Laundry rooms get neglected because nobody shows them to guests, and then they get used more than almost any other room in the house. A good one has counter space to fold on, somewhere to hang things, storage for the things you actually store there, and a floor that tolerates water.
The cost depends almost entirely on whether the room moves. Upgrading laundry where it already is, is a finishing project. Relocating it from a basement to a main floor or second floor means new supply, new drain, new venting and new electrical, and it becomes a construction project.
What moves the price
- Whether it moves. Relocation is the difference between a finishing job and a plumbing and electrical project.
- Stacked versus side by side. Stacking frees floor area for a counter and storage. Side by side gives you a continuous folding surface above them.
- Floor protection. A tiled floor with a drain, or a purpose-made pan under the washer, is inexpensive insurance against a supply hose failure.
- Utility sink. Adding one where there is no existing drain nearby is the item that most often pushes a simple project into plumbing work.
Scopes and what they cost
- Refresh in place, $3,500 to $7,000. New flooring, paint, cabinetry or shelving above the machines, a folding counter, better lighting, a utility sink.
- Full remodel in place, $8,000 to $14,000. The above plus new cabinetry throughout, a proper counter over front-loaders, tiled floor with a pan or drain, and upgraded electrical.
- Relocation, $14,000 to $22,000+. Moving laundry to a new location: new supply lines, drain and vent, a dedicated 240V circuit for the dryer, dryer venting to the exterior, and a floor assembly that can handle a leak.
Mistakes we see most often
- Putting laundry on an upper floor without a floor pan and a drain. A washer supply hose failure on a second floor is one of the most destructive things that happens to a house.
- Venting the dryer into the basement or crawlspace rather than outside. It is a moisture and lint problem and in this climate it is a serious one.
- Specifying a counter over top-loading machines, which you then cannot open.
- Forgetting that a dryer needs a dedicated 240V circuit, and a gas dryer needs a gas line and still needs 120V.
What this means in the Capital Region
The great majority of Capital Region homes built before 1970 put laundry in the basement, because that is where the utilities were and because nobody expected to spend time there. Moving it up to the main floor or into a second floor hall is one of the most requested changes we get, and it is genuinely life-improving in a house where the basement stair is steep.
It is also the change that requires the most care. An upstairs laundry needs a floor assembly designed for a leak, which means a waterproof pan plumbed to a drain rather than just a tray sitting under the machine.
In older houses there is often a natural place for it: a butler pantry, an oversized hall closet, or the back of an original service area. Those locations frequently sit near an existing stack, which makes the drain connection straightforward and keeps the cost down.
Want this priced for your own home? Jeffrey Mason will walk the project and give you a free written estimate. No obligation, no sales rep. Call (518) 308-6427.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my laundry upstairs?
Usually yes. It needs supply lines, a drain with adequate fall to a stack, a vent, a dedicated 240V circuit and an exterior dryer vent. The critical detail is a waterproof pan plumbed to a drain, because a failure on an upper floor is very destructive.
Is a laundry room worth remodeling?
For daily quality of life, it is one of the best value small projects in a house. For resale it matters less on its own, though a main floor laundry in a house that only had a basement one is a genuine selling point.
Stacked or side by side?
Stacked if floor space is tight and you want counter and storage. Side by side if you have the width and want a continuous folding surface. Side by side also makes both machines easier to service.
Do I need a permit?
For a refresh in place, usually not. For relocation, yes, because it involves plumbing and electrical work.
What flooring works best?
Tile or luxury vinyl plank, both fully waterproof. Avoid anything with a wood core. If you can add a floor drain, do it.
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