Under the National Construction Code, a house must have at least one washtub, with space in the same room for a washing machine, and a kitchen sink or basin doesn't count. So removal usually isn't the answer; a smaller, inset or relocated trough often is. Confirm how the rule applies to your alteration with a building surveyor.
The trough is often the item homeowners most want gone, because it takes bench space in a room that rarely has enough. Before you remove the trough, know the rule: it saves planning a layout that can't be built.
If you're planning a trough change as part of wider work, it's scoped with the rest of the room in our Laundry Renovations Geelong service.
Do you actually need a laundry trough?
A house needs at least one washtub and space in the same room for a washing machine (BCA requirement, as summarised by the SA Government).
The requirement exists because a home needs somewhere to dispose of dirty water from cleaning, such as emptying a mop bucket, as well as clothes washing (ABCB). It's the reason "do I need this sink?" is such a common renovation question.
Why a kitchen sink or basin doesn't replace it
The NCC doesn't count a kitchen sink or a washbasin as the laundry washtub (ABCB).
So removing the trough and relying on the kitchen sink doesn't meet the requirement. In a combined room, the basin doesn't count either.
Your options
| Option | What it does for space | Plumbing impact |
|---|---|---|
| Compact trough | Smaller footprint; recovers some bench | Usually uses the existing position |
| Inset trough or tub cabinet | Bench runs continuously around it; cabinet below for storage | Existing position if it suits the new bench |
| Relocated trough | Frees the wall where it was, for bench or machines | New supply and waste route; relocating the plumbing adds cost |
| Freestanding tub replaced like for like | No gain in space; lowest disruption | Disconnect and reconnect |
What changing the trough involves
Changing the trough involves plumbing, the benchtop or cabinet it sits in, and the wall area around it, which has its own wet-area requirements.
- A licensed plumber disconnects and reconnects it, with a compliance certificate for work valued at $750 or more (Building and Plumbing Commission).
- Where the tub is within 75 mm of a wall, the Housing Provisions require the wall to be water resistant to at least 150 mm above it, and the junction where it's fixed to the wall to be waterproof (ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 10.2).
- An inset trough needs a benchtop cut-out and a cabinet designed around the waste.
Fitting the trough into the cabinetry
Decide the trough type and position before the cabinetry is designed, because it fixes the sink cabinet, the benchtop cut-out and where the plumbing sits.
A trough cabinet also needs access to the taps and waste. In a small room, the trough position also shapes the small-room layout. If you'd like the trough planned into the cabinetry for your room, talk to our laundry renovation specialists in Geelong.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a laundry tub?
A house needs at least one washtub, with space in the same room for a washing machine. So you can resize or relocate the tub, but not remove the only one.
How much does it cost to replace a laundry tub?
It depends on the tub or trough you choose and whether the plumbing, cabinet or benchtop changes. A like-for-like swap costs far less than relocating it, and it's priced in your quote.
How do you remove a laundry tub in Australia?
In Victoria, disconnecting a tub from water and waste is plumbing work for a licensed plumber. Plan the replacement first, because the home needs a washtub.
Want more bench space from your trough?
We'll plan a compact, inset or relocated trough into your cabinetry, with licensed plumbing.
Get your trough plannedSources
- Australian Building Codes Board: can a sink replace a laundry tub?
- SA Government advisory notice: laundry facilities in residential buildings (cites the BCA)
- ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 10.2 Wet area waterproofing
- Building and Plumbing Commission: plumbing insurance and compliance certificates
General information, not advice for a specific property. Requirements depend on the building, the work and the current NCC edition.