Laundry "Living Spaces" In Demand

    FORT MILL, SC, July 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- According to a National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) consumer preference survey, 95 percent of respondents desire or must have a separate laundry room in their new home. And HOME Magazine says that 61 percent of laundry rooms are being built on upper levels rather than first floors or basements.

Those aren't the only trends changing our perception of the once lowly, cramped spaces where the washer and dryer were hidden away. Builders note a move away from traditional laundry rooms towards laundry "living spaces" that can be used for many purposes.

The NAHB survey found that homeowners want an expanded, multi-functional work area for more than just washing clothes. Built-in ironing boards and solid-surface counter spaces for folding and sewing are popular, as are built-in storage cabinets or closets. These are used to both store detergent and other cleaning supplies as well as to conceal appliances.

Harold Carter of J. H. Carter Builder, Inc., a custom builder in Raleigh, NC, says that there are three primary areas where his clients concentrate their spending in the homes he builds. "People put a significant portion of their budgets into kitchens, master baths, and laundry areas," he says, "with the laundry areas being similar to kitchens in the use of solid surface countertops, high-end fixtures and strong lighting, lots of cabinets, some of which hide washers and dryers, and other built-ins."

If you've matched socks or sorted colored clothes in low light you know that an important consideration for these expanded spaces is a mix of artificial and natural light, and lots of it.

According to Roger LeBrun, product certification engineer with VELUX America, providing as much natural light as possible is critical. "Since many times these spaces are located in windowless interior areas of the home where artificial light is the norm, adding abundant natural light with skylights makes a much more pleasant and effective work area."

LeBrun points out that venting skylights not only flood the area with helpful natural light but provide significant air exchange too - an important consideration in laundry areas where heat and humidity can be equal to or above that found in kitchens. "Venting electric skylights can be operated by remote control," he says, "and even have sensors that will close them if it starts to rain." More economical manually operated venting skylights are also available.

If a traditional skylight isn't necessary or won't fit in a smaller area, natural light from above can still be admitted effectively and economically with VELUX SUN TUNNEL skylights. "Sun Tunnel skylights are easily installed and are very efficient at lighting interior spaces, and, in many cases, they are less expensive than traditional skylights," LeBrun says.

For free information on the benefits of natural light and skylight selection, or for free house plans incorporating skylights, call 1-800-283-2831 or visit veluxusa.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org.

Image caption - Abundant natural light makes laundry day a little easier
VELUX America Feature Series No. 23/08/F - Laundry "Living Spaces" In Demand - Apx. 500 Words

Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - [email protected]
For quick access to natural light feature material, daylighting case histories and background information, news releases, press kits and high-resolution images visit www.veluxusa.com and, from the Home page, go to the News Media section under "Professionals."

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