Garage Bathroom

[Iroc-Z]

So I am planing my 40x50 shop build and I have to run septic lines for my floor drain and was thinking of putting a toilet in. I figure I would put in the corner and wall off just enough space for use. Sink will be the shop sink. My question is this a waste of space or genius idea? My shop is about 60 ft from my house. Looking for opinions.

 

[Onewolf]

Does it get cold/rainy in New Germany, MN?

 

[Iroc-Z]

It does.

 

[In The Doghouse]

I have a toilet and sink in my shop but if I were going to do it again I would just put a urinal on the back wall. It consumes less floor space and provides the function that I need. My "solid waste" goes into the house toilets.

You can plumb it out the back wall and choose your location at a later date. In your area you are more concerned about winter freezing than I am, so plumbing out the back wall may not be an option.

 

[Skeetobite]

I might do a urinal. My wife gets mad when I walk outside and piss on the rocks. Weird-

 

[abachman]

Some localities will not permit the addition of a bathroom/toilet in a garage... something about it then being able to be used as a residence!

 

[Lassen Forge]

Definitely genius. I'll give you one even better - and don't discount this - IF you can get one of those setups where you can combine a commode and a shower pan (think tavel trailer) you can get huge "usability" out of a little space. It's like having a shop phone - how many times have you been interrupted in the middle of a job to have to go back to the house? Same if you have a "beer rental return" moment - a 15 second break to get to the other side of the shop & taake a whiz VS taking off the shoes, going in to the house, hitting the commode, etc. etc...

It costs so little to add this right now, and you get a lot of benefit from it. You won't be sorry!

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Bathroom is a great idea.
Floor drains not a good idea, especially since "the code" requires them to be connected to the septic system.

 

[indyokie]

If your already committed to the running of water and the install of a mop sink, you should complete the bathroom.

Something to also think about- Sometime in the life of your new shop it's more likely you spill /splash something into your eyes, body, cut etc. Do you really want to run all the way back into the house to have ability to wash your eyes out, get a acid off your face / body.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Bathroom is a great idea.
Floor drains not a good idea, especially since "the code" requires them to be connected to the septic system.

No compromise on floor drains. In mn when your car is covered in ice and snow and you pull into a warm garage all that water has to go somewhere. Where I live floor drains are not a big deal.

 

[Iroc-Z]

If your already committed to the running of water and the install of a mop sink, you should complete the bathroom.

Something to also think about- Sometime in the life of your new shop it's more likely you spill /splash something into your eyes, body, cut etc. Do you really want to run all the way back into the house to have ability to wash your eyes out, get a acid off your face / body.

I am putting in a sink for sure. The question is only about a toilet.

 

[mtmgtz]

I am putting in a sink for sure. The question is only about a toilet.

If you're putting in a sink, I don't see a reason not to put in a toilet. You'll already have water/sewer to the building with the sink. It would be a very marginal additional cost to put in the toilet but would be very nice when you get a case of the screamers and it's 0 degrees outside.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If your already committed to the running of water and the install of a mop sink, you should complete the bathroom.

Something to also think about- Sometime in the life of your new shop it's more likely you spill /splash something into your eyes, body, cut etc. Do you really want to run all the way back into the house to have ability to wash your eyes out, get a acid off your face / body.

My reason for a shower. After that battery explodes, you're kinda sorta screwed. If you have to stumble, mostly blind, into the house (dripping sulphuric acid all the way) you're in deep **** (as is your carpet, the countertops... not to mention the wife's attitude with the size 12 footprints melted into the carpet!) If you've never had one go off on you (usually the breaker bar or wrench across the terminals (co-worker), or unhooking the charger without unplugging it - and don't ask how I know that one!) I WOULDN'T recommend trying it for the experience.

Thats something I didn't think of, tho... why not put a floor drain in, and put a shower head on the wall of the "bathroom" just so you have it if you need it. Doesn't have to be fancy... wouldn't need anything special. Put the commode in one corner (you can get those wet all you want).

 

[Iroc-Z]

If you're putting in a sink, I don't see a reason not to put in a toilet. You'll already have water/sewer to the building with the sink. It would be a very marginal additional cost to put in the toilet but would be very nice when you get a case of the screamers and it's 0 degrees outside.

Cost is not the issue. Its more of space loss for the toilet.

 

[creativecars]

In a 40x50 I would find a spot for a bathroom. A little heater in the area for winter and a fridge, heck you wont even need the house.

 

[badss98]

By all means do add the toilet and if possible shower. I have a 3 piece in my current garage . It keeps the wife happy because i do not have to bring in all the assorted goodies i seem to be wearing after a good garage day. Not to mention it is a great asset if you tend to consume beverages and the weather does not permit you to go outside in the winter. No heat loss also from opening doors.

 

[ACDNate]

I'm putting a full bath including shower in mine.

 

[Jagmandave]

I have the sink right next to the toilet, most of the time when nature calls my hands are dirty, so I can wash up before I pull the hose out....

Definitely put the toilet in......you don't say how old you are, but as us older guys know, when you have to go......

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I put a full bath in mine (toilet, Shower, sink) and am very glad I did.

 

[sz0k30]

No matter how bad I have to PEE, I can make it 60 feet.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

No compromise on floor drains. In mn when your car is covered in ice and snow and you pull into a warm garage all that water has to go somewhere. Where I live floor drains are not a big deal.

Yep, without floor drains the water just runs out under the door. Also you won't have a drain to loose dropped screws in or to snag the wheels on a creaper.
Main reason is I wouldn't want all that salt and crud going into my septic.

