A recessed laundry outlet box does one job well: it puts the washing machine's hot and cold taps and its drain into the wall, so you don't need a freestanding laundry sink or a riser pipe just to plumb in a washing machine. Allproof's Laundry Outlet Box comes in three configurations, and picking the wrong one usually means an extra trip to the supplier mid-install, not a functional problem — so it's worth five minutes before you order.
LOB LRGT vs LOB SML: the difference is the taps
The LOB LRGT ($64.99) is the "large" kit and is the only one of the three that includes 1/4-turn washing machine taps. If you're fitting a brand-new laundry with nothing already on the wall, this is almost always the one you want — it's a complete kit, box and taps together.
The LOB SML ($37.99) is the same recessed box and 50mm outlet, but ships without taps. It suits a reno where the existing 1/4-turn taps are being reused, or where a plumber is specifying taps separately (for a particular finish or brand match). Buying LOB SML when you actually need taps is the single most common ordering mistake with this product — check what's already on site before you order the small kit.
LOB SSS: the stainless steel option
The LOB SSS ($67.95) is functionally the small kit (no taps included) but in a stainless steel finish rather than the standard plastic housing. It's worth the few extra dollars over the LOB SML in two situations: a commercial or multi-residential laundry where the box plate is visible and needs to match other stainless fixtures, or a harsher environment (coastal, high-moisture plant rooms) where the standard finish is more likely to mark or discolour over time. In a standard single-dwelling laundry behind a washing machine, the finish difference is mostly cosmetic.
Top feed or bottom feed — check before you rough in
All three boxes have hot and cold water pipe locators that work for either a top feed or bottom feed, with plugs supplied to cap off whichever feed you're not using. That flexibility is the main reason these boxes suit mid- to high-density projects: the same box works whether your supply comes down from a bulkhead or up through the slab, so one SKU covers both rough-in scenarios on a multi-unit job rather than needing separate top-feed and bottom-feed parts.
What it doesn't include
The outlet box gives you a 50mm drain outlet, not a complete drainage solution — whether that outlet needs a floor waste, a trap, or ties straight into an existing washing machine standpipe depends on your drainage layout and local requirements, so that's one to confirm with your plumber or certifier rather than assume from the box alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the actual difference between the LOB LRGT and LOB SML kits?
The LOB LRGT includes a pair of 1/4-turn washing machine taps; the LOB SML is the same recessed box and 50mm outlet without taps, for sites that already have taps or are sourcing them separately.
Is the LOB SSS worth the extra cost over the LOB SML?
Only if the finish matters — a visible commercial installation or a coastal/high-moisture site. Functionally it's the same small-kit box and outlet as the LOB SML, just in stainless steel rather than the standard housing.
Can the Laundry Outlet Box be plumbed from above or below?
Yes — all three kits have hot and cold pipe locators for either a top feed or bottom feed, with plugs supplied to seal off the feed you don't use.
Does the box include a floor waste or trap?
No. It provides a 50mm drain outlet only; whether you need a separate floor waste or trap depends on your drainage layout, so confirm that with your plumber before installing.