HANDY AT HOME

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 4

HANDY AT HOME

WRITTEN &DR AWN BY I

BILL CALDWELL

Plumbing for the hobby room

Why waste valuable house space? Instead of leaving the spare room unused most of the time, it can be adapted to double as a hobby or craft room. It does not take much to build a spare room that can be used also as a sewing room, darkroom, studio, study, workshop—even a home gymnasium. If you are planning or building a house, it would cost only a little more to extend the plumbing to the spare room. Alterations also can be made to existing homes, although you would need the advice of a member of the Master Plumbers’ Association on the best use of existing plumbing. Your local plumbers’ merchant can advise also on available plumbing fittings. A hot and cold water supply plus a sewerage connection will make the spare room completely self-contained. Install facilities for tea-

making and you have an ideal homecraft room, where people can sew, iron and chat without disturbing or being disturbed by anyone else. A handbasin, toilet and hot drinks facilities in the spare room gives guests more privacy and invalids more convenience. No longer does the flu sufferer have to stagger out to a cold kitchen when he wants a lemon drink at midnight. A shower makes the guestroom-sickroom even more comfortable and convenient. Also mum can practice her yoga or dad his press-ups and emerge fit and freshly washed after each session. Other possible adaptations, such as a darkroom, should be planned with the help of the local master plumber. He will make sure you have a hot and cold water supply, free of fluctuation, which does not affect other household services. He can also help plan

the room's layout so that wet work is kept separate from dry areas needed for sensitised materials. In a potter’s studio, a sink, water supply and drainage, preferably next to the wheel, are essential. The sink should have a simple, non-clogging drainage system to intercept clay and plaster sediment, otherwise you will be digging for hours. When you chbose sink fittings or materials for benches, ask for trade advice. For example, your plumber will probably recommend using polyethylene or rigid P.V.C. for the outlet drains in a darkroom, as brass and copper are corroded by photographic solutions. Call in the plumber at the planning stage, so you can adapt the spare room efficiently and cheaply. Then, when the guests are away, the family can play. Nearly all plumbing work must, by law, be done by a plumber regis-

tered in terms of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Registration Act 1976. It is illegal, except under certain circumstances, for plumbing to be done by an unregistered person.