 

[Ray-CA]

We put a toilet in our new garage/shop. Our 1939 home only has one bathroom and there have been times when one just wasn't enough. So, now we have two. Plus, it is nice to be able to use the head without all the "take the greasy shoes, dirty coveralls etc. stuff"

Ray

 

[nine4gmc]

40x50 and 60' away, I'd put one. My shop is 30x30 and only 25' away and I hate walking all the way to the house to ****(I pee out by the tree). If mine were larger, I'd have a toilet.

 

[InPrimer]

My 3 piece toilet is just inside my garage.(seperate room)It comes in handy, I strip just inside the door and keep all the garage smells gas etc.from permiating into the house, Planned it that way when we had it built.

 

[mtwaterguy]

I put a full bath in mine (toilet, Shower, sink) and am very glad I did.

^^^^^^+1

I did the same. My shop is 40 X 96 so I have a little more space to fit it in.

 

[NUTTSGT]

make sure put a trap in the line for the floor drain. You do not want the septic tank venting through your garage.

Toilet, heck yes by all means. While 98% of the time I'm standing, there are few times that I need to take a dump. Those are usually in the winter with a ton of snow out there. The first time you don't have to walk to the house and take off your snow covered boots to go to the bathroom, you'll realize it was a smart decision.

Any chance of going 40x60 ? Create an extra 10x40 on the end. If you could go that much bigger, the extra footage would cover the bathroom (6x10), a shop office (14x10) and a 10x20 covered porch.

 

[kenfath]

Realize several have already suggested having a janitor's sink. As luck had it I watched HGTV for the first time in a long time today. The programs which got my interest were the the reuse of older buildings, such as fire houses, schools, churches, etc. One restoration turned the janitor's closet into the master bedroom's bathroom. A toilet and bath tub were added, but the lady owner wanted to retain the janitor's sink in keeping with the history of the building. She turned it into the bathroom sink by raising it to a convenient height.

'I thought' it was a pretty clever idea. The basin probably holds 25 gallons of water, is fairly deep; her glazed-china sink had a metal protective plate built into the outer lip, an integral back splash, and probably occupied about the same floor space as a regular hand basin or parts washer.

Just a thought!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Realize several have already suggested having a janitor's sink. As luck had it I watched HGTV for the first time in a long time today. The programs which got my interest were the the reuse of older buildings, such as fire houses, schools, churches, etc. One restoration turned the janitor's closet into the master bedroom's bathroom. A toilet and bath tub were added, but the lady owner wanted to retain the janitor's sink in keeping with the history of the building. She turned it into the bathroom sink by raising it to a convenient height.

'I thought' it was a pretty clever idea. The basin probably holds 25 gallons of water, is fairly deep; her glazed-china sink had a metal protective plate built into the outer lip, an integral back splash, and probably occupied about the same floor space as a regular hand basin or parts washer.

Just a thought!

Knowing what gets washed in the janitors sink at the fire house, I wouldn't want to be using it as a bathroom sink. There's been more than one time that I've washed the dog **** off my boots in there.

 

[Mike Miller]

My shop is 200 ft. from everything so I went with a plastic pooper.

 

[Chris05gto]

I have a toilet in my garage, the best thing that I did.........I say do it!

Don't ask me why my pic is sideways.....lol

 

[Nighttrain]

Another vote for a full bathroom. Will you ever have a party in your garage?

 

[black00lightning]

I would put a complete bathroom in; sink, shower and toilet. I'm currently building a new home and workshop. The shop is only 30' x 32' but I'm still going to set aside a 6' x 8' area for the full bath. Like you, the shop will be about 70' from the house.

 

[Crow11]

I put in bathroom with sink and toilet. Very glad I did. Yes we all can walk 60' but when using the toilet in the shop I don't worry about tracking anything into the house.

Shops are after all about convenience.

 

[buzz4041]

I put a full bath in mine (toilet, Shower, sink) and am very glad I did.

I second that as that is what I have. My garage bathroom is like 5 foot deep x 5 foot wide with sink, shower and toilet. Small space used and very useful.

 

[koondog]

I would put the full bathroom in. That is one of the few things I wish I had done, that I didn't, when I built mine. I get tired of having to take of anything "dirty" just to take a dump.

 

[2Big2Ride]

We roughed in the plumbing for sink, toilet and shower. I'm under pressure from the better half to get it finished and usable. Studio (hers), wood shop (ours), garage (mine) is about a 80' foot walk to the house. Install a bathroom if you can - you will appreciate not having to walk to the house when you are a mess or the weather is ****.

 

[Voi]

I bought something off of CL years ago and picked it up at a large private shop out in the country.

Shop had a bathroom that I'd describe as a "wet room", meaning it was a decent sized room with a toilet, sink and a shower head coming out of the wall. No shower enclosure or shower curtain, just a floor drain so the entire room was a huge shower.

I don't recall the specifics but I think the wall sheathing was cement board coated with some sort of waterproof compound. Guy said that since he didn't use the shower that much he didn't want to put a bunch of money into waterproofing the room. But he also said that once you run water, toilet, sink and water heater it doesn't make sense to not throw a shower head and controls up on a wall, even if just for an emergency like some sort of chemical burn or whatever.

I liked it and would put that in my dream shop for sure.

 

[Cardboard Man]

I would consider the toilet to be just as important as any tool in the shop. It is not a waste of space. Do it.

 

[eborcim]

A 5x5 half bath should not take up much space in a 40x50 shop plus the water heater can live there.

 

[Worsedog]

My garage is about 1400 sq ft and the 3/4 bath is well worth the space it takes. As the house is tiny with just one bath it is great having a second when the first is occupied.

Do it!