Japan Toilet Relocation

Toilet relocation in Japan involves various aspects such as size changes, position shifts, and the difficulty level of position alterations, requiring a comprehensive assessment based on specific circumstances.

Regarding size changes: The sizes of toilet-related facilities in Japan, such as sinks and bathrooms, can be adjusted according to needs. However, the transportation aspect must be a key consideration. It is essential to ensure that the adjusted facilities can be transported through elevators and staircases and can smoothly enter the room. For example, if the overall size of the toilet is expanded, the newly purchased large equipment like toilets and sinks may not be able to be delivered to the installation location smoothly during transportation due to elevator size limitations or insufficient turning space on staircases.

Regarding position shifts: They are mainly affected by the slope of the drainage pipes. In Japan, most drainage pipes are hidden in the pipe spaces of apartments or single-family houses. The farther away from the pipe space, the greater the required slope, often necessitating the raising of the floor. However, ceilings in Japan are generally low, and raising the floor will make the space feel even more cramped. Nevertheless, if it is a double-floor structure with pipe space under the floor, for short-distance shifts or shifts towards the pipe space, the floor height may remain unaffected. For instance, moving the toilet 1 - 2 meters from near the corner of the room towards the pipe space may not require raising the floor in a double-floor structure.

Regarding the difficulty level of position alterations: The difficulty of altering the positions of different facilities varies, with toilets being the most challenging. Toilet renovations are difficult because the sewage drainage pipes are separate. Wall-mounted drainage is basically immovable; floor-mounted drainage with a double-floor structure allows for slight shifts towards the pipe space. The cost of adding a toilet is approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000 yen. Wall-mounted drainage in apartments cannot be added, and floor-mounted drainage and shifts depend on the drainage location and require confirmation with the management company, which is usually not allowed. The situations on the first and second floors of single-family houses are different. The simplest method for the second floor is to have the sewage pipe run along the outer wall. Although it is not aesthetically pleasing, it is simple and inexpensive. For example, adding a toilet on the second floor of a single-family house using the method of running the sewage pipe along the outer wall can save a significant amount of indoor pipe-laying costs and construction difficulty.