the home. On your floor plan, allow a space 4 x 6’ for a furnace and 18” round for a water heater…plus room for maintenance and ventilation.

19. Additional storage... Plan for storage! If it isn’t stored well, it won’t get used. Where will you store holiday costumes and decorations, the vacuum cleaner and brooms, luggage, folding tables and chairs, musical instruments, vases, extra light bulbs, a freezer, board and electronic games, linens, etc.?

20. UTILITY AREAS The End Laundry/Mud Rooms, Foyers, Garages Stairways, Basements Mechanical & Storage Areas

21. Laundry - mud room project... Design this laundry and mud room area, complete with small coat closet, half bath, and nearby pantry. Only a few required measurements have been provided, to allow you flexibility in your design. Put a window in the laundry room. You do not need to draw the entire kitchen or garage; just enough to indicate their location as shown. Pantry Kitchen 9’ Mud Room Laundry 4’ x 7’ Half Bath Garage 26’

22. Ranch Style House Floor Plan... Name: ________________________ Due Date: ______________________ You’re ready to design a whole house floor plan. Since irregular shaped houses with many exterior corners are expensive, you are limited to 10 exterior corners. Make sure they are necessary. Count corners this way… • Ranch style, single level home • 3 bedrooms; one master and 2 others • Two car garage • Unfinished basement for mechanical needs only; just draw stairway • Main floor laundry • Door out to patio or deck in addition to front and back doors • 2600 sq. ft. living space maximum (does not include garage, patio, or basement) • Limit hallway(s) to 20 or fewer total linear feet • Use large sheets of graph paper (one for rough draft and one for final copy) • Draw, but do not label, all base and wall cabinets; draw work triangle and label total length • Draw furnishings 1 